Re: RPG Productivity Versus Other Approaches

Nathan,

I was probably pushing it a bit at 30 seconds... :)

Having said that, one of the benefits of a 'good' generator, is that the
meta-data can be used to automatically build functionality. For instance,
look-up promts would have been generated automatically as a result of
foreign key inclusion. Likewise 'status' fields would automatically generate
some sort of promptable interface. Field placement would probably be
defaulted by the field order within the file, with output formatting defined
when each of the database fields were first created.

Not everything you mentioned, but I could certainly generate a subfile
function (green-screen only, with little or no MVC separation) in a matter
of minutes which includes the majority of what you specify below.

Obviously, there is more 'up-front' work, in terms of defining fields in the
data model correctly, determining valid values for status fields etc. Plus,
of course, the initial database design (including normalization).
Nevertheless, as far as the OP's specific request, yeah, I could do it very
quickly.

Rory

On Sun, Aug 16, 2009 at 5:09 PM, Nathan Andelin <nandelin@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

From: "roryhewitt"
If you're using a tool like Synon, about 30 seconds.

That must be the DFU version - prompt for an application ID, database file
library/name, and a few other parameters. Then generate an application with
default elements and functionality. Application generators draw from
meta-data from the subject database file.

But I find that even with wizard-style generators, that there is some think
time as developers work through record & field selections, field placement,
output formatting, validation, error messages, field focus, find & filter
criteria, definitions for look-up prompts, interfacing with other
applications, and so forth.

-Nathan.