RE: RPG IV release levels and complexity

["jt" <jt@xxxxxx>]

| -----Original Message-----
| From: rpg400-l-bounces+jt=ee.net@xxxxxxxxxxxx
| [mailto:rpg400-l-bounces+jt=ee.net@xxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Bob cozzi
| Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2003 12:11 PM
| To: 'RPG programming on the AS400 / iSeries'
| Subject: RE: RPG IV release levels and complexity
|
|
| Hi Scott,
|
| Here's a posting from another list that typifies why /FREE can be ugly (as
| can fixed-format). If this is more "readable" I need my glasses. Granted
| this is just one example and the embedded SQL in RPG is ugly in
| general (not
| as bad as it is in other languages).
|
| ===================
|
|  /free
|     myHostVariable = 'Select * from myLib/myFile' ;
|  /end-free
| c/exec sql
| c+  declare myCursor Cursor
| c+         for myPreparedStatement
| c/end-exec
| c/exec sql
| c+  prepare myPreparedStatement
| c+       from :myHostVariable
| c/end-exec
| c/exec sql
| c+  open myCursor
| c/end-exec
| c/exec sql
| c+  fetch next from myCursor into :masterDS
| c/end-exec
|  /free
|      dow sqlStt <> '00000' ;
|         // do stuff
|  /end-free
| c/exec sql
| c+    fetch next from myCursor into :masterDS
| c/end-exec
|  /free
|       enddo ;
|  /end-free
| c/exec sql
| c+  close myCursor
| c/end-exec
| ===================
|
|
| Bob Cozzi
| Cozzi Consulting
| www.rpgiv.com
|
|
| -----Original Message-----
| From: rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
| On Behalf Of Scott Klement
| Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2003 10:48 AM
| To: RPG programming on the AS400 / iSeries
| Subject: Re: RPG IV release levels and complexity
|
|
| > So, I'd have to say that we haven't experienced the type of problems you
| > have described.  In fact, I'm all for making enhancements to
| the language.
| > (What I don't want to see are enhancements that are only
| available if you
| > use /free. I don't see enough return on investment to make the leap to
| /free
| > yet and I resent seeing good language enhancements that we would use but
| > can't because of the time involved in retraining 20 programmers for
| minimal
| > gain).
|
|
| There are two things that /FREE buys you.
|
|    1) Extra space on each record for your statements.  (This has made a
|          HUUUUGE difference in readability for me)
|    2) The ability to indent your statements.
|
| As there is absolutely no "investment" that I can see, I don't see why
| you're worried about it.   It takes what, 20 minutes to learn?
|
| I haven't seen any new features that only work in /FREE.  Have there been
| any?

Well, Scott.  It takes about 3 minutes to understand a fixed-form calc
statement, but I don't see many trying to make even THAT much effort lately.

Wonder why??

Mebbe it has to do with most-ALL enhancements going to EVAL, and /free?
Even though it takes 7 times longer to learn. Hm? :-\ ?