RE: Please vote for Syntax check in /FREE! -- RPG400-L

jt - I have read and rewritten this a number of times to try to be a little
calmer than I felt when reading your original response.  For someone who
doesn't like it when other mis-represent him, you are pretty darn good at
doing it to other people.  I have limited my comments mostly to those places
where you misrepresented my comments.

 >> and he stated "the Code developer is sitting right next to me".
Obviously that's changed with WDSc.

No it hasn't as far as I know - but you may (for example) occupy the next
office to a member of the marketing department.  While proximity may aid
communication but doesn't change who's budget your salary is charged to.

 >> I have some understanding of the different natures of
compiler-development and UI designer.

Sorry - but I don't think you do.  During my time with the IBM Lab I watched
a great many very brilliant programmers move from one area to another.  In
my experience very few of the tool builders made a successful transition.
Compiler writers in my opinion are a different breed.  As I noted earlier
they can often move to being tool builders, but it rarely works in the other
direction.

 >> I don't view a translator, which is what PSC does when it converts
server-side code, as much different than a compiler.

Then we have to disagree.  I have written translators and compilers (and am
_much_ better at the former than the latter) and find the skill sets
required very different.  In fact I would not describe myself as a compiler
writer, but rather a compiler fixer.  In other words I can correct the
errors of others, and extend the functionality but I am not strong enough in
that arena to start from scratch.

 >> This is false.

Your opinion.  Please note I said "such lists and conferences" I did _not_
say COMMON so please don't put words in my mouth.  I have attended any
number of different types of events from COMMON through the IBM Tech
conference, User Group meetings, IBM announcement meetings, and on and on.
I was also a contactor for many years and while RPG IV was not in the
picture then, I did work in shops where there were many died-in-the-wool
"this is what my father taught me so this is what I use" programmers who had
zero interest in anything new.


 >> This is a false meme.

Sorry but any sentence that beings with "In my experience" (which my
original did) cannot be false.  It is _my_ experience.  If you feel that it
does not coincide with _your_ experience then so be it.

 >> then you're coding in RPGII

I didn't say that either.  I said "still coding RPG400 and using mostly only
the RPG II features" which is somewhat different.  In shops where I have
worked where the "masses" are not of what you refer to as the "mind set"
then I have found that there are one or more people in the shop who _are_
and teach the others about the new stuff.  After all if you don't have
enough curiosity about the job to use the internet, read magazines, or
attend UG meetings just _where_ do they get their information?

 >> But it isn't nearly as all-encompassing as you would like to believe.

_I_ built the list!  How dare you try to tell me that I don't know the
sources!  That is arrogance in the extreme.

 >> However, the "data" is being collected from those who are most VOCAL, on
the assumption that "anyone who cares" would be participating in this kind-a
list.

And I repeat that you have no idea of where the data comes from.

 >> Mebbe if you "went slumming", your experience would more closely match
mine, or maybe not.. I dunno for ...

As I noted earlier I contracted for many years.  Was sent out to many IBM
shops on customer visits, etc. etc.  And no - my experience did not match
yours.


 >>  I would say it would be easier if you treated their opinions as having
at least SOME value.

The restriction as to who is being listened to, as I pointed out earlier, is
in _your_ head.  Not mine and I know not IBM's.  But you fail to address the
_how_  If they do not participate in lists, attend conferences, briefings,
education classes, and do not write requests for enhancements .... Unless we
assume that IBM are psychic exactly how do you propose that such opinions be
gathered?

 >> Mebbe that's a matter of opinion?

No - but as I discussed above, it may be a question of practicality.  Just
_how_ do you find out what they are thinking?

Jon Paris
Partner400
www.Partner400.com