Re: AW: Impossible to even think about rewriting in RPG

IMHO one of the greatest advantages of the i is its greatest harm!

Because we still can run code written in the 80th without any modification
and still can code in this way, why should a programmer learn something new
or why should the management waste money for something that is not really
needed?
If we still can use SEU why to waste money for an WDSC, RDi, RDp or
whatever?
... and even worse if the i-Managers stopped programming 20 years ago
because of their new function, but still have to make decisions for the i!

The guys living in the PC world permanently have to keep their code
actualized, because the old way will no longer work, in this way they are
forced to learn new things.
In the AS/400 world nobody is forced to learn something new :((

Mit freundlichen Grüßen / Best regards

Birgitta Hauser

"Shoot for the moon, even if you miss, you'll land among the stars." (Les
Brown)
"If you think education is expensive, try ignorance." (Derek Bok)
"What is worse than training your staff and losing them? Not training them
and keeping them!"

-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] Im
Auftrag von Larry Ducie
Gesendet: Wednesday, 29. June 2011 11:43
An: RPG400
Betreff: RE: Impossible to even think about rewriting in RPG


The topics that dominate this forum at present are:

1. Management has decided to dump the IBM i and buy some shiny new windoze
package that we all know will cost more and be a disaster
2. I'm happy with my OPM code because although I don't use or fully
understand ILE I'm going to guess that my implementation of modular design
is better than IBM's so there's no point upgrading my skills to embrace ILE
3. My colleagues are killing me because they just wont upgrade their skills
to embrace ILE and they are holding me back

I'm wondering if there is a link between the three :-)

My $0.02 FWIW

If management allow a developer pool to stagnate then they deserve what they
get!
If a developer refuses to continually upgrade their skills they deserve what
they get!

I really feel for the developers at the vanguard (even though its been over
12 years since ILE was launched) because all they are really trying to do is
use the best tools available. Lack of support from management is ultimately
the reason for all of this. I blame the parents. :-)

The ultimate loser of course is the business. They trust IT management to
make the right decisions.

Of all the companies I've worked for the ones where management fully embrace
ILE and support the developers in enhancing their skills have supported
their business best. I have been that lone developer fighting to get WDSCi
loaded onto my PC, fighting for permission to write in /free, fighting to be
allowed to use service programs, etc... It is tiring and frustrating for
everybody involved. That particular company announced they was dumping the
system i (as it was then) just as I was leaving the UK to move to Australia.
At that point I was the only one who really understood ILE and used WDSCi. I
got myself IBM Certified (at my own cost) and I got a job straight away -
they're all good skills to have apparently. :-)

Now Im in a position to influence such things. Management here are
light-years away from my last shop. Our shop standards mandate ILE and RDPi
and /free. We provide 10 days a year for each developer for professional
development. They are encouraged to think outside the box and put forward
proposals for blue-sky research which may or may not work. The point is to
push the boundaries. We (IT and the business) have had some fantastic
unexpected wins from this!

We went through a process of adjustment but even the die-hards wouldn't go
back now. We are at the cutting edge in our use of ILE and have been for
several years. Honestly, you just wouldn't believe what you can do with this
stuff when you have 20+ developers all using ILE, all pushing the
boundaries, all enjoying their job!

There is another way!

Cheers

Larry Ducie