Jos Coenen's blog

The IBM iSeries Developer Road Map: Is it right for you?

Een weliswaar gedateerd artikel, maar het biedt genoeg stof om over na te denken:
http://search400.techtarget.com/tip/1,289483,sid3_gci933635,00.html
[quote]

There's a new road map in town: the iSeries Developer Road Map.

It says, "Moving from traditional iSeries programming languages (RPG, COBOL, C) to J2EE is a long jump, but does not require a single leap. This chart describes a road map-discreet, achievable steps that move developers and applications on the path to an excellently implemented Web future."

We celebrate the fact that WebSphere WASN'T in the FIRST sentence. On the other hand, IBM created another version of the road map for COMMON titled "The iSeries Developer Road map at COMMON." This one starts by saying the following:

"WebSphere is IBM's key infrastructure solution which allows developers to build and deliver dynamic e-business solutions quickly. In order to make the transition from "green screen" RPG/COBOL applications to graphical Web-based applications, IBM is introducing the iSeries Developer Road map."

So maybe the new road map IS about selling us WebSphere -- again. Maybe IBM is worried we haven't bought it already.

Actually, most of the road map is built around the development tools: WebSphere Development Studio Client for iSeries (WDSC). Large companies (20 or more developers) may also look at IBM's Rational tool suite for more application design tools as well (not listed in the road map).

[/quote]
According to IBM we have to eat their dogfood or just choke!

Check deze link:
http://www-03.ibm.com/systems/i/resources/roadmap/index.html
[quote]

The System i has a long history of providing full functional innovative application solutions. These solutions have been written in a variety of languages using a variety of technologies. As more technologies become available, it becomes increasingly important to update the applications to exploit them and incorporate them into existing solutions.

This is true whether the technology is a Graphical User Interface, a User Interface for a Personal Digital Assistance (PDAs) or the inclusion of components for extending solutions using new Web technologies and whatever the future holds. These expansions into new technologies can help a company change and respond to the needs of the business; in fact, evolving into an on demand business.

Application innovation is an investment journey that takes existing business applications and integrates them with the pervasiveness and open architecture of modern technologies like Service oriented Architecture (SOA). It is the integration with these technologies that allows for almost unlimited possibilities for developing new business value. To help guide System i customers and Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) on this journey, IBM provides the System i Developer Road Atlas; a set of discrete, achievable steps that accelerates the skills of your developers and extends the capabilities of your applications, helping you generate new revenue and save money; while mitigating risk.

The System i Developer Road Atlas illustrates all the possibilities for development activities; including modernization, new development and the inclusion of components which have already been created. The Road Atlas shows key activities required for developers from seemingly diverse backgrounds as RPG, Java and PHP to integrate components together creating on demand applications.

Your application strategy can be enabled by following the steps outlined in the System i Developer Road Atlas. This initiative includes products and tools available from IBM and from the System i Tools Innovation Program.

Let your System i platform do more for your business! Start your journey down the path of innovation by exploring the steps of the System i Developer Road Atlas.

[/quote]