Re: Ruby On Rails on the iSeries

[Nathan Andelin <nandelin@xxxxxxxxx>]

> a perfect  summary of the changes the iSeries is going through.


 True, assuming that  you're referring to the transition from 5250 screens to 
browsers.  If so, the  same thought crossed my mind.
  
  The iSeries may offer the  best runtime environment for server based 
applications.  But making the  transition to browser interfaces has been quite 
disruptive.
   
  Rails is a disruptive  force.  It challenges the notion that HEAVY, COMPLEX 
tooling,  infrastructure, and interfaces are necessary for application 
development and  deployment.  That message should resonate with many iSeries 
developers.  After  all, if lightweight interfaces are good for database 
applications, then why  wouldn't the same be true for environments that support 
application development  and deployment?
  
It may not be much consolation at the moment, but  browser technology promises 
to be even more enduring than 5250.  Like 5250,  browser applications are 
deployed on servers, instead of PCs, while UI  definitions and data are sent 
and received between the two.  Unlike 5250,  browsers support GUI styling, 
behaviors, and scripting which have the potential  of enhancing and extending 
the user interface beyond anything that could be done  with 5250.  It's like 
having the best of both worlds.
  
One of the values in  discussions like these is that ideas are shared that 
enable both application  developers and tool developers to improve their 
products.  Looking into Rails,  and reflecting on it has given me a lot of 
ideas about things that can be done natively on the iSeries.  
 Nathan  Andelin


----- Original Message ----
From: smorrison@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: Web Enabling the AS400 / iSeries <web400@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, August 16, 2006 11:49:15 AM
Subject: Re: [WEB400] Ruby On Rails on the iSeries

> > It seems that when there is tight coupling between your  WYSIWYG tools, 

> > your database access methods, session management, screen I/O, 
> > configuration files, and so forth, a new UI paradigm can be quite 
> > disruptive to  developers.

Except for the WYWSIG, this is a perfect summary of the changes the i 
Series is going through.


Steven Morrison
Fidelity Express