Re: /Free conversion (was CAPTCHA image validation in web form)

[Jon Paris <Jon.Paris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On 5-Sep-08, at 1:00 PM, web400-request@xxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> Yeah, I've experienced all that - just as Linoma did a great job -  
> better then CVTRPGSRC - that was a smash-together deal.

Ouch!  Actually it wasn't like that at all.  I was involved in the  
design of CVTRPGSRC and it was a very deliberate decision on IBM's  
part to produce a utility that did the minimum necessary to convert to  
RPG IV - which it certainly did.

We knew that no matter how good we made the utility, it would never be  
everything to everybody - programming style is such a personal thing.   
So, the intent was that if we provided the basic mechanism, other  
vendors could enter the field and "pretty it up".  And that is exactly  
what happened.  I've had a soft spot for Linoma ever since because  
they were the first one I saw and I was able to bounce into the boss'  
office and say "See - I was right!"

These days I suspect that IBM might even have made it open-source but  
the idea was the same - for IBM to focus on the things it did best  
(the compiler) and let others fill the tools gap with a little help.

I think we made the right decision - when I last counted, some years  
ago now - there were over 50 RPG conversion utilities around the  
world.  Everything from free open-source to for-fee to utilities  
packed with other software.

It may not have occurred to you, but all(?) of the third party  
offerings actually use that "smash-together" CVTRPGSRC for the base  
conversion!

Jon Paris

www.Partner400.com
www.SystemiDeveloper.com