RE: Hyphenated Op-Codes

[Alan Campin <Alan.Campin@xxxxxxx>]

I don't know. To me the whole thing isn't that big a deal. As a programmer, I 
am constantly seeing change coming. When /Free came out, I had to adapt to 
/End-Free and with monitor On-Error but know I don't think about it much. 

As far as language getting more complex, it is just getting to a be a real 
language. The syntax is minor problem. Getting people to think in ILE 
(Procedures, Encapsulation, Functional Decomposition, Information Hiding), not 
monolith. That is huge.

If IBM wants to make it less complex, give us a new version without all the old 
garbage (Fixed Format, etc). A simple clean consistent language for the 
twentieth century. 

My opinion only.  

-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Cozzi [mailto:cozzi@xxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2005 7:46 AM
To: RPGIV@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; 'RPG programming on the AS400 / iSeries'
Subject: Hyphenated Op-Codes



My primary goal for RPG IV is to make it simple/easy to use, not more
complex. Granted it should have many new features and I applaud IBMs support
for the language! In fact, I am beginning to think about ways that the /FREE
syntax can benefit programming over the hybrid extended Factor 2 syntax.

Adding new features that invite complexity by the fact that they are
strangely inconsistent with existing language elements is, to me, adding
complexity. One problem I'm having is teaching RPG IV to RPGIII programmers
as well as new programmers; helping customers justify the move to RPG IV is
becoming more difficult since RPG IV itself is becoming so complicated and
inconsistent. If what they are adding to the language is good syntax then
why are they changing the syntax for new features on each release?

Also, Z-SUB and Z-ADD are not part of the /FREE movement so I don't see them
as justification for EVAL-CORR. In fact the contemporary On-Error opcode is
the only opcode where I continue to receive questions as to "why the hell is
there a hyphen in the middle of that one?"

It is not that a hyphen is a bad idea, it is not, it is that it introduces
another inconsistent element into RPG IV. People are used to no hyphens and
when someone sees one and asks "what's that?" it reduces the very
productivity that the new feature(s) hope to improve.

-Bob Cozzi
www.RPGxTools.com
If everything is under control, you are going too slow.
- Mario Andretti