Re: Informix 4GL. A Future?

In article <D6to1n.C78@cix.compulink.co.uk> onlinedbc@cix.compulink.co.uk "Malcolm Weallans" writes: > There are many hundreds of VAR applications that assume the use of 4GL on > a character terminal. Many of them use specialised terminals for > particular applications. Add to this the large number of corporate > customers who have invested heavily in development for the UNIX character > market and there is a very strong case for continuing support for 4GL for > at least the next 5 or 10 years. I think that a large number of > customers who are currently looking away from INFORMIX due to the > uncertainty of the future of charcatre based 4GL would welcome a positive > statement on the future of 4GL. > Malcolm Weallans > Online Database Consultancy Yes, it would be very useful to have a statement from Informix. I've been trying to find out for more than 6 months but all I get is PR waffle. I fear it is in Informix's interest *not* to improve 4GL. Client/server is a fairly new and volatile market. If 4GL is improved it might be worth sticking with it for a year or two until client/server settles down a bit. If a lot of 4GL sites thought this way and did not convert to NewEra it would have a serious impact on NewEra's market share. If Informix is committed to 4GL why has there been no significant release for more than 3 years? I very much hope Informix continue to develop 4GL, a few improvements and it could still be a useful product. Sadly, the way things are, I would advise people looking for a Unix character based 4GL to look elsewhere. I hope Informix prove me wrong. -- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- paul sellars,humberside,u.k. ==========================================================================