RE: Free Form RPG Opinions Wanted

Jerry wrote:

>Our shop is soliciting thoughts on whether we should 
>integrate IBM's version of free format RPG into our 
>'standards'. Anyone have any thoughts, (Pros &
>Cons) on the product? We are using RPGIV with bound 
>modules, procedures, prototypes etc... and embedded 
>sql. We are going to V5R2 within the next month.

I like free form code and would use it exclusively for new development.
That is, I would leave existing columnar code as-is.  Why change the code if
I don't have to?  That said, one needs to consider:
a) Previous release support.  If one needs to support earlier 
   release systems, /free is not for you.
b) Analysis tools.  If one's tool vendor (you?) doesn't yet
   support /free, I might consider waiting until they do.
c) Editing tools.  /free and SEU are not the happiest of
   friends.  A PC based editor is much nicer to work with
   because of intelligent indenting.  I have used WDSc 
   from IBM, FlexEdit (now from Aldon?), Cozzi's Code Studio,
   Brief and VEdit and prefer any of them to SEU.

  --buck