RE: Who Uses WebSphere Express? -- WEB400

Guys,

I am pro anything that works, and it all works to a lesser or greater
degree. It is a question of picking the right tool for the job.

There is some stuff that java web applications are very good for. There is
some stuff that RPG CGI is good for.

cheers
Colin.W

http://as400blog.blogspot.com


-----Original Message-----
From: Karl Lauritzen [mailto:klauritzen@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] 
Sent: 08 April 2005 23:30
To: Web Enabling the AS400 / iSeries
Subject: RE: [WEB400] Who Uses WebSphere Express?


Anti Java. Have not seen it proven cost effective or that it even works.
Also non of my staff has this skill would require training or new staff. All
cost money.

I see your points on that Java has its place for some, but it not a miracle
drug that all will need. For us RPG/CGI makes the most sense. And IBM is
pushing it hard. 

I agree I am anti Java and for you it works. But other pro Java people think
it is the ONLY way to go. 
I think we are saying the same thing ultimately. Look at options and cost
and decide. For us Java has no use and maybe we had wrong people advise us.
But it never worked and the cost was huge compared to what we did with CGI. 

Hey if Java saves the 400 fine as long as it still runs RPG/CGI. I am okay
with that.


 

-----Original Message-----
From: web400-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:web400-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Joe Pluta
Sent: Friday, April 08, 2005 1:21 PM
To: 'Web Enabling the AS400 / iSeries'
Subject: RE: [WEB400] Who Uses WebSphere Express?

Okay, now you have me going <grin>

> From: Karl Lauritzen
> 
> We have no desire for Java we do all development in RPG/CGI.

Okay, this simply states your bias.  If Java proved itself to be more
cost-efficient, would you consider it?  Or are you just anti-Java?

> We have had bad experiences with Java and recently that confirms our
> opinion of it. A timeclock solution that used Java and would never
work
> right or if it did very slow and sucked the 400 dry.

Another thing is this: WebSphere does NOT mean Java.  I just got done doing
a four-day swing giving all-day seminars on this very topic.  With just a
thin veneer of Java (basically just to convert EBCDIC to ASCII), you can
create a powerful JSP Model II interface with an RPG back end. It's
lightening fast -- so fast, in fact, it gives acceptable response time OVER
A CELL PHONE.

> We had an 820 then and have an 810 now. IBM contention was that
> Websphere for use a web server needed to be separate from our
production
> administration system for speed and security. Once we saw the costs
and
> no other alternatives were even offered we did not bother to look at
it
> very hard.

These are good reasons -- you might want extra security and you might want
to offload the web server.  But they are business decisions.  I run
WebSphere Express quite nicely on a little model 270, with 370 CPW and ZERO
interactive.

> I agree I am a bigot about this but for what we do (and what I hear
form
> a lot of others) running RPG/CGI on the http is cheaper, easier and
> faster (development and use).

I agree that RPG-CGI is cheaper, but not much.  In many cases, it may be no
more than some extra memory.  And if cost is really the issue, that's when
offloading the application server to a cheap Linux box is a great deal, and
something you CANNOT do with RPG-CGI.

RPG-CGI may also be faster for initial development, but you should take a
look at how a thin-veneer Java architecture can really save you time and
money.  Because you put all your UI into an industry standard JSP page, you
can hire someone at a relatively low cost to make it pretty, while you
develop the back end.

> Now websphere may have its place for
> others. But for most business that have staff in place you need to
look
> at RPG/CGI and http.

This simply isn't true.  Most companies will probably need some sort of Java
help at some point.  If you ever plan on doing things like web services or
XML, you will either need Java or .NET.  Assuming you don't want a Microsoft
shop, then the thin-veneer JSP Model II solution will get you to market
quickly while at the same time positioning you to begin learning Java.


> And I think most will
> agree websphere is the latest big push by IBM and little mention of
> RPG/CGI. At least give people some alternatives. That is what I like 
> about the 400 it can do most anything and everything and you can do it

> one way and me another.  Neither of us is wrong just what works best
for
> each of us.

I don't really worry about what IBM is pushing.  I just try to find the best
technology.  I won't tell you what is right or wrong for your company,
because I don't know your company, but I did want to address some of the
negative points you were making.  JSP is not slow, WebSphere Express is not
expensive, JSP technology is not hard to learn.  Now, if your company is
going to stay pure RPG forever, then obviously RPG-CGI is the way to go.
But if you think you might want to use Java in the future, then please check
into JSP.

Joe


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