02
Sat, Nov
2 New Articles

What Everyone Should Know: Where to Start

General
Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times

There's so much to learn today, and the "to learn" pile just keeps getting bigger and bigger while our time to learn it seems to shrink. So what's a body to do?

 

Do you ever feel depressed? Professionally that is? Like there is so much to learn and there is no way you're going to be able to squeeze it into your already overloaded day? Yeah, me too, and I am easily depressed to begin with, so it wreaks havoc with my id.

 

But I can't escape it. The days of being able to secure your job just by knowing RPG are over…as are the days of being able to use RPG III for a decade and a half, sort of frozen in time like one of those big woolly elephants. In today's world, you need to be constantly educating yourself, constantly growingor else just lucky enough to be in a spot where old technology is king. So, are you feeling lucky?

 

But what should you learn? CGI, PHP, /Free, SQL, HTML5, CSS3, Ruby, how to successfully date Eurasian supermodels? Let's face it, it's a tough call. And many times the things we read just make it worse because they act like everything is important and everything must be learned and a normal person (like yourself) can really do that. Face it; it's a recipe designed to have you start with that first cucumber martini about 1:30 in the afternoon.

 

Fortunately, I have it all figured out (actually, I'm still working on the supermodel thing) and want to offer you the fruits of how I have come to terms with the unlimited world of things I should know and the rather limited bandwidth that I have to educate myself. In doing this, I am going to assume that you are already pretty solid on non-ILE fixed-position RPG, CL, DDS, and how to date non-models. Given that, here is what I think you need to do.

Go Modular

The first thing to do is start to design and build modular applications.

 

This is something that's almost anathema to many RPG programmers. For many years, RPG was not compatible with modular programming, and we have gotten so used to just building one program that it's hard to switch. But do it. As Barbara Morris said at the recent COMMON Virtual Conference, "Modular programming is the norm for many languages," but RPGers lag far behind. More than anything else, the use of modular programming differentiates web-style programmers from their RPG brethren.

 

And I'm not talking here about using subroutines, although that's a step in the right direction. I'm talking about setting up separate modules for the various parts of your application and then using CALLP and prototyping to access those things.

 

The argument against this used to be that it was less efficient than a single big program, but with the advances in RPG ILE and faster machine speeds, any supposed inefficiency is dwarfed by the maintenance nightmare of the big program.

 

But how do you code in a modular fashion? There are a number of options, but the most common one, especially for web applications, is the Model–View–Controller (MVC) design paradigm. The Model corresponds to the business logic. The View is whatever is required to present or display the information. And the Controller handles all of the control activities necessary to bring the various modules into play. It's actually a very simple and elegant option. And it's one that plays right into how to handle web applications where you are using RPG and some web facility.

 

Sounds trivial, doesn't it? Shouldn't you be doing something in Java? No, not if you have any sense at all. Start by getting your feet wet with modular programming. Train yourself to think MVC, or at least separate modules for separate logical ideas. It will pay off when you start doing web stuff, although learning for its own sake is always good. It looks great on a resume, and models dig that.

RPG ILE and /Free

Of course, if you're going to go modular, that almost requires that you start using ILE. Everyone says they're using ILE, but most people can't tell you what ILE is all about and what the difference is between it and regular RPG IV. (Hint: it's related to whether or not you're using the default activation group.)

 

True ILE is not that difficult. You need to start using prototyped calls, which involves using CALLP and setting up the parms to be passed in some special D-specs. Once you get used to that, you can create some service programs.

 

Oh, and while we're at it, are you still using COFFR? Crappy, Old, Fixed-Format RPG? If so, then you need to move up to /Free. I'm just coming off a contract where I spent the first year doing COFFR (because they were on 4.3OMG, can you believe it?). Then last summer they went to 5.4, and now I'm back where I belong, doing /Free. /Free is very easy to learn, and being able to indent totally makes the code so much more readable. I love it, and if the gods are kind to me I will never have to code in COFFR again (although I will if the money is right).

 

You can learn /Free in a few days, and if you want to get up to speed, you can check out James Martin's short and very good book Free-Format RPG IV by MC Press or else check out the four tutorials I have on my website.There are also other tutorials out on the web.

 

It's not just the indenting. I love how keys can be set up for file IO. I love the simplicity. And I'm a big fan of BIFs, which are a huge part of /Free. Do it or die. Well, maybe not die, but you should do it.

Embedded SQL

Let me be blunt. I'm not SQL's biggest fan.

 

Oh, I know SQL/DDL is truly more powerful than DDS and lets you define some really nifty joins, very complex and all, the kind of thing that eventually ends up on an SQL forum under the heading of "I am doing this and can't figure out why it doesn't work, can you help me?" But honestly, most of the work I have ever done on the IBM i doesn't require that level of power. And DDS and RPG IO are just so simple. Use it if you need it, but switching to DDL/SQL just to be "modern" doesn't seem worth it.

 

At the same time, being able to do things using embedded SQL is a necessity, especially since it is quite possible that, if you do start to do stuff with the web, you may end up using either MySQL (or some variant) or DDL-based DB2. The bottom line is, for good or ill, you need to add the ability to code SQL to your skill set. You may not use it much, or at all, but you need to be able to do it. Start by being able to do basic Selects and Cursor-Fetch IOs, and then add at least some simple joins. I wouldn't get carried away with some of the super complex stuff unless you end up working in an SQL environment. If you know the basics, you can quickly up your game when you need to.

Web-Based Programming

This is the controversial one. Do you need to be able to code in PHP or some other web language? And the answer for me is…maybe, maybe not.

 

Web programming is a whole other ball of fur. My preference is to use PHP, but there are other options. Ruby has just been brought over onto the i, and for those who want a more RPG-oriented option, there's RPG Open Access and CGI. Or .Net via the Visual Studio. And, of course, there's always Java. Plus, a number of tools that have been developed by third parties allow you to build the web interface. Of course, in addition to the language itself, you need to have some knowledge of HTML and CSS so that you can build the pages.

 

If your choice is PHP, then even though you can do procedural type programming in PHP, everybody today is working in PHP OO. And that does require some effort to get into. It's not like the curve for Java, but it's a curve nonetheless. And even though you can do PHP in a simple text editor, almost everyone today is working in some sort of framework, a software tool that helps you develop scripts and provides a structure and standards to what you code. The Zend Framework is one example (as are Symfony2 and Lavarel). No matter which framework you end up using, there will be a bit of a curve for that as well. I'm not trying to turn you off from PHP (it's my pick), but there will be some work involved in getting up to speed.

 

Or maybe you don't need to really know anything about web programming. Maybe you can just contract that out. It's a valid option. There are a ton of HTML5, CSS, PHP, Java, and Ruby programmers out there, and you may decide that the best approach is to use modular programming to build the M and C modules in RPG and then have the V modules (and maybe some Ms) built for you. It's not copping out; it's bringing in specialized resources to help you out.

 

But whether you learn web techniques yourself or have it done, you will need to be able to interface it with your RPG programs, and that means using the Zend toolkit to bridge the gap. You can do it without the toolkit, of course, but there's so much in there that makes everything so much easier (not easy, but easier) that you can't pass it up.

 

The toolkit consists of two pieces; the XMLSERVICE part and the PHP Toolkit part. It's really a collaboration between IBM (they wrote XMLSERVICE) and an open-source group more or less headed up by Alan Seiden, a notorious "smart guy" who knows a ton about PHP and the i and is still surprisingly cool. The toolkit is provided with the Zend Server, but it's not dependent on it, and it will function even if you're not using the Zend Server. Because of that, it can also be downloaded from the Young i Professionals website. The bottom line here is that, even if you farm out the web programming, you'll need to learn how to use the toolkit and how to interface it between your RPG programs and the PHP scripts. It doesn't just happen.

Step by Step…

So, that's it. First, start doing modular design and programming. Second, get up on ILE and /Free so the other kids at school don't beat you up. Third, get a handle on some embedded SQL; you don't need to be an SQL ninja, but you have to know the basics. And fourth…well that's really up to you, isn't it? You'll give your knowledge base a whole other dimension if you learn some HTML, CSS, and PHP (or Ruby or whatever). But it's potentially a long road. Simplest case, get the Zend Server and IBM i Toolkit and work with those while you contract out the real web work. What's important is that you start your journey. Begin today and don't look back. It's too easy to trip and fall on your face doing that.

David Shirey

David Shirey is president of Shirey Consulting Services, providing technical and business consulting services for the IBM i world. Among the services provided are IBM i technical support, including application design and programming services, ERP installation and support, and EDI setup and maintenance. With experience in a wide range of industries (food and beverage to electronics to hard manufacturing to drugs--the legal kind--to medical devices to fulfillment houses) and a wide range of business sizes served (from very large, like Fresh Express, to much smaller, like Labconco), SCS has the knowledge and experience to assist with your technical or business issues. You may contact Dave by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone at (616) 304-2466.


MC Press books written by David Shirey available now on the MC Press Bookstore.

21st Century RPG: /Free, ILE, and MVC 21st Century RPG: /Free, ILE, and MVC
Boost your productivity, modernize your applications, and upgrade your skills with these powerful coding methods.
List Price $69.95

Now On Sale

BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS

LATEST COMMENTS

Support MC Press Online

$

Book Reviews

Resource Center

  • SB Profound WC 5536 Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application. You can find Part 1 here. In Part 2 of our free Node.js Webinar Series, Brian May teaches you the different tooling options available for writing code, debugging, and using Git for version control. Brian will briefly discuss the different tools available, and demonstrate his preferred setup for Node development on IBM i or any platform. Attend this webinar to learn:

  • SB Profound WP 5539More than ever, there is a demand for IT to deliver innovation. Your IBM i has been an essential part of your business operations for years. However, your organization may struggle to maintain the current system and implement new projects. The thousands of customers we've worked with and surveyed state that expectations regarding the digital footprint and vision of the company are not aligned with the current IT environment.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT Generic IBM announced the E1080 servers using the latest Power10 processor in September 2021. The most powerful processor from IBM to date, Power10 is designed to handle the demands of doing business in today’s high-tech atmosphere, including running cloud applications, supporting big data, and managing AI workloads. But what does Power10 mean for your data center? In this recorded webinar, IBMers Dan Sundt and Dylan Boday join IBM Power Champion Tom Huntington for a discussion on why Power10 technology is the right strategic investment if you run IBM i, AIX, or Linux. In this action-packed hour, Tom will share trends from the IBM i and AIX user communities while Dan and Dylan dive into the tech specs for key hardware, including:

  • Magic MarkTRY the one package that solves all your document design and printing challenges on all your platforms. Produce bar code labels, electronic forms, ad hoc reports, and RFID tags – without programming! MarkMagic is the only document design and print solution that combines report writing, WYSIWYG label and forms design, and conditional printing in one integrated product. Make sure your data survives when catastrophe hits. Request your trial now!  Request Now.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericForms of ransomware has been around for over 30 years, and with more and more organizations suffering attacks each year, it continues to endure. What has made ransomware such a durable threat and what is the best way to combat it? In order to prevent ransomware, organizations must first understand how it works.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericIT security is a top priority for businesses around the world, but most IBM i pros don’t know where to begin—and most cybersecurity experts don’t know IBM i. In this session, Robin Tatam explores the business impact of lax IBM i security, the top vulnerabilities putting IBM i at risk, and the steps you can take to protect your organization. If you’re looking to avoid unexpected downtime or corrupted data, you don’t want to miss this session.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericCan you trust all of your users all of the time? A typical end user receives 16 malicious emails each month, but only 17 percent of these phishing campaigns are reported to IT. Once an attack is underway, most organizations won’t discover the breach until six months later. A staggering amount of damage can occur in that time. Despite these risks, 93 percent of organizations are leaving their IBM i systems vulnerable to cybercrime. In this on-demand webinar, IBM i security experts Robin Tatam and Sandi Moore will reveal:

  • FORTRA Disaster protection is vital to every business. Yet, it often consists of patched together procedures that are prone to error. From automatic backups to data encryption to media management, Robot automates the routine (yet often complex) tasks of iSeries backup and recovery, saving you time and money and making the process safer and more reliable. Automate your backups with the Robot Backup and Recovery Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAManaging messages on your IBM i can be more than a full-time job if you have to do it manually. Messages need a response and resources must be monitored—often over multiple systems and across platforms. How can you be sure you won’t miss important system events? Automate your message center with the Robot Message Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAThe thought of printing, distributing, and storing iSeries reports manually may reduce you to tears. Paper and labor costs associated with report generation can spiral out of control. Mountains of paper threaten to swamp your files. Robot automates report bursting, distribution, bundling, and archiving, and offers secure, selective online report viewing. Manage your reports with the Robot Report Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAFor over 30 years, Robot has been a leader in systems management for IBM i. With batch job creation and scheduling at its core, the Robot Job Scheduling Solution reduces the opportunity for human error and helps you maintain service levels, automating even the biggest, most complex runbooks. Manage your job schedule with the Robot Job Scheduling Solution. Key features include:

  • LANSA Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.

  • LANSAWhen it comes to creating your business applications, there are hundreds of coding platforms and programming languages to choose from. These options range from very complex traditional programming languages to Low-Code platforms where sometimes no traditional coding experience is needed. Download our whitepaper, The Power of Writing Code in a Low-Code Solution, and:

  • LANSASupply Chain is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. From raw materials for manufacturing to food supply chains, the journey from source to production to delivery to consumers is marred with inefficiencies, manual processes, shortages, recalls, counterfeits, and scandals. In this webinar, we discuss how:

  • The MC Resource Centers bring you the widest selection of white papers, trial software, and on-demand webcasts for you to choose from. >> Review the list of White Papers, Trial Software or On-Demand Webcast at the MC Press Resource Center. >> Add the items to yru Cart and complet he checkout process and submit

  • Profound Logic Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application.

  • SB Profound WC 5536Join us for this hour-long webcast that will explore:

  • Fortra IT managers hoping to find new IBM i talent are discovering that the pool of experienced RPG programmers and operators or administrators with intimate knowledge of the operating system and the applications that run on it is small. This begs the question: How will you manage the platform that supports such a big part of your business? This guide offers strategies and software suggestions to help you plan IT staffing and resources and smooth the transition after your AS/400 talent retires. Read on to learn: