I am primarily an RPG programmer, so the 400 has been my bread and butter. I'm learning Java, but I have no intention of using Java on the 400, at least not until they overcome the GUI problems. Java on the 400 is NOT the same as Java everywhere else no matter what Rochester says. I also think GUI is too hyped. Show me one heads down data entry person who would prefer using a GUI over a green screen and I'll be amazed.
I also think they'll have a hard time convincing people not to use RPG/COBOL on the 400, just like they've had a hard time replacing DDS record level access with SQL. It simply is not a better solution, so programmers won't make the move!
I do think that eventually RPG will become a shadow of Java in that you can expect a fully free form, Object Oriented version sometime in the next few years. I expect it to look and feel like Java with the functionality of RPG. RPGILE was a good first step in the right direction, and I truly enjoy that language.
As with most 400 types, I love my platform. I am a die hard fan. Check out
http://www.vamanet.com and you'll see what a 400 can do on the web all by itself. But even so I don't think the 400 (i-series, whatever!) will carry me to retirement, so I'm branching out. It's also become a problem with potential clients that we are tied to one platform, hence my interest in Java.
As for WebSphere, it is supposed to be a good tool, but once you use IBM tools it is hard to change to anything else! I would look at open source
Tomcat and
JBoss {FREE} before I paid 5 figures for a fully functioning WebSphere environmetn. But, all of this is changing I understand with V5R1, with web-facing and other improvements. I guess IBM is trying, but I also think it is too little too late.
Sorry so long!
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I'm a soldier in the NetScape Wars...
Joel
[This message has been edited by Joel Cochran (edited May 15, 2001).]