Deep Thoughts with Richard Schoen

I spent a few minutes with Bob Cozzi at the COMMON conference in Anaheim California in May describing our two new forms products: iPDF and iForms.  Check out the online interview here: http://www.systeminetwork.com/isnblogs/istudio

There are several technologies available today for developing iSeries desktop and web applications. RJS uses all of them including .Net, Java, PHP and RPG.  However based on my background as an RPG developer and my experiences in working with all of these technologies I have come to the conclusion that .Net is usually the best technology for iSeries developers to select when choosing to begin developing windows desktop or web based applications.

Here are my top ten reasons why .Net is a good way to go for iSeries developers learning how to modernize their iSeries applications or simply needing to write PC or web based applications for other business purposes:

1.) The VB.Net language syntax is very english-like and similar to RPG, so it’s easy to master. Java and PHP are more cryptic and can take up to a year to become proficient with. As an iSeries developer I found it much easier to grasp the english-like VB language than I did the C-style syntax of Java or the odd, unstructured style of PHP.

2.) Your first iSeries database application can be written within 30 minutes of learning how to use .Net. A windows or web based subfile-like inquiry/query application can be developed in less than 50 lines of code. Windows desktop applications are difficult to write in Java and cannot be written in PHP.

3.) Developers don’t need to initially know any HTML to get started with web application development. While I advocate knowing HTML because it’s the screen design syntax for web applications, Microsoft Visual Studio hides a lot of the complexities of HTML design so a developer beginning to develop web applications with Visual Studio can write initial code with little or no HTML design experience. If you use Java or PHP you will need to have a background in HTML design before getting started.

4.) Existing RPG and CL application code can be easily called and used within a windows or web application. This is one of the best features of Visual Studio. Existing business logic written for green screen applications can be re-used in Windows and Web applications.

5.) Web Services can be written very easily using .Net technology and with very little code.

6.) Developers can mix and match VB.Net, C# or Java syntax within a .Net application. Using open source tools such as IKVM, real Java code can be used in a .Net application as well.

7.) The Visual Studio 2005 Express development environment is FREE and very programmer friendly. Eclipse and WDSC which are the primary Java and PHP development environments can be difficult to master. Eclipse is FREE and WDSC is included as part of the iSeries software licensing.

8.) There are several free and commercially available visual custom controls to make windows and web applications look visually appealing. There are not as many visual controls available for Java or PHP.

9.) Web applications written in ASP.Net can be run natively on the iSeries via Apache Tomcat or Websphere/Websphere Portal Server. This is a great way to write code using Microsoft Visual Studio, yet run the compiled code on the iSeries.

10.) Once developers know VB syntax, they can also write macros for MS Word, Excel or any VB script enabled language making their newfound development skills useful in several programming situations.