RE: RPG IV release levels and complexity

["Jon Paris" <Jon.Paris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

 >> Bob said "I guess I just don't understand the rational for this line of
thinking."

Bob - you've completely confused me.  I was following _your_ logic!

Microsoft support out of date releases.  I merely suggested that asking IBM
to do the same was the best option.

MS don't stop releasing new versions every couple of years just because
users don't upgrade their OS!

_If_ IBM allowed the RPG team to PTF the service programs needed to support
old releases, everything else would be moot.  Why is that so hard to
understand?  If they can PTF to back releases then it doesn't matter what
release schedule they follow - you can use the compiler level you want and
target any release that the run-time supports.

Even if I buy into your proposal to only have one compiler release per
version - you _still_ need to get Rochester to agree to PTF to
out-of-service releases or by the time you get to VnR3 your code still won't
work on VnR1.

I just don't see what possible benefit there is to anyone to only have one
compiler release every 4 - 5 years.  Seems to me if you _really_ want to
convince the world that RPG is dead that that would be an excellent way to
go.  No upgrades for three + years - that for sure would place you in
Gartner's "dead" category.

Jon Paris
Partner400
www.Partner400.com