RE: RPG, 10 years from now

These are all valid and critical points.
But I don't necessary agree 100%, but that's not bad.
My view is that we use the System i5/iSeries/AS/400 because it is good,
reliable, works well, easy to program, etc. RPG is a huge part of that. DDS or
SQL for data definition is also a big part of that. 

Take away those things and you have a Linux box. No RPG, no DDS, you have a
Linux box. Why? Because Linux is good enough. It isn't the best, but it is good
enough. I can buy an $1800 500GB dual-processor server for Linux and run stuff
on it. But I can't run RPG and AS/400's DB2/400. I can run IBM DB2 on it,
however and I can use C and Java. If I get to the point where I want to use C
and Java for _business_ applications, then iSeries has zero value to me. It is
too costly, and IBM is a pain to work with. I can call Tiger Direct and get a
$2000 box that will run my apps. Certainly I still have to buy PCs as terminals,
and do the admin stuff etc. But as I said, iSeries is easy to use and RPG and
DDS are easy to use. IBM needs to make a GUI/browser-based application with RPG
as easy as a 5250-based DDS application, but that'll happen.

People are willing to pay a premium for easy. Hell, IBM's own commercials about
ripping off customers by over charging them for a can of nuts illustrate the
point that people will pay a premium for easy and available. Why do people pay
$18 for a drink in the club at the top floor of the Palm's Hotel and Casino in
Las Vegas when they can but the identical beverage ingredients at CostCo for
$1.25? Because paying the premium is easier than the alternative. 
Now, if you remove the service/ease-of-use/availability of the product, for
example, say the Palm's decides to save money, they put out the alcohol and let
you mix your own drinks. Instead of $18, they now charge you $12. Then they
boost about the drink prices dropping by 50% (of the new price, i.e., $6 of $12
is 50%--sure its marketing hype since the drinks really dropped only 33%). 
How long before the customers realize that they are now paying a premium for
drinks that are much, much less easier to acquire than going to CostCo and
making them at home. 
It'll take some time, but not forever. 
 

-Bob Cozzi
www.RPGxTools.com
RPG xTools - Enjoy programming again.


-----Original Message-----
From: rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Richter,Steve
Sent: Friday, May 26, 2006 8:42 AM
To: RPG programming on the AS400 / iSeries
Subject: RE: RPG, 10 years from now


-----Original Message-----
From: steema@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:steema@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Friday, May 26, 2006 9:06 AM
To: RPG programming on the AS400 / iSeries
Subject: RPG, 10 years from now


>HI - This is a Friday topic. But, I was having a conversation w/ the
>company Controller. He indicated that he was concerned regarding the long
>term support for the RPG language. He is not an IT guy, but is very
>industry savvy.

RPG free will still be around, but I dont think that is the most important
question. What does matter is choosing to write database applications on the i5
in sql procedures or rpg.  sql procedures are readable, portable and enable
programmers with only an sql background to productively program the i5. RPG is
preferable for green screen and system api programming. all other applications
should be written in sql procedures.

the other important issue is IBM's pricing of the i5. The system is more
expensive relative to other platforms than it has ever been. We were holding our
own a few years ago when unix systems like the rs6000 were selling for $20K and
higher. Now that you can buy screaming fast unix hardware for low 4 digits it is
hard to see our system maintaining the appeal it needs for IBM to continue to
sell it.

-Steve