Re: Why do I need New Era?
In article <linmarie@wam.umd.edu> says: ( actually it was Matt not Linda ) [Stuff Deleted] >Tim, >NewEra produces asci C code which is being compile with MircoSoft 1.5 C++ >compiler. On other platforms, NewEra will use a different compiler. I have >heard that Informix is currently trying to get there C code to compile with >Borland (#define problems, make problems). You don't have to know C or >C++ to write a program with NewEra! >But it would be a good idea to know OOP before you try to write anything >with NewEra. > >Matt ============ Why do I need INFORMIX--er I mean New Era? Matt, Let's back up a bit and talk about a couple of things. The use of the word 'there' and 'their' is VERY important to me. When I produce a document that management will read, I know management uses proper ENGLISH. To help my cause, which is developing applications, I want to make sure manage- ment views me with intelligence and education. They stumble over 'petty' and trivial things like improper word usage, and bad grammar. If you have to choose between better spelling and better grammar, work on the spelling first, then develop the grammar. Everyone uses bad grammar, but the spelling can make or break you. I'm sure you're a highly motivated person, eager to get applications out, but management won't take you serious unless you can spell. You definitely have guts getting into this newsgroup, so I'm sure you'll go far. Now, let's talk about NewEra. To really appreciate the perspective of where I come from, you would have had to be using INFORMIX products when they first came out. UNIX was very uncool, INFORMIX virtually unknown, and PC DOS was pretty bad too. Even XENIX wasn't too great, but it was catching on. As a consultant, I made up my mind to learn UNIX and INFORMIX and to NEVER take a mainframe job, even if I was starving. There was really little to choose from when it came to UNIX and data base products. I knew if I stayed with INFORMIX work, I would stay employed, and I'd learn UNIX too. Over in DOS-land folks were fleshing out dBASE and Foxpro apps, that looked like @#$@, and for me I couldn't understand why anyone would want to work with that junk. Then Turbo C hit. And DOS was improving. Then Windows. UNIX folk had a nice chuckle--what a silly little operating system. No multi-tasking, no multi-users. I'll stay with UNIX, and INFORMIX. Ahhh, my world is safe. And PC's just can't handle UNIX, so why bother. Well Matt, while us UNIX folk have been busy writing our apps in 4GL, and doing all kinds of neat things with the Bourne, Korn, and C shells, Bill Gates and his gang have been selling PC's and Windows. I'm not chuckling at Windows anymore. And neither is INFORMIX. I'm walking away from UNIX, and INFORMIX, because the CUSTOMER, for whom the apps are written, wants WINDOWS. And like most people they don't want to spend a fortune on them. No one who has seen NewEra says it's a bad product. It's a GREAT product, but way too expensive! The very people who need to get their ( not there ) hands on this product won't be able to because of the price. I am now referring to the cost of NewEra as 'g-series' pricing: GOUGE PRICING. You mentioned NewEra will be available on 'other' platforms. What other platform is it that you had in mind? Why would a business that has to upgrade their ( not there ) computers' memory to accomdate the Win 95 OS, invest in an Xwindow setup of NewEra? Why would they need UNIX? As a software developer, you should look to the future a bit and ask, "What will the dominant OS be in the next 5 years?". And, "What is the platform of choice for business?". This is where you will find work, and feed your family. You will have to make some hard choices, like me, learning to use the Notepad editor, instead of Vi. Oh yes, there will be a transition period as business migrates from UNIX and 4GL to <egad> SQL Server, or other-than-expensive-db, Windows NT/Server, and Windows 95. MIS managers will now start looking for VC++ developers with TCP/IP knowledge, and networking backgrounds, rather than specific platform knowledge, or proprietary 4GL languages. Yes VC++ is proprietary, but it's inexpensive, like phone service, so management really won't care. And third-party products can be used with it. Software is coming of age, and becoming a commodity. Economics will decide the fate of any product, including software. A real revolution is about to unfold--I hope you're getting ready. I know Bill Gates is. Tim \\\\|// (o o) ==============================---o00--(_)--00o---============================ Tim Schaefer tschaefe@gate.net The Computer Business Company, Inc. http://www.gate.net/~tschaefe Coconut Creek, FL, USA DILLIGAF! INX_UTIL Tool Kit is now shareware Ub...eh...Now, see, who gets to ask the questions here? --Ross Perot =============================================================================