RE: open source rpg compiler

> Sorry to be the voice of Java all the time, but just take one look at it's
> rich class collection.  Now this may not equate to being able to "write
> compiler functionality", but they made the concepts of the language so open
> that you can create many rich and useful classes that tightly integrate with
> Sun provided classes.  I don't feel that RPG has the same capabilities with
> ILE and service programs.

Why's that?   Java doesn't give you this additional functionality by
changing the compiler, but by providing you with pre-built classes.  Aside
from teh differences between object-oriented & procedural languages, it's
the same thing as a service program.

> Take your software for instance, Scott.  I would love to have your service
> programs natively included with the RPG compiler because they are a basic
> need for any business language (HTTP, FTP, Sockets, IFS, etc).

I guess I fail to see why service programs don't work just as well as
things that are built-in to the compiler.   Or, do you just like the
Factor1/OpCode/Factor2/REsult syntax better than procedure arguments?
(Personally, I like procedure arguments better)

>
> I don't know if open source RPG would ever take off (because of the reasons
> others have listed), but the compiler could definitely be
> re-written/modified to allow for many other necessary features.

Wait... are you saying that you would add these enhancements?   or are you
saying that you think if it was open-source, "someone" would do them for
you?

Are you willing to learn the proprietary language that IBM writes this
compiler in (possibly at a large cost) and the various theories of
compiler development, etc, so that you can implement these features?
Just to avoid using a service program instead?