Re: Reasons for using RPGIV

[Eric Wolf <eric_a_wolf@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

She wants job security...


Eric Wolf
XA Business Analyst
(818) 486-5678

On Apr 12, 2011, at 3:40 PM, "sjl" <sjl_abc@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Thanks for the response, Gary - you are obviously a convert!
>
> I already had some of those listed as advantages of using RPGIV, but you 
> mentioned a couple that I missed.
>
> You work for Terex, as in monster machines?
>
> IIRC, they make the largest dump truck in the world. I did not know that 
> Terex is an IBM i shop...
>
> - sjl
>
>
>
> Gary wrote:
>
> 1.  She is afraid to leave her comfort zone.  ILE is viewed as
> frightening.
>
> 2.  She doesn't want to learn D-specs.  She is very comfortable with
> I-specs.
>
> 3.  Field sizes can be larger.  They don't have to have starting and
> ending entries only the length and data type.
>
> 4.  Field names can be longer.  This makes internal documentation a bit
> clearer.
>
> 4.  Pointers to user spaces are supported.  This can really speed things
> up.
>
> 5.  ILE is "extensible".  For example, you can bind in C functions to
> verify an email address is formatted correctly via REGEX.
>
>    Or you can write your own functions that can be called recursively
> without abnormally ending the program.
>
> 6.  RPG/400 does not support BIFs.  %TRIMx() and %LEN() are very handy
> when handling strings.
>
> 7.  API usage is much easier.
>
> 8.  Internal documentation can be made clearer.  A subroutine named
> SendAnErrorMessageToTheUser says a lot more than SAEMTTU.
>
> 9.  There are numerous ways to solve a problem.
>
> 10. As a JDE shop you may one day end up an Oracle shop.  Better get
> used to a language that uses a ; to end a statement.
>
>
>
>
>
> Gary
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of sjl
> Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 2:55 PM
> To: rpg400-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Reasons for using RPGIV
>
>
>
> I am involved in a philosophical argument with one of the lead
> developers in
>
> the JDE/Oracle V5R4 shop where I have been working as a consultant for
> the
>
> last five years.
>
>
>
> If I understand her correctly, her argument is that as a JDE shop that
> we
>
> should NOT be using RPGIV at all, and that we should be writing /all/
> code
>
> in RPG/400.  I don't necessarily disagree, in the case of simple mods to
> an
>
> existing JDE program, but I would argue that /all/ new development
> should be
>
> done in free-form RPGIV.
>
>
>
> Background:
>
> We currently have a mixture of OPM and RPGIV code.
>
>
>
> Some of the RPGIV is programs that have simply been run through
> CVTRPGSRC to
>
> convert them to fixed-form ILE source, other RPGIV code includes several
>
>
> including entire sub-systems which have been written entirely in
> free-form
>
> RPGIV utilizing service programs and binding source.
>
>
>
> Other than hitting the RPG/400 compiler limits on the number of arrays,
>
> tables, and files (which necessitates converting the program to RPGIV in
>
>
> order for it to compile successfully), she wants me to present five
>
> compelling reasons to justify the use of RPGIV, particularly free-form
> RPGIV
>
> code.
>
>
>
> Any thoughts?  I need ammunition!
>
>
>
> - sjl
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -- 
>
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