This article, tailored for seasoned COBOL and RPG programmers, provides a
jump start into the Java programming language and the concepts behind it; it
may also be useful for anyone who is stepping into the Java arena for the
first time.
Usually depicted as a language suitable only for those with a strong
background in C or C++, in reality Java is a modern, eclectic language that
builds on a variety of languages, including C and C++, and also borrows many
features from Pascal, BASIC, and, yes, COBOL. In the last few years RPG has
been moving closer to COBOL, so close in fact that many people say it's just
COBOL written on an RPG specification sheet.
In the end, Java is just another language to learn and master. You did it
with COBOL and/or RPG, you can do it again.
The difference is that with COBOL and RPG, the path to mastering them appears
quite straightforward. Y... (more)