RE: Standards and Egos (was RE: ILE Propaganda) -- RPG400-L

We handled the 'dreaded "customise - decustomise" ghost' on one project I
worked on by having all common code/db files in 'base' program/file
libraries and then the enhanced versions of programs and files in
environment specific libraries.  You can then manage your library lists to
control which environment is being used.  It's a bit of a change
management/maintenance nightmare though if you've got, say, 20 different
environments (you have check all environments for enhanced versions of
programs/files being changed).

This is a very large software package which is constantly being updated and
has some programs dating back to 1983 still in use.

I am glad I don't work on it anymore.

Martin

-----Original Message-----
From: Peter.Colpaert@honda-eu.com [mailto:Peter.Colpaert@honda-eu.com]
Sent: 27 June 2001 7:41
To: RPG400-L@midrange.com
Subject: RE: Standards and Egos (was RE: ILE Propaganda)




That's exactly what we (the development team) are trying to do: using a new
skeleton with good conventions (use of indicators, display format names etc)
for
all new programs.

But the main problem lies in the fact that the old programs have been
written by
maybe 40 or 50 different programmers over the course of 10 years, leaving
one
big mess for us to work in / clean up now.

For each change we have to make in an existing program, it sometime takes us
half a day just to find out where in the code our change has to be made.

Also, we have to face the dreaded "customize - decustomize" ghost: For one
country, the 'original' programs are customized (no problem there).
Afterwards,
this environment is used as the basis for a new implementation in another
country (ok, we can do that). Some part of the customizations made for
country A
are not necessary in country B, so they have to be de-customized.  Then we
spend
days trying to remove some of the customizations without disrupting the
other
customizations which have to remain in place.

Peter Colpaert
Analyst-Programmer
Honda Europe NV
Langerbruggestraat 104
B-9000 Gent (Belgium)

Peter.Colpaert@honda-eu.com
----------
Make it idiot-proof and someone will make a better idiot
----------






SCarter@rsrcorp.com on 26/06/2001 17:00:24

Please respond to RPG400-L@midrange.com
 

 

 



                                                              
                                                              
                                                              
 To:      RPG400-L@midrange.com                               
                                                              
 cc:      (bcc: Peter Colpaert/HE/EU/HONDA)                   
                                                              
                                                              
                                                              
 Subject: RE: Standards and Egos (was RE: ILE Propaganda)     
                                                              








I think what we are talking about here is that if your shop does not yet
have standards now is the time to set them up....
I don't think anyone expects a company to rewrite all of their programs to
a new standard.  But do start using standards on all NEW
Projects so that going forward any NEW application has been coded to the
organization's standards

Just my 2 cents





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