Re: Future of RPG: What language would you learn?

Javascript is from my experience, another tool in your toolbox, not a major
language to know like RPG. Sometimes you use it in the Project for some
specific task.
I think C# is easiest to learn over Java, at least in my case but I had the
ability to learn backwards from an existing app. But I found it easier to
follow than Java, I could see how the code works and I could make changes
pretty soon.

again given that I was not a progressive RPG person.

--- On Wed, 8/11/10, Tommy.Holden@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<Tommy.Holden@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:


From: Tommy.Holden@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<Tommy.Holden@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Subject: Re: Future of RPG: What language would you learn?
To: "RPG programming on the IBM i / System i" <rpg400-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wednesday, August 11, 2010, 1:14 PM


a lot of folks choose PHP for the "low hanging fruit". PHP isn't as
complicated as the other languages mentioned in this thread. which means
they can be productive sooner. after they have that additional skill they
can go after the more complex languages. PHP IMO is a good precursor to
learning JavaScript (sticking with the more simple "languages"). after
JavaScript then java is a pretty simple stone's throw away. to me that is
a good progression. PHP can be coded (and should be IMO) to be portable
across multiple database installations instead of using things like the
proprietary i5_ functions available for the "i". the db2_ functions work
just fine with different databases (pretty much the only required changes
would be for the connection strings). but that's simply my 2 coppers.

YMMV


Thanks,
Tommy Holden



From: Adam Stein <adamster@xxxxxxxxx>
To: RPG programming on the IBM i / System i <rpg400-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: 08/11/2010 08:09 AM
Subject: Re: Future of RPG: What language would you learn?
Sent by: rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx



I think they would go PHP in the hopes of staying on, or getting back to
the i platform. Imean, this is a consideration imo. I didn't have that
luxury I was tossed out from my last job, laid off. Rolled with it.

--- On Wed, 8/11/10, Mike Wills <koldark@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:


From: Mike Wills <koldark@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Future of RPG: What language would you learn?
To: "RPG programming on the IBM i / System i" <rpg400-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wednesday, August 11, 2010, 2:34 AM


That's a non issue here. The code would be similar for Java, PHP, C#, and
VB.NET. We aren't comparing RPG vs. other languages, it's about what would
you learn.

I doubt anyone here would argue that RPG is a more elegant language for
hands down data entry, until you add the web to it. Just try the same
thing. It's more complicated again. Now bring that same logic to a winform
app and the logic is about the same.

if (object.value < 0)
Textbox.color = "red";

You can't compare languages to each other. Each has their own strength.
For every argument against a language there is an argument for the
language.

This has been an interesting conversation though. It seems most people
would go the PHP route.

--
Mike Wills
http://mikewills.info

Sent from my mobile

On Aug 10, 2010, at 6:59 PM, Adam Stein <adamster@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

As an example of why ASP.net C# is not that easy to learn, take a simple

example. take a field in a column of financial data, say the Available
amount they can spend in a category for the current, make it green if it
is positive and red if it is negative.

In RPG what would I do? I don't know one thing, if the screen data is

still kept in DDS and using SDA but if so you could use an indicator for
the color, there are obviously better techniques. The grid is in Windows
say. To do this, I have to define a control first and then use it in the
code, there are 15 lines or so. In RPG I would say If Amt > 0 then red
else green, something to this effect. You wouldn't think that long about
this. But in C# this will take me more time.

The whole process of binding data to screen display is much more

complex, something that was under the covers on the i, or is.

It delays the Programmers development to think in i system terms.



--- On Tue, 8/10/10, Tommy.Holden@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<Tommy.Holden@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

From: Tommy.Holden@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<Tommy.Holden@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Subject: RE: Future of RPG: What language would you learn?
To: "RPG programming on the IBM i / System i" <rpg400-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tuesday, August 10, 2010, 6:08 PM


true. i worked on a contract at a place that did exactly that. once

they

started getting the lower level programmers asking for the job they were

told that the position was for one that was already taken. thanks to

the

lax H1-B laws they satisfied the requirements just by posting the

opening.

Thanks,
Tommy Holden



From: "Morgan, Paul" <Paul.Morgan@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "RPG programming on the IBM i / System i"

<rpg400-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

Date: 08/10/2010 01:04 PM
Subject: RE: Future of RPG: What language would you learn?
Sent by: rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx



Jerry,

It's probably an H-1B visa advertisement. They have to show proof that
they advertised for the position and could find no one qualified to get
the visa approved. They advertise a position with multiple requirements

so that no local is qualified.

Paul Morgan

Principal Programmer Analyst
IS Supply Chain/Replenishment


-----Original Message-----
From: rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [

mailto:rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

On Behalf Of Jerry Adams
Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2010 1:35 PM
To: RPG programming on the IBM i / System i
Subject: RE: Future of RPG: What language would you learn?

...

All of that said, hiring companies almost always put their requirements

in

the form of languages and/or packages. Other want ads for any kind of
programmer are scarce (around here, anyway), invariably they list

multiple

languages, not just one. And it was rarely the same mix across the want

ads. [Personally, I think those kinds of ads are written to meet the
qualification(s) of someone that they have already decided to hire but
want to appear to be an EOE. But that's just an opinion.]

...

Jerry C. Adams
IBM System i Programmer/Analyst
Give me a smart idiot over a stupid genius any day. - Samual Goldwyn
--
B&W Wholesale
office: 615-995-7024
email: jerry@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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