Regular expressions are just a tool, and IMHO quite a useful tool for many sorts of text processing projects. I have been a (g)awk user since MSDOS days (the DJGPP implementation in those days), and these days, among other tasks, I use it regularly to reformat the crudely formatted transaction download from my bank account into a form that my budgeting software can more easily digest.
A tool is only useful when you have a need for it. If you don't do much in the way of text processing, then perhaps regular expressions aren't much use to you. The again, what is software writing but a lot of text manipulation? I have already found several helpful uses for the z/OS ISPF editor RE's in my daily assembler and COBOL work. Obviously, YMMV. You use what you know and need. Peter -----Original Message----- From: IBM Mainframe Assembler List [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of John Walker Sent: Monday, March 23, 2015 8:53 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: ASSEMBLER-LIST Digest - 21 Mar 2015 to 22 Mar 2015 (#2015-35) Regular expressions is the most god-awful piece of clap-trap garbage I have ever laid my eyes on. Yeah for you PC programmers! Groans of disbelief from us mainframe programmers at the obtuse, obfuscating gibberish that RE is and that we will be forced into learning. -------------------------------------------- This message and any attachments are intended only for the use of the addressee and may contain information that is privileged and confidential. If the reader of the message is not the intended recipient or an authorized representative of the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by e-mail and delete the message and any attachments from your system.
