RE: FW: Random

["Mark A. Manske" <mmanske@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Sorry if this sounds like a flame, take it as tongue in cheek...  :)

Are you talking users, or programmers; users will never care what platform
they are on, just as long as they get what they want; and they should never
be programming.  You need to sell
the AS/400 to a user because it is easy for a programmer to work with, it is
stable, reliable, and can support a large number of users all at the same
time; you don't have to
re-boot, heck you don't even have to IPL until you upgrade the operation
system or apply
some PTF's; though doing it once per month is a good idea (unlike windoz,
doing it four to
six times per day is the norm with much lost productivity)

As for RPG being more obscure; hey it's a programming language, I do not
want the average
Joe on the street to be able to do my job, or else I might as well start
taking classes in
basket weaving.

Anyhow, let IBM add more op codes, someday we might find a use for them; I
just hope they
also add in some of the things that we do need now to make RPG more
appealing to the Ivy
league "snobs" that think RPG is still only good for reports, and far too

<<end of soap box>>



-----Original Message-----
From: owner-midrange-l@midrange.com
[mailto:owner-midrange-l@midrange.com]On Behalf Of Martin, Booth
Sent: Wednesday, February 16, 2000 1:18 PM
To: 'MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com'
Subject: RE: FW: Random


"FOR" is nice I guess.  But what I need to make my users like the AS/400 and
RPG is something akin to the role originally played by RPG.  I need a way to
get knowledgable users to the data and allow them to use it.  The people I
am talking about can deal with Query/400 but not SQL.  They need to be able
to build decent applications, they need to be able to establish commands,
they need to be able to layout reports that are attractive.  You know, like
they can do with Excel.  Otherwise, "FOR" becomes a moot feature on an
unappealing platform.

Sorry, but making RPG more obscure and pendantic will not bring in the users
that I meet every day.

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