Re: Future of RPG: What language would you learn? -- RPG400-L

Very interesting question since I can't pick RPG :-) Note that most
anything ASP/JSP/PHP related inherently also requires HTML+CSS+Javascript
(at least in *most* cases).

The other interesting aspect of the question is that the answer is based on
employment and pay grades vs. making the decision based on what is a
safe/solid language for a business to invest in. I can't help but think
about the language to pick being scenario based. For example, if I were
learning my first non-IBMi language then PHP would for sure be the first
choice because I could become proficient in that in the quickest fashion.
If I was looking for a wider breadth of where my talents could be used then
I would select Java because it runs most anywhere, and being able to write
apps for not only web pages but also handheld devices (i.e. Android, which
will take over the handheld market by the time 2012 rolls around), well,
that makes Java a safe bet.

On the Microsoft language front, all reliability and platform lock in aside,
you will be able to get a good paying job.

At the end of the day if a person is just looking at pay then they need to
be an excellent programmer in a language vs. picking the right language.
You can make any where from $30k to $100k + being a PHP/Java/.NET/RPG
programmer and it is entirely dependent on what you bring to the table for
talent. A programmer that can not only code but also manage a project, take
customer requirements, can send coherent emails, knows how to think on their
feet, etc - is worth their weight in gold. The aforementioned attributes
become VERY important as you transition to a new language/platform because
the RPG programmer can't fall back on their knowledge of their existing
employers business logic as the reason for decent pay and instead are
competing against a whole crop of very intelligent next generation
programmers coming out of college who already are well versed in the many
ways the internet works.

Aaron Bartell
http://mowyourlawn.com
http://mowyourlawn.com/blog/

On Tue, Aug 10, 2010 at 6:18 AM, Tom Deskevich <
thomas.l.deskevich@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I read with interest the thread about the future of RPG.

I would like to throw out a hypothetical question.

You have just been told you have 6 months left with your company as an RPG
programmer.
As part of your severance, you can learn any language you want in that
time, your employer will pay for any software or training costs.
BTW, this is not happening to me.

What language would you learn and why?

I can only make my decision on my past experience, but my first choice
would be VB.NET and/or ASP.NET.
I think I can retain my sanity coding in it and I think there is a future
in it.

I know I only said one, but second would be HTML and Java Script I guess.
Seems to be the most universal language out there right now.
But I wonder what kind of pay you could get. Seems there are a zillion web
programmers out there, from high school kids to off shore for 10 dollars an
hour.

Have a good day.

Tom Deskevich
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