Re: [WEB400] Re: XML, RPG, Web Services, Joe = Holy War was -> RE: Re: Modify the IE Browser

["Brad Stone" <brad@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Thu, 4 Sep 2003 17:00:10 -0400
 "Buck" <buck.calabro@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> The point I'm trying to get across is subtle but
> important, so I'll poke at
> it from a different angle.  If I'm trying to do TIFF
> image transformation to
> JPG and all I know is RPG, and I write my requirements so
> that an RPG guy
> like me can get the job done, I may not have written a
> very good spec, much
> less the code.  The end result may be very fragile and
> verydifficult to
> maintain or even use, with many interrelated steps
> (failure possibilities.)

Hi, Buck!

In all fairness, comparing CGI to TIFF to JPG translation
is like comparing a 2x4 to a lesiure suit...  I do TIFF to
PDF conversions and use C.  Could I use RPG?  Yes... Do I
want to?  No.  Do I want to use RPG for CGI?
 Absofreakinlootly!

> 
> I think that RPG as a CGI language is a pretty
> interesting thing, and that
> it may in fact have a place in some companies.  But there
> ARE languages like
> Perl which are much better CGI languages than RPG, which
> was designed for
> database/reports.

What makes Perl nice for CGI is the built in functions used
with the web, and also it's string manipulation abilities.
 But, it lacks in the DB area, which in our area is kind of
the most important thing.  That's where RPG shines.

I'd argue that a lot of the functions (that are most used,
not some obscure function used in one shop in Albacoykee)
are available, or are very easily written.  Why are we so
lazy today that we can't write our own functions?  :)

And RPG's string manipulation abilities are not half bad.

I keep seeing the same arguments against RPG crop up year
after year.  And they are actually becoming less relevent
as well.  

The thing to remember is, no method is wrong.  But there is
a lesser of evils and with the hundreds of customers I've
dealt with, RPG is the ticket.  Ironically most come to me
and say:

"Ok I did everything the consultants, mags and media said..
[insert websphere experience, explatives, etc. here].  We
have nothing more to lose.  Show us how RPG works with the
web."

The rest is history, full of smiles and tons of extra money
in the budget, and not to mention some pretty cool apps.

I'd have to say, Websphere is probably my best money maker,
in a roundabout sort of way.  :)