Re: Yahoo - Informix Revitalizes 4GL Application Development Too

Billy Wheeler wrote: > > On 8 May 98 at 11:44, Mark D. Stock wrote: > > > Billy Wheeler wrote: > > > > > > On 7 May 98 at 11:58, Ing. Melvin Perez Cedano wrote: > > > > > > > Mark D. Stock wrote: > > > > > > > > > Ing. Melvin Perez Cedano wrote: > > > > > > > > > > any comments? > > > > > > Oh, I have plenty. How about the way my NewEra customers regard me, > > > thanks to selling them a "brain-dead" tool? How about what do we do > > > with our millions of lines of 4GL code? Etc. > > > > Now there's a turn-around. I thought you said it was a great tool? > > What, 4GL? Sure it's a great tool. But The Market (TM) sees it as > dead, new entrants to the programming market don't want to learn it, > Informix are not doing anything to push it into, uh, a new era... This is all nearer the truth, but you were referring to NewEra as a 'brain-dead' tool. > > > > Are you sure of this?How much Informix sold in the tools market for > > > > new developments? I think that Informix abandoned those thousands of > > > > 4GL users, including me, because we have not received any > > > > enhancements, just same to continue maintaining existing > > > > applications. Do you think that anyone could evaluate INFORMIX-4GL > > > > for new developments? What 4GL offers for GUI, Client-Server, > > > > Intranet applications? > > > > > > Yep. Despite the fact that I believe that many of these platforms > > > or technologies add no value to the application, people still want > > > them. There is no way a new buyer of tools would look at 4GL or > > > NewEra, even if they are great solution in the medium-term. Existing > > > users of these products must be wondering what to do and how to go > > > forward. Informix's commitment to Data Director as a tool strategy > > > leaves existing users with only the bitter prospect of a complete > > > rewrite to get to newer technology. > > > > Well it depends if their reqiurements have changed. I agree it would > > be nice to have a 4GL/NewEra to WEBConnect conversion tool. > > Gee, thanks. :-) I didn't say I HAD one. :-) > > > > > > Informix, is now when you realize that there's a big market using > > > > > > INFORMIX-4GL waiting for a real solution for migrating to new > > > > > > environments (client/server, intranet)? > > > > > > > > > > I think the realisation that 4GL had a big market came a few years ago. > > > > > > I don't know about that. I think they've conveniently forgotten the > > > fact. > > > > So why continue to support the product? Why not sell it off, like so > > many before? Maybe I should keep quite, things have a nasty habit of > > turning around. ;-) > > Beats me. But supporting the product is *not* the same as enhancing > it to make it competitive in the market. If you're talking about 4GL, then we're going in circles. If you're talking about NewEra, then I agree. But that was what Bob decided, and he DOES run the company. ;-) > > > > INFORMIX realized that is a database company, not a tool one!! but, > > > > what about those thousand of INFORMIX-4GL users? > > > > > > > > > > Anyway, I'm still being a real Informixer! > > > > > > > > > > Mmmm, that's one term, there are others. :-) > > > > > > What, you don't think that it's right for an Informix user to > > > criticise Informix for leaving him in a dead end with some of his > > > Informix products? > > > > No I don't. But what dead end? If you need a character based > > application, I still think 4GL is the way to go. As I said before, > > if your requirements have changed, then you have to look at the > > easiest way of migrating to your desired environment, GUI or > > whatever. In this area there is certainly a void, but products like > > 4Js and SuperNova are out there. Whether you like the end result is > > up to you. > > I think the point Melvin and I are trying to make is that if a third > party can migrate your applications into, uh, a new era, why couldn't > Informix do it. Why was it left to third-party vendors to do it? Some > of us enjoy dealing with Informix and had good experiences with and > loyalty to Informix's tool strategy. Why were "we" left in the lurch? Well I think the crux of the matter at that point in time was that Informix was busy going under. Before that, NewEra was seen as the, er, new era. Since then, third-party tools have appeared, so why re-invent the wheel. If there was spare cash, Informix could have bought these products. "Left in the lurch" is probably a bit strong, but for answers there, you'll have to speak to Bob. ;-) Cheers, -- Mark. +----------------------------------------------------------+-----------+ |Mark D. Stock - Informix SA http://www.informix.com |//////// /| |mailto:mdstock@informix.com FAQ http://www.iiug.org |///// / //| | +-----------------------------------+//// / ///| | Tel: +27 11 807 0313 |If it's slow, the users complain. |/// / ////| | Fax: +27 11 807 2594 |If it's fast, the users keep quiet.|// / /////| |Cell: +27 83 250 2325 |Therefore, "No news: travels fast"!|/ ////////| +----------------------+-----------------------------------+-----------+