Re: Why we don't use procedures more (was MOVE opcode in freeform /strange behavior w/%editc) -- RPG400-L

Rick,

FWIW:

The resource that jumpstarted me into using procedures
is Brad Stone's eRPG book.

If you don't have access to an as400, netshare400.com
offers a godd deal.  Works out well for me.

Phil

ps: I have no connection with these people other than
being a customer.


--- Richard B Baird <rbaird@esourceconsulting.com>
wrote:
>
> Bob, Nelson, et al,
>
> I think I'm in the middle here, and I don't think
> I'm unique.  I
> desperately want to start and continue using
> procedures more, but I have
> had certain barriers in my way, such as the fact
> that I work on a lot of
> legacy stuff, at a high hourly rate, and I don't
> feel I should spend my
> clients money "learning new stuff" or adding , and
> the lack of a
> peer/mentor whom I would work with daily to
> brainstorm on when and why
> using a procedure is a good thing, and when it's
> just fluff.  I used to
> have the time, and the peers to learn the new stuff,
> but I'm kinda 'lonely'
> now.
>
> And I'm not completely unfamiliar with the concept
> either:  for years and
> years, I've segregated duplicate code to programs
> that I can call from
> anywhere, just passing and returning parameters.  I
> do 90% of my new
> programs in rpgiv, but I still use a plain call to
> these "service
> programs".  I just don't bind or prototype them.
>
> The ibm manuals seem to compound the problem because
> they tend to tell you
> too much - i don't have the time to dig through them
> and can't see the
> forest for the trees, so to speak.  I need to get to
> the meat of something,
> bang it around a few times, then use the manuals for
> reference.
>
> maybe an FAQ entry on "procedure prototyping 101"
> with step by step
> explanations of the "how and why" of a simple
> procedure might help.
>
> I think the vast majority of us would love to start
> using them, and would
> if we had the backing of those who sign our checks
> and a jumpstart....
>
> ttfn,
>
> rick
>
> ---original message---
> Nelson,
>
> I think the problem is that anything new is, well,
> new. People in
> general don't like change. Which is strange to me,
> why would you get
> into programming if you don't accept change? I don't
> know.  Yo no sa.
>
> Procedures are the single biggest enhancement to RPG
> in 20 years--even
> bigger than RPG IV itself. Why? Because they
> provided a way for the RPG
> programmer to effectively extend and enhance the RPG
> language. Now
> here's something that is not only "free" (as a
> midrange programmer
> defines "free", which means, "the company paid for
> it with their upgrade
> fees or software subscription") and yet few shops
> have embraced it. Why?
> Perhaps because is requires change. :(
>
>
> Bob Cozzi
> cozzi@rpgiv.com
> Visit the on-line  Midrange  Developer  forum at:
> http://www.rpgiv.com
>
>
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