DB and 4GL roadmap?

Hi , My question below is for someone from IBM please. I'm looking for a timeline , features, new releases roadmap for IBM Informix database and 4GL (+genero?) for the next 2 or 3 years. Something updated in 2012 at least. For anyone who need justify your budget this is indispensable , mainly to keep Informix and if want to try "keep" 4GL (migrate to Genero). For 4GL customers this is very "special" since we need justify migrate to Genero (as a language what not stop in time) and not to Java or any other language. Looking at Informix offical site ( ibm.com/informix) , DevelperWorks I found nothing and neither google was able to help me. Regards Cesar --20cf307ac4374e7c4b04d11e5b58

Hello Cesar, Can you find something similar for any other database vendor (something real, not marketing bullets)? AFAIK companies are not allowed to talk publicly about specific and detailed features unless they're very close to the release (due to regulation rules). You know vNext is to be launched next year. This is aligned with the 2-3 years release cycle (11.70 was launched in October 2010). So vNextNext is probably beyond or on the limit for your time scope and naturally there arent's any specific details about it. About vNext the details are available to anyone participating in the EVP. But of course, I'm not the right person to answer you. Regards. On Tue, Dec 18, 2012 at 10:57 AM, Cesar Inacio Martins < cesar_inacio_martins@yahoo.com.br> wrote: > Hi , > > My question below is for someone from IBM please. > > I'm looking for a timeline , features, new releases roadmap for IBM > Informix database and 4GL (+genero?) for the next 2 or 3 years. > Something updated in 2012 at least. > > For anyone who need justify your budget this is indispensable , mainly to > keep Informix and if want to try "keep" 4GL (migrate to Genero). > For 4GL customers this is very "special" since we need justify migrate to > Genero (as a language what not stop in time) and not to Java or any other > language. > > Looking at Informix offical site ( ibm.com/informix) , DevelperWorks I > found nothing and neither google was able to help me. > > Regards > Cesar > > --20cf307ac4374e7c4b04d11e5b58 > > > > ******************************************************************************* > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. > > -- Fernando Nunes Portugal http://informix-technology.blogspot.com My email works... but I don't check it frequently... --00504501654abb86ca04d11e8635

Hi Fernando , I believed what I asking isn't need to be much detailed, what include something like this : http://informix-zone.com/files/presentations/ids_roadmap.jpg Where become officially from IBM and this not only for Database ... 4GL/genero too . There is a flash/youtube video (informix everywhere!) at ibm Informix site, where help what we need too but we need in that more formal way... to able make presentations. We need just evidence are working with not "dead" or in "terminall ill" technology and the vendor (IBM) have consistent plan to keep and evolve the product for next years and with this justify our investment in licenses, hardware, employees and other IBM solutions. For other vendors, honestly I don't know if they have or not this kind of roadmap/whitepaper, I will figure out this next where I need to do the same for Oracle + Oracle Forms. What I says is, they don't need like us, they don't have a past where someone try to "kill" it... Unfortunately here in Brazil we still have consultancies trying create a doubt about Informix future and mainly over 4GL future (as the viability to evolute the system to Genero and keep costs low , have handwork to hiring and able to keep high level development). At this moment we need official whitepapers / roadmaps to show... we are working with an updated database technology and the programming language is able to improve without rebuild from zero our system and hiring new developers ... all this to avoid they ideas like migrate to SAP system (then we can say.. bye bye Informix...at all levels)... and others saying to us migrate to Oracle + Oracle Forms (the new version.. I don't know the actual product name). Oracle Form have one vantage today... is easy to hiring a experience developer and hiring a trainee what want to learn it... Genero, not so easy because each 10 people you ask if hear about 4GL/Genero, 0,5 says "hmmmm yes"... this kind of problem we need to compensate with strong committed from IBM and officially documents.... and then work inside of our company to coaching new developers since here in Brazil, 4GL/Genero isn't top market highly used product.... And this force us to pay more for a trainee / junior developer because they don't know if have future working with Genero/4GL... the only way to persuade them is with more money. This what I saying ... pretty sure is the Brazil reality.. I don't know if is the same at other countries. In few words , just need a updated , summary official whitepaper from IBM saying all what is spread over IBM site, youtube videos, IBMers blogs and etc to present in formal way. Or we will need to "copy-paste" all this information from everywhere and not be a IBM official document... just a document with a lot of "here IBM says... there this IBM employee says... over there exists a big client what use Informix and believes it" ... this give us low credit. ________________________________ De: Fernando Nunes <domusonline@gmail.com> Para: ids@iiug.org Enviadas: Terça-feira, 18 de Dezembro de 2012 9:09 Assunto: Re: DB and 4GL roadmap? [29108] Hello Cesar, Can you find something similar for any other database vendor (something real, not marketing bullets)? AFAIK companies are not allowed to talk publicly about specific and detailed features unless they're very close to the release (due to regulation rules). You know vNext is to be launched next year. This is aligned with the 2-3 years release cycle (11.70 was launched in October 2010). So vNextNext is probably beyond or on the limit for your time scope and naturally there arent's any specific details about it. About vNext the details are available to anyone participating in the EVP. But of course, I'm not the right person to answer you. Regards. On Tue, Dec 18, 2012 at 10:57 AM, Cesar Inacio Martins < cesar_inacio_martins@yahoo.com.br> wrote: > Hi , > > My question below is for someone from IBM please. > > I'm looking for a timeline , features, new releases roadmap for IBM > Informix database and 4GL (+genero?) for the next 2 or 3 years. > Something updated in 2012 at least. > > For anyone who need justify your budget this is indispensable , mainly to > keep Informix and if want to try "keep" 4GL (migrate to Genero). > For 4GL customers this is very "special" since we need justify migrate to > Genero (as a language what not stop in time) and not to Java or any other > language. > > Looking at Informix offical site ( ibm.com/informix) , DevelperWorks I > found nothing and neither google was able to help me. > > Regards > Cesar > > --20cf307ac4374e7c4b04d11e5b58 > > > > ******************************************************************************* > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. > > -- Fernando Nunes Portugal http://informix-technology.blogspot.com My email works... but I don't check it frequently... --00504501654abb86ca04d11e8635 ******************************************************************************* Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum.

I don't have a link to an official IBM document (maybe some of our IBMers do??) but here's what I know: - IBM is committed to producing and enhancing Informix Dynamic Server for the foreseeable future. - Informix version 12.10 is scheduled for release in the spring - Classic 4GL will continue to be supported but not enhanced any longer - 4Js Genero and its roadmap, while now linked to IBM and certainly influenced by IBM is the property of 4Js, so look to them for a roadmap. - Know that there are other alternatives to Genero should 4Js falter (Querix's Lycia and Aubit 4GL). Between the three you should feed comfortable. Art Art S. Kagel Advanced DataTools (www.advancedatatools.com) Blog: http://informix-myview.blogspot.com/ Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that my own opinions are my own opinions and do not reflect on my employer, Advanced DataTools, the IIUG, nor any other organization with which I am associated either explicitly, implicitly, or by inference. Neither do those opinions reflect those of other individuals affiliated with any entity with which I am affiliated nor those of the entities themselves. On Tue, Dec 18, 2012 at 5:57 AM, Cesar Inacio Martins < cesar_inacio_martins@yahoo.com.br> wrote: > Hi , > > My question below is for someone from IBM please. > > I'm looking for a timeline , features, new releases roadmap for IBM > Informix database and 4GL (+genero?) for the next 2 or 3 years. > Something updated in 2012 at least. > > For anyone who need justify your budget this is indispensable , mainly to > keep Informix and if want to try "keep" 4GL (migrate to Genero). > For 4GL customers this is very "special" since we need justify migrate to > Genero (as a language what not stop in time) and not to Java or any other > language. > > Looking at Informix offical site ( ibm.com/informix) , DevelperWorks I > found nothing and neither google was able to help me. > > Regards > Cesar > > --20cf307ac4374e7c4b04d11e5b58 > > > > ******************************************************************************* > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. > > --bcaec517cbe0b7332604d11fd5e1

On Tue, Dec 18, 2012 at 12:31 PM, Cesar Inacio Martins < cesar_inacio_martins@yahoo.com.br> wrote: > Hi Fernando , > > I believed what I asking isn't need to be much detailed, what include > something like this : > http://informix-zone.com/files/presentations/ids_roadmap.jpg > Where become officially from IBM and this not only for Database ... > 4GL/genero > too . > The problem with this picture is that what was close has a "subject to cange" warning and what was further away is just too generic. I do understand your feeling and your problem... But I can't help beeing amazed by the way management keeps looking at this "problem". For more than ten years we've been hearing future death reports... 10 years in IT... Do you remember how IT was ten years ago? Don't they count the evolution and continued release cycle IBM has delivered for Informix? As for replacement I've seen several attempts... What I usually don't understand (because nobody can explain it to me) is what are the goals. Improve availability? Improve functionality? Reduce costs? Given the complaints it would be easier to fight them, but nobody ever provides them clearly. I know two situations on the same customer which are very "funny" if not sad... 1- They had a serious problem with SQL Server and they got a foreign guy come in to solve it... They were very impressed... For an equally serious problem caused by a cluster misconfiguration, they had a local Informix resource to solve it. Nobody commented it. So it doesn't really matter if your software messes up, as long as you're able to bring some foreign "star". 2- The same customer moved an Informix instance to Oracle. I used to go there once per year to "clean up the dust" (basic health checking) and chat with a single Informix DBA that supports another three important systems . Now they have an Oracle paid consultant (one or more days per week) to keep it running and 2 full time experienced DBAs. What is the problem here? The management was not fired! It can't be cheaper... We need just evidence are working with not "dead" or in "terminall ill" > technology and the vendor (IBM) have consistent plan to keep and evolve the > product for next years and with this justify our investment in licenses, > hardware, employees and other IBM solutions. > vNext announced release should be a clear sign that it's not dead. > > For other vendors, honestly I don't know if they have or not this kind of > roadmap/whitepaper, I will figure out this next where I need to do the same > for Oracle + Oracle Forms. What I says is, they don't need like us, they > don't > have a past where someone try to "kill" it... > Unfortunately here in Brazil we still have consultancies trying create a > doubt > about Informix future and mainly over 4GL future (as the viability to > evolute > the system to Genero and keep costs low , have handwork to hiring and able > to > keep high level development). > If you have the chance ask those people to describe the last ten years of Informix in front of the management. It should be interesting and would probably take their credit out. > At this moment we need official whitepapers / roadmaps to show... we are > working with an updated database technology and the programming language is > able to improve without rebuild from zero our system and hiring new > developers > .... all this to avoid they ideas like migrate to SAP system (then we can > say.. > bye bye Informix...at all levels)... and others saying to us migrate to > Oracle > + Oracle Forms (the new version.. I don't know the actual product name). > > Oracle Form have one vantage today... is easy to hiring a experience > developer > and hiring a trainee what want to learn it... Genero, not so easy because > each > 10 people you ask if hear about 4GL/Genero, 0,5 says "hmmmm yes"... this > kind > of problem we need to compensate with strong committed from IBM and > officially > documents.... and then work inside of our company to coaching new > developers > since here in Brazil, 4GL/Genero isn't top market highly used product.... > > And this force us to pay more for a trainee / junior developer because they > don't know if have future working with Genero/4GL... the only way to > persuade > them is with more money. > This what I saying ... pretty sure is the Brazil reality.. I don't know if > is > the same at other countries. > > In few words , just need a updated , summary official whitepaper from IBM > saying all what is spread over IBM site, youtube videos, IBMers blogs and > etc > to present in formal way. > > Or we will need to "copy-paste" all this information from everywhere and > not > be a IBM official document... just a document with a lot of "here IBM > says... > there this IBM employee says... over there exists a big client what use > Informix and believes it" ... this give us low credit. > Release dates since 2001 is the best evidence from my point of view. Vague statements about the future can suffer from FUD. Facts are harder to rebate: 9.30 Oct 2001 9.40 Feb 2003 10.00 Feb 2005 11.10 Jun 2007 11.50 Apr 2008 11.70 Oct 2010 vNext Mar/Apr 2012 Anyone wants to compare it with other vendors? I really like when people ask me about the future of Informix... Why do they ask? Where does the fear come from? Did we spent too much time without improvements? Don't we support most platforms? Have we ever tried to eliminate the OS competitors by announcing removal of supported OS environments? Do we only work with Linux? Or AIX, or Windows? Or on the contrary do we support all of them so that the customers can choose? 4GL should not be enhanced or at least no plans are available. But Genero and other 4GL compatible solutions allow you to re-use your work and there's no simpler language than 4GL. Naturally it's not good for anything else except business applications. > ________________________________ > De: Fernando Nunes <domusonline@gmail.com> > Para: ids@iiug.org > Enviadas: Terça-feira, 18 de Dezembro de 2012 9:09 > Assunto: Re: DB and 4GL roadmap? [29108] > > Hello Cesar, > Can you find something similar for any other database vendor (something > real, not marketing bullets)? > AFAIK companies are not allowed to talk publicly about specific and > detailed features unless they're very close to the release (due to > regulation rules). > > You know vNext is to be launched next year. This is aligned with the 2-3 > years release cycle (11.70 was launched in October 2010). > So vNextNext is probably beyond or on the limit for your time scope and > naturally there arent's any specific details about it. About vNext the > details are available to anyone participating in the EVP. > > But of course, I'm not the right person to answer you. > Regards. > > On Tue, Dec 18, 2012 at 10:57 AM, Cesar Inacio Martins < > cesar_inacio_martins@yahoo.com.br> wrote: > > > Hi , > > > > My question below is for someone from IBM please. > > > > I'm look