Re: RPGV?

[Paul Tuohy <tuohyp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I agree 100% with Scott and John.

As well as the conferences, user groups etc. I have some opportunity (as 
a trainer) to meet some of that group of programmers described by John - 
and, yes, it is extremely depressing... BUT...

This is not something that is unique to RPG programmers. It is common to 
all programmers and to just about every job in existence (programming or 
otherwise). It is more a question of how long you can get away with 
being mediocre at doing your job. Difficult (but not impossible) for a 
doctor, engineer, lawyer, carpenter etc. but a lot easier for us 
programmers.

Regards

Paul Tuohy
ComCon
www.comconadvisor.com 
www.systemideveloper.com 





Scott Klement wrote:
> Everywhere I go, everywhere I speak, every conference, user group, etc. 
>   Every interviewee who applies for an RPG job here.  Plus the majority 
> of e-mail and forum posts I see are exactly what John describes.
>
> Day in and day out, every day I talk to RPG programmers that fit John's 
> description.
>
> And usually the ones who talk to me are the ones who WANT to learn...  I 
> figure there's a whole extra group of them out there who don't, who I'll 
> never talk to or meet.
>
> What John says is absolutely accurate.  The vast majority of RPG 
> programmers are decades behind the times, and not improving. I wish it 
> weren't so!  Indeed, I DESPERATELY wish it weren't so!
>
> Frankly, this is a MAJOR reason why RPG and the IBM i platform in 
> general are considered "legacy" and "old school", etc, etc.  It's not 
> really the language.  It's not really the OS (though there are many ways 
> in which the OS contributes as well) but more than anything, it's the 
> programmers who either refuse to update their skills, or have managers 
> who won't let them use new skills.
>
> The problem usually gets blamed on the lack of a GUI.  but if people had 
> updated their skills, they'd be able to write GUIs with what they have 
> today....
>
>
> Mark Walter wrote:
>   
> > I don't know about anyone else, but I'm really taking offense to his
> > [john e] broad characterization of RPG programmers...
> >