Re: Proportion of programming languages on AS400

["Bill Paris" <bparis@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

IMHO, the Cobal/RPG % will fall from 10-15/85-90 to 0-1/?-? by 2001. The
reasoning behind this is that all Y2K projects are complete...   no need to
purchase/develop in COBAL/RPG. Look for IBM to push C/C++/Java/? to 1)
Attract new/existing young talent and 2) Appear to developers/potential
customers to be "on the bleeding edge".

This is not a "dis" to all those that know COBAL and RPG but a "time to
smell the coffee" message for all those that know only those 2 languages.
We've discussed this numerous time in the past on this list, but unless you
wish to be left out in the dark (read unemployed), it's time to grasp these
new languages immediately! I cannot ...er...   ugh...  s*it...

Let me put it this way. I've only subscribed to this list for 5-6 months and
have seen alot of questions related to "new" technologies (CGI, TCP/IP,
Network Security, webserver stuff, etc.) by folks that are using the new
offerings by IBM as well as RPG stuff. I talk to young programmers here and
as far as they are concerned COBAL died years ago and RPG is only around
because of Y2K fixes/workarounds. Once Y2K is over they see no need for
these older languages. Older programmers here I've talked to plan to retire
or learn C/Java/somethign else.

I'm 37 (soon to be 38). I see the young and old. I'm in the middle of it,
having gained knowledge from both sides. I made a decision 1 year ago and
choose network/WAN implementation/security for my career path. Previous to
that I was an electronic engineer (that doesn't pay the bills here in
Western New York) witnessing many of my close friends making "living" money
in the computer field.

IBM will be going in new/different directions after Y2K. Grab ahold now
before the train leaves, please. You are ALL good people. After all, you
subscribe to this list!   *grin*

Lemme get off my soapbox now  ---->>>stumble --->>> splash...   ouch!

Bill Paris
Cheesehead


-----Original Message-----
From: Chris.Chambers@v2music.com <Chris.Chambers@v2music.com>
To: midrange-l@midrange.com <midrange-l@midrange.com>
Date: Thursday, November 18, 1999 8:35 PM
Subject: Proportion of programming languages on AS400


>Does anyone have any 'official' breakdown for the % of sites developing in
COBOL
>and % of sites in RPG. I have always heard 25% COBOL/ 75% RPG but I also
heard
>recently 10/90 and then again I was also told that in N.America COBOL is
the
>predominant langauge. However I also heard that IBM are to withdraw support
for
>COBOL compilers.
>
>Any opinions (official or hearsay) gratefully received,
>
>Thanks
>
>Chris
>
>
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