How does RPG compare to the virtually dozens of new GUI programming languages making their appearance every year? Does GUI spell the demise of RPG and in fact all character based procedural languages? The answer depends on how far out you're looking. The huge install base of AS400's and S36's makes the near future demise of RPG extremely remote regardless of what your GUI people say. However, in the distant future, RPG in its current form will probably become extinct. The reason is because accelerated change in both hardware and software will force RPG to be a victim of its own limitations that is, its inability to change.

There is no doubt that the graphical representation of information is rapidly becoming the technique of choice for nearly all applications, including business applications. What I mean is that languages need to be flexible enough to work with both graphic and character presentations. That means unless IBM comes up with some major alterations in its character based languages on their minis, their mini line will ultimately suffer the same demise as the mainframes.

In terms of your business, the AS400 is still a tremendously flexible and powerful machine that can provide years of reliable service at a cheaper cost than any network or mainframe. What about RPG IV and ILE? Isn't that a step in the right direction? Yes it is but old habits are hard to break. The old image of RPG400 persist making the acceptance of RPG IV and ILE a slow process. In addition, MIS shops simply do not have the resources to convert existing code into the latest RPG version.

The real issue, however, in the language debate is a mental one. The huge advertising push for GUI languages and PC based computing is nearly overwhelming though often inaccurate. The daily bombardment and slick advertising graphics will ultimately convince even the most skeptical watchers, even though many of the claims and perceptions created by these advertisements are at best an exaggeration. At their worse many of the claims are totally misleading.

Organizations craving to be a part of that elite front guard of technology users jump in with both feet and eyes securely closed. When they emerge they realize rather grimly that "virtual reality" and "cyberspace" are just advertising illusions designed to peddle products that fundamentally have nothing new to offer.

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