RE: Free Form RPG Opinions Wanted

["Joe Pluta" <joepluta@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> From: Douglas Handy
>
> Why?  I'd rather IBM spent my proverbial $100 on adding features
> to the compiler which I can't already perform.

That's you.  Others who have legacy investments would disagree, as we've
seen on this list.  And I'm going to see if I can't get some more input on
this issue...


> There are intelligent converters out there if you don't want to
> roll your own.
> For example, Linoma's RPG Toolbox.  If you have millions of lines
> of code, seems
> pretty easy to justify.

I'm unable to express my point, I guess.  I shouldn't HAVE to justify
another cost just to use new features with my legacy code!  I'm already
paying an arm and a leg for the compiler, support and maintenance (now all
bundled in, thank you).

IBM gave us CVTRPGSRC, and I'd really expect to see something similar for
free-form.  And while Linoma does provide a product (and a very good one, I
might add), it ain't free.

Let me get this straight - you can change your RPG programs to use JSP and
servlets for free, but you can't convert them to free-form.

Which part of this makes sense?

Joe