Re: Compile error when using field in a subfield data structure

["Colin Williams" <colin.williams@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Randy,

the interesting thing is, almost everyone I've encouraged to use /free has
liked it and stuck with it once they've used it in anger. I think most
developers like it, once they give it a chance.

I presume your not allowed to use eval or call subprocedure or external
procedures either then, in case a dinosaur (sorry, programmer who does not
grasp how these work, grin0 should happen across a bug in one of your
programs?

cheers
Colin.W

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Randy Stogner" <Randy.Stogner@xxxxxxxx>
To: "RPG programming on the AS400 / iSeries" <rpg400-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2004 8:21 PM
Subject: RE: Compile error when using field in a subfield data structure


> Having a varied development background, PC, 400, ES900 in everything from
dBase to FoxPro to VB to C to RPG to COBOL to etc... I just don't see the
big deal with using and/or intermingling free form, nor ++ -- etc..... Using
regular or free form or subprocedures or subroutines, and so on, in RPG
doesn't necessarily make you a better programmer, though it may allow you to
do more with less. It's all a matter of style and/or taste. The clincher is
an RPG shops policies and standards, which pretty much come down to a
Majority Rule/Minority Rights situation. Does the Majority that wants to
keep coding in familiar fashion outweigh the rights of the Minority who may,
or may not, have the foresight to see a shifting of paradigms, or an
advantage to the supporting there IT customers.
> Personally, I like /FREE though I'm not allowed to use it in Production
and see where it would be beneficial in the long run.
> If you've taught someone to fish and his method is sufficient to meet his
needs, then that person will never use your new way unless it behooves them
too.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Joe Pluta
> Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2004 7:38 AM
> To: 'RPG programming on the AS400 / iSeries'
> Subject: RE: Compile error when using field in a subfield data structure
>
>
> > From: Colin Williams
> >
> > Lack of MOVE in free-format wouldn't bother me so much,
> > if the need to put /free,/end-free, to switch from free to fixed and
> back
> > was removed.
> >
> > Surely the presence of the spec, eg C,D,F etc on the left is enough to
> > indicate that it's a fixed format line.
>
> I agree.  This restriction is entirely unnecessary.  And Hans has stated
> in the past that the restriction was put in place precisely to make it
> difficult to switch back and forth.
>
>
>
> > And although the MOVE opcode is powerful, its very power may be the
> cause
> > of
> > many bugs over the years,
> > as it packs a heck of a lot of functionality in one opcode, tthat you
> can
> > easily get wrong.
>
> I disagree here.  This is simply a variation on the "programmers are too
> stupid" argument.  There would be a lot fewer database problems if we
> just got rid of that pesky UPDATE opcode, too <grin>.
>
> Seriously, if you can't handle the MOVE opcode, you shouldn't be
> programming.  You certainly shouldn't have pointers and based variables!
>
>
> > As with all things in this game, its swings and roundabouts!
>
> This I can agree with, anyway.  It's a business decision, not a
> religious decision.  Fixed format RPG IV is just as powerful as free
> format RPG, except where the RPG team has chosen to artificially
> differentiate the syntaxes.
>
> Joe
>
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