> Well, that is the data I am given. I don't think I can > convenience all of the applications that interface with
I don't think that a single person claimed that you shouldn't be able to interface with other apps by way of the example data format. The argument has been that the format of you I/O need not, and probably shouldn't, indicate the internal representation of the data. A fundamental tenet of software development for at least the last 20 years has been encapsulation. Provided that your code behaves properly AS A BLACK BOX, what's happening inside is (from a technical POV) no one else's business. I mean, surely when a column needs to be widened, for example, you're not going to want to rebuild the entire application, right? Avoiding these maintenance problems has been one of the most important drivers behind the advancement of sw development technology. So sure, continue to work within the existing infrastructure. Do so by "speaking the language" that those apps speak. But for your module, don't fight against your tools. Why is this project being undertaken, BTW? I mean, why not just do it in COBOL? Or for that matter, why not just built an emulator for the old hardware, and keep running the old stuff? =================================== This list is hosted by DevelopMentor® http://www.develop.com View archives and manage your subscription(s) at http://discuss.develop.com
