Re: Free format H, F, D and P specs

We'll have to agree to disagree Alan.

Even if they froze it there would be a cost - one more compiler to keep up-to-date with the system changes. A new release is not a no-op on the compilers even if there are no new features added.

If they get no additional revenue what's the benefit to IBM? - other than keeping you and me happy which I'm sure is high on their must-do list <grin>


On 2013-10-07, at 5:48 PM, Alan Campin <alan0307d@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Jon, they have frozen PDM. Why wouldn't they freeze RPG IV?.Other than bug
fixes what would they need to do to it? It would be dead and how much are
they paying to maintain compatibility with every release of RPG going back
to the System 38, release one?

Hell, it would probably hardly ever be used anyway. Every company I have
worked at everyone is writing RPG III in RPG IV. No one uses free format or
built in function or procedures or much of anything. I introduce it but
most people want nothing to do with it. RPG III was fine 20 years ago. Its
fine today.

I am finding recent programs written with from and to positions in data
structures? How many years have we had the ability to define data
structures using just the type and size. Almost twenty? Almost every
program I see people are still using 6 character variable names for fields,
even in files.

Bottom line is a very very small subset will use the new features. The rest
will continue to write RPG III.


On Mon, Oct 7, 2013 at 1:57 PM, Jon Paris <jon.paris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Simple question to ask yourself Alan - how much would you pay for it?

Your requirement would all but double IBM's maintenance requirements and
thereby costs. Where do the $ come from?


On 2013-10-07, at 2:28 PM, Alan Campin <alan0307d@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

The following is my opinion only.

What I don't like about the announcement is that it is in the same
language, RPG IV. I think IBM should have come out with a new version of
RPG, RPG V or maybe RPGM for RPG Modern with all the free form syntax. No
support for fixed format at all and all the old garbage out of the
language. A clean spec. A modern compiler built for multi-treading. If

you

want to write modern go with the new language. Maintaining old stuff. Use
RPG IV or RPG III.


On Mon, Oct 7, 2013 at 11:58 AM, Luis Rodriguez <luisro58@xxxxxxxxx>

wrote:

On Mon, Oct 7, 2013 at 1:17 PM, Jon Paris <jon.paris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

on

Agree 100%. What I like most of the new syntax is that the /FREE

/END-FREE

combo won't be needed anymore. Nice!! Now, if I only could make

management

agree on a new IBM i :-(

On the other hand, maybe the "hype" before the real announcement was a
little too much. I was hoping something with more "substance". Maybe

some

new BIFs or something like that...

Regards,

Luis Rodriguez
IBM Certified Systems Expert — eServer i5 iSeries
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