Tell me about RPG programming

[craigdt]

Is this a dead language?

Could someone with virtually no programing background learn this?

 

[modi123]

What, got the in roads for a super sweet AS400 job?

I mean.. sure.. with enough time, and a stable compiler, anyone off the street can pick it up. Should then? Probably not.
https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/...g in Free-Form RPG IV - a beginner's tutorial

 

[Paladin21]

We teach a course in RPG development periodically in our CS department for the same reason we periodically offer COBOL: there's (good-paying) jobs available. The majority of the workforce that specializes in this sort of development is either about to retire or already retired and being paid contractor rates to do maintenance. We've consistently been told by industry in the area that they'll take anyone we can point to them that's competent in these areas.

In terms of learning: it's a mixed bag. If you're using a modern(ish) version of RPG it's much easier. If you're doing development on a legacy system it can be really brutal, as it's positional (ie, column you start a line in matters). In both cases there's a ton of idiosyncrasies in the language such as how commands are represented (typically, but not always, with vowels removed) and how you interact with the system.

 

[craigdt]

What, got the in roads for a super sweet AS400 job?

Actually yes. Lol

They are trying to prepare for soon retiring programmers and are really struggling to find anyone.

What's the going rate for someone like this?

 

[craigdt]

We teach a course in RPG development periodically in our CS department for the same reason we periodically offer COBOL: there's (good-paying) jobs available. The majority of the workforce that specializes in this sort of development is either about to retire or already retired and being paid contractor rates to do maintenance. We've consistently been told by industry in the area that they'll take anyone we can point to them that's competent in these areas.

In terms of learning: it's a mixed bag. If you're using a modern(ish) version of RPG it's much easier. If you're doing development on a legacy system it can be really brutal, as it's positional (ie, column you start a line in matters). In both cases there's a ton of idiosyncrasies in the language such as how commands are represented (typically, but not always, with vowels removed) and how you interact with the system.

Thank you for your insight.

What do you think a job like this would pay, for someone who has to learn RPG (and programming) from scratch?

Edit- this is for maintaining and developing a legacy system.

 

[NoOther]

Actually yes. Lol

They are trying to replace their current aging programmers and are really struggling to find anyone.

What's the going rate for someone like this?

I find that Glassdoor usually offers a reasonable estimate of some salaries. Of course it will also depend on the situation, the system/platform it is on and experience.

As for whether you want to learn it and work with it, that is really up to how much you can deal with irritation or monotony. A lot of jobs will probably consist of maintaining existing systems. There may be some jobs that consist of migrating systems to a new language/platform. I have an uncle who has remained employed for the past 30 years because the language he codes in is basically dead. He gets paid an elevated amount to maintain the systems and doesn't really have to do much else (although he does).

 

[modi123]

Yup.. depends on where you are. Having zero programming background would really blow as is demonstrating you are not a millstone to be trained for your lack of any programming skills.

 

[robvas]

Check out IT Jungle....not many younger people know the IBM systems so you can find some pretty good paying jobs if companies in your area are still using them.