Richard Gambrell <[log in to unmask]> writes:

> Planning new apps to replace our MPE ones that can't
> easily be ported or that really do need to be re-written...
>
> One school of thought is that we should write new stuff
> in C, avoiding use of the heap and pointers to avoid hard
> to find bugs.  C is attractive for attracting new programmers,
> but how hard it is for Cobol programmers to learn to use C?

(Putting on my donna-like hat)

Well, you know how those old, broken-down Cobol programmers are...Can't
teach an old dog new tricks...etc...etc...ad nauseum

Way back when I went to programming school, we learned four languages:
Basic, Fortran, Cobol, and RPG.  Since then I've picked up Visual Basic, C,
and some C++.  I've written some extensive systems using C (like an
interface to ADP payroll that tracked savings bond deductions).  For me (and
I'd like to think, for any competent programmer, no matter what language
they use primarily) I've not had a problem picking up new languages, in so
far as syntax and such like.  Now, procedural versus event, that's a
different story.  That requires some change in design.  But still, not so
much so as to make everything I've learned using those old, out-dated
languages completely useless.

I guess the bottom line is:  If you want to retrain your existing Cobol
programmers to use C, you may have problems with individual programmers (but
I'll bet those ones have been giving you problems anyway), but the vast
majority will probably be excited to learn something new.  Don't discount
them just because they use Cobol.

As RAH said, "You live and learn or you don't live long."


Jim Phillips                           Information Systems Manager
Email: [log in to unmask]     Therm-O-Link, Inc.
Phone: 330-527-2124                         P. O. Box 285
Fax:   330-527-2123                           10513 Freedom Street
Web:   http://www.tolwire.com          Garrettsville, OH  44231

I WANT MY MPE!

Jim Phillips                           Information Systems Manager
Email: [log in to unmask]     Therm-O-Link, Inc.
Phone: 330-527-2124                         P. O. Box 285
Fax:   330-527-2123                           10513 Freedom Street
Web:   http://www.tolwire.com          Garrettsville, OH  44231

I WANT MY MPE!

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