Re: where can I download a RPG/400 guide? -- RPG400-L

Here's my 0.02...

I break down RPG coding into the following
RPG III
RPG III+ (RPG III run through CVTRPGSRC)
RPGIV (some free form/new op-codes & BIFs)
ILE RPG (service program & procedures)

Continuing to use the RPG III compiler when making modifications to an
existing program, instead of running the source through CVTRPGSRC is just
stupid. Both on the part of management for insisting on it, and on the
developer(s) willing to go along with it.

Heck, when I had RPG III code around in the past, I'd usually run it
through CVTRPGSRC just to look at it. Simply so I could take advantage of
the outline view in RDi.

Perhaps there's an exception for third party code...but even there, I can't
believe a vendor would still be shipping updates written in RPG III. And
if you're not getting updates, then the code is yours now, regardless of
where it came from.

CVTRPGSRC is about the safest thing you can do on the IBM i, there's only
two op-codes that don't convert FREE and DEBUG. And those aren't often
used.

As long as you compile with DFTACTGRP(*YES) the behavior between RPG III
*PGM and the converted RPGLE *PGM is exactly the same.

Charles

On Thu, Jul 16, 2020 at 2:49 PM Eddie Gomez <gmon750@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

You know, you can discuss the “benefits” as if that person’s individual
use-case applies to each and every other shop, but in the end it’s moot.
Our company, as well as countless others, have commitments RPG/400. It
works, many programs are decades old and continues to work perfectly with
zero modifications. Converting it to RPGIV or ILERPG - for those objects -
and the resources/manpower for little to no benefit makes no sense… in our
use case.

Don’t get me wrong… I love coding in ILERPG. Many of our more modern apps
are coded in ILERPG, and in /free format to boot. But the 95% core system
is RPG/400. As an individual, I’d love for our system to be all up and
current on everything, but we also have a business to run and our
higher-ups will not be keen to be convinced of doing that when the
net-effect is that everyone works exactly as it has before.

I could tell you right now in my 30+ years of IBM experience that
converting our full manufacturing facility’s ERP package to RPGIV is way,
way more than “just a weekend”. Sounds like this person works for a small
shop, and good that they were able to do it in a weekend.

I’m a firm believer that “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.
New/specialized development is done with whatever fits the scope of the
project of our facility, be it RPG/400 or ILERPG/Java. I do find it odd
that the OP is not allowed to code in ILERPG for new projects. That’s a
bummer. Packaged code I can understand, but entirely new stuff should
matter.

If IBM did what Apple does and tell them to get current or else, IBMi
would have gone extinct ages ago. IBMi customers have a lot of money
invested in their systems/packages and its not in IBM’s interest to tell
their customers what to do. It’s why IBMi is still kicking strong today.
Code developed 30 years ago (or longer) sill runs today with zero
maintenance. That means IBM can sell those customers shiny, expensive new
hardware to run their old legacy code and keep them happy.

My 2-cents at today’s market rates.

On Jul 16, 2020, at 13:28, Jon Paris <jon.paris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Because it does provide significant benefit in the case of program

maintenance.

Admittedly:

_if_using a package from an antiquated vendor who insists on sticking

with an out-of-date language forno good reason

and _if_ you are taking regular maintenance updates from the vendor

The maybe.

JDE is one such package. It is so hard to switch it to RPG IV that

several one man shops have made the conversion by themselves over a
weekend! Yup - it is such a huge effort with so many compatibility issues
that it took a while weekend!

Sadly IBM did not hold many of the ISV's feet to the fire as they should

have done and we all pay the price because (as I thin Vern noted) we become
seen as an obsolete out-of-date platform.

Sigh .....

On Jul 16, 2020, at 4:11 PM, Eddie Gomez <gmon750@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Our ERP system is still RPG/400 with countless of vendor-supplied /copy

includes coded in RPG/400, and their API’s as well. We do ILERPG/Java
where needed, but we’re still predominantly an RPG/400 shop. There is zero
benefit for us to convert anything to RPGIV or ILERPG. New development
where applicable is done in ILE, but it’s more the exception than the
rule.

If converting RPG/400 to RPGIV provides little to no benefit other than

converting the code, why do it?

I suppose I can understand the higher-ups banning the process.

On Jul 16, 2020, at 12:56, Ignacio Garcia <cascada3405@xxxxxxxxx>

wrote:

Weird....when everybody wants to do the opposite way

El jue., 16 de jul. de 2020 2:52 PM, Brian Parkins <

goodprophet.bp@xxxxxxxxx>

escribió:

Just to be pedantic and for the avoidance of any doubt, is your
management aware that converting to the RPG IV syntax and using ILE
features are two quite different, separate things?

You can convert to the RPG IV language with confidence; many, many
others have done so and it works. ILE is not a consideration, unless

you

actually want to take advantage of its facilities. So, you convert
RPG/400 to RPG IV, (not ILE).

There has always been some confusion over this because RPG IV is often
referred to as ILE RPG, (To distinguish it from RPG/400.) Good old CL

is

also an ILE language. I bet they don't stop you using that! (The

syntax

is no different.)

Brian.

On 16/07/2020 19:48, dfreinkel wrote:

I have been banned from converting to ILE.

Thanks
Darryl Freinkel

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