Re: Chalk one up for "The Cycle"

[Booth Martin <booth@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I do not understand the difficulty in learning the Cycle?  People write 
as if it is tough to understand.  To my mind it essentially is a means 
of doing the housekeeping for you.  Just let the system open and close 
files, read records, keep track of level breaks, and do the multi-file 
processing.  There's no need to create the same hamster wheel over and 
over.  Where is the complexity that scares everyone?



Raby, Steve wrote:
> <snip>
> What difference does it matter if it's the cycle or sql if the next person in line to have a go at the 
> program doesn't understand the full function of RPG?  Let's say he used SQL, and the next programmer has no experience in SQL.  Wouldn't that waste just as much time as an SQL savy person who has no clue about the cycle trying to modify a cycle program?<Snip>
>
> But of course we should only learn new new things, not old new things. <tic> 
>
> <Snip>
> If you can't figure out the cycle, then pass the program to someone that can figure it 
> out, or learn it so next time you know about it.  It amazes me sometimes 
> the lack of gumption to learn something new.  Even if you don't like it, 
> you should learn it in case you have to work with it.<snip>
>  
> Hear hear.
>
> Steve
>
>