On Tue, May 6, 2008 at 1:47 PM, McKown, John
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List
>
> > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Don Leahy
> > Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2008 12:36 PM
> > To: [email protected]
> > Subject: Re: VSAM / COBOL question - redux (fwd)
> >
>
>
> > > I am now totally <elided> at the programmer. Who obvious
> > is a <elided>.
> > > The code in their program, on OPEN, tests for an RC of 00
> > or 92 (should
> > > be 97). And then just unconditionally sets the VSAM return
> > code to 90
> > > and complains.
> > >
> > > I'm not too happy with myself either. I actually __believed__ him
> > > without double checking all the source myself. Not gonna
> > do that again.
> > >
> > >
> >
> > There may not be any deliberate deception involved.
> >
> > Programmers will tell you what they coded, but what they
> > *really* mean is:
> >
> > "This is what I *think* I coded" or "This is what I *meant*
> > to code".
> >
> > RTFC is the only way to be sure.
>
> True, but I think the __programmer__ should do that, at lease initially.
> I generally don't have time to go into Endevor and find the compile
> listing of the program mentioned by the programmer. Understand it, then
> realize that the actual code is in another program which is called by
> the "main" program and look at it and try to understand it as well. That
> is not really my job. I'm not, generally, an "expert" COBOL programmer
> by any means.
>
I agree that it is the programmers job to RTFC. Many of them ("us",
actually, since I am a programmer) are too lazy, especially if the
code in question was written by someone else.
<attempt humour>
I think that is why some systems programmers seek to induce fear in
the hearts of application programmers. I used to think that this was
merely a form of torture for the sysprog's amusement, but I believe
this is actually a type of training.
The sysprog's hope is that if he consistently ridicules them for
asking stupid questions, eventually the questions will get better.
Maybe even to the point that the programmer will start to RTFC (and
RTFM!) before asking for help. A forlorn hope perhaps.
</attempt humour>
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