Dynamic 4GL

When ever we upgrade Online Dynamic Server, we are recommended or required to upgrade the tools (4GL, ISQL, RDS, ID) for compatability reasons unless we use the relay module functionality (not recommended normally). All of our 4GL code is recompiled. This recompile and testing effort takes a lot of time and effort to insure that applications still work as the user expects. It seems like we have to go through this process yearly. With a limited staff, this results in a lot of unproductive time as far management is concerned. Is Dynamic 4GL any different in this regard? It would be nice when the ODS needs upgraded that we are not forced to go through this recompile/testing effort. Also is it easy to port 4GL apps to D4GL when we have many C functions included in fglgo runners currently? Our management is potentially looking at some alternatives to 4GL to get our programmers into a GUI environment and loosen the dependence of the application from the chosen DBMS (though we are not looking at ORACLE or SYSBASE as alternatives to Informix DS, at least not in near term). Any comments and suggestions are most welcome. Dave McNight Unix/Informix Administrator Bob Jones University dmcnight@bju.edu