Re: FW: IBM's RPG Strategy (was: Long Procedure Names)

[Steve Richter <stephenrichter@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Thu, 24 Mar 2005 11:32:14 -0500, Jon Paris <Jon.Paris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
> 
> >> Follow the lead of Microsoft and develop a CLI specification that
> enables modules written in C++, RPG and Java to be used interchangeably.
> 
> Steve,
> 
> It already exists - it's called Java byte code - it's where Microsoft stole
> the idea for CLI.  Of course one could also say that Sun stole the idea from
> the S/38, AS/400, iSeries.

call it what you want, MS extended the idea so that languages with
completely different memory models like C++ and Java could be used
interchangeably. What MS did to make C++ an equal language in .NET was
nothing short of outstanding.  The equivalent in ILE would be an RPG
procedure instantiating a C++ or Java class and then calling member
functions of that class.

> To comment more specifically on your ideas, while I agree with some of them,
> the list needs to have some semblance of reality.  Changing the compiler
> architects/management would not produce the results you desire.  If anything
> it would probably guarantee that the future held no enhancements at all.
> The folks in charge right now are pretty much career RPG people - most other
> people in the labs go "RPG what?"

good!  those are the people we need.   Leave the language as it is and
start with the RPG you would see in an rpg procedure.  I dont use F
specs anymore, I use the recio function calls instead. So there are
plenty of features that can be left behind.  Call it what you want,
but os400 needs a general purpose, modern programming language.    (
actually I vote for IBM to assign one person with some smarts and
getup and go to complete the implementation of the C++ compiler on the
system.  I just want everyone else to have a good language to work
with also <g> )

-Steve