I agree. In fact, I've already created browser based programs using CGI
and freeform (and I didn't need WDSC to do it). They're still under
evaluation from management to see if they want to go in that direction.
:(
Did I take a class to learn freeform and CGI? No. I learned them by
working extra hours to do so. It was slow and humbling because as
anyone on this forum knows, you can't get a single definitive answer
when it comes to CGI development on the iSeries... i5... System i... or
whatever the heck IBM is calling it this year.
Why did I take the time and effort to learn CGI? Because it had an end
result that I couldn't easily do without it. Does WDSC have benefits to
it that I can't do with SEU/PDM that TRULY affect the end result? Not
from what I've seen.
Oooh, I can search with WDSC.... yeah, I can search in SEU too (or use
my own tools I developed for searching).
Oooh, I can open multiple programs in WDSC... I don't particularly want
to edit multiple programs at one time. If I need to have the dds and
ile open at the same time I can open 2 sessions.
Oooh, I can see errors instantly in WDSC... what are errors? ;-)
Oooh, I can edit screens in ... oops, never mind.
And as for job security... well, if we ain't using WDSC here, no one is
going to replace me because they use it and I don't. Also, I keep in
touch with a large number of programmers I've met through the years and
when I ask them about WDSC... guess what?.. they're not using it. Most
of them don't even have it installed where they are. "We don't use that
here", "We might if IBM quit jacking around with the way they offer it",
"We don't see any benefit from switching to it", "Our PCs don't have
enough memory and we have higher priorities for our limited budget than
upgrading them", and on and on.
Don't get me wrong. I actually like some of the features in WDSC (that's
why I joined this forum) and look forward to it becoming more popular,
but even I'm getting tired of all the WDSC bible thumpers basically
insinuating that people are idiots if they haven't learned how to use it
- or worse - CHOOSE not to use it. IMOH - use the tool that works best
for you.
-----Original Message-----
From: wdsci-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:wdsci-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of albartell
Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2007 1:07 PM
To: 'Websphere Development Studio Client for iSeries'
Subject: Re: [WDSCI-L] WDSC vs SEU
I don't work in a class room, I work in the real world and business
dictates "I want it yesterday". They don't understand you taking time
away
from their projects so that you can learn to use something that they see
as
having no direct benefit to the business. ("it doesn't create income" -
how
many times have we heard that?).
This brings to point a question though. Who's responsibility is it to
learn
WDSC? I would say both the employee and employer. Not having at least
one
or two people in a shop staying on top of the "new stuff" is very
dangerous
IMO and reflects the state of RPG programming as it stands today. I
wouldn't rely on the employer to make sure I am up to date on
technologies
though. We have families to feed and there's fun to be had with
technology.
Not staying up to date will eventually leave us as un-attractive
employees.
I guess the way I work is just put in a few extra hours here and there
to
learn as I go, and it all evens out in the end (i.e. the employer
getting
the "on-time" project, and me getting to enhance my knowledge of
technology). In some shops it is a reality to get dedicated training,
but
there is a new generation of programmers out there that enjoy what they
do,
and it shows. Programming isn't just a job, it's their hobby also.
They
are the ones that take WDSC home and install it on their own PC to see
what
they can learn. They are the ones that come in a half an hour early to
test
out a new piece of code they found in a trade rag. They are the ones
saddling the web pony and hopping on without a care of falling. THEY
ARE
THE ONES REPLACING OUR JOBS!!
Aaron Bartell
http://mowyourlawn.com
midrange.com
