When I look at jobs they want ILE, SQL and Java. My current job has as400's but the jobs are in LA and I am not willing to move. How can I get back up to speed and land a job? I feel nobody will give me a chance since I have not coded in four years. I still write code to keep up with my skills. Now I am reading about a new application that is taking the place of SDA and SEU. Should I forget about AS/400 programming a pursue something else? If so what?
2006-12-01 07:44:41 · 4 answers · asked by dlj0909 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Programming & Design
ILE is more free format than older versions of RPG.
There are some new quirks to get used to, but a lot of changes are actually for the better. You can use your previous RPG programming experience to quickly pick up the newer ILE features. A smart employer will recognize an applicant's ability to adapt. Having previously programmed in RPG should be enough to convince a potential employer that you can learn any programming language.
Had you known RPG out of school, or did you pick it up on the job? I suspect it was the latter (as it was in my case). This proves the notion that you can learn new languages or procedures.
AS/400 programmers are not quite a dime a dozen as are, say, .NET programmers. Therefore they are in lower supply. Keep it on your resume.
2006-12-01 08:03:37 · answer #1 · answered by Cribbage 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Things have changed a lot from the AS400 programming days. Most programming languages are what it called OOP, or Object Oriented Programs. OOP is diferent from older style programs in that you can create objects, and then manipulate the properties of that object. Aside from that, you'll find your old friends such as operators and conditional logic very much the same.
Visual Basic and Java are both very good languages to know. SQL is used for querying databases, and is used almost universally. In my opinion, the HOT languages to know right now are XML and Javascript, and when used together become AJAX. AJAX has become the next big thing on the web, and is used heavily. Another hot web based program is PHP.
I'd say ditch the AS400, they are very specialized now and not many companies have them. Pick a direction to specialize in, like Microsoft (MS SQL/VB/ASP) or Web(Javascript/AJAX/PHP).
Good luck!
2006-12-01 16:04:09 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Contrary to what micro$oft is jamming down everyone's throat, the AS/400 is not going away. CL and ILE has changed alot in V5R4 and there are more features and new BIF's wrapping some old and new API's now. AS/400 now runs Apache and PHP and JAVA so there are new routes to programming on the 400.
http://www.netshare400.com you can buy time on a 400 for practice and other devel. works.
You can also get some online books at ibm.com....do a search for programming reference book on as/400
2006-12-01 21:52:47 · answer #3 · answered by Jeffrey F 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
as400 will be obsolete soon, if not already. Try learning MS Sql Server. It's an easy database program to learn. It can get complicated, but it'll be around for a long time.
2006-12-01 16:00:38 · answer #4 · answered by comn8u 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋