Let's take a moment to express our gratitude to the authors and contributors who compiled their RPGLE wisdom into the invaluable resource, "Who Knew You Could Do That with RPG IV?" This manual has been a guiding light for RPG practitioners, from novices to seasoned veterans, in modernizing legacy applications and exploring the depths of RPG IV.

However, as technology continues to evolve, so must our resources. With significant developments in RPG IV since release 7.2, many of us are left wondering: is there a revised edition planned for this beloved Redbook?

The title itself, "Modern RPG for the Modern Programmer," speaks volumes about the need for consistency in revisions to keep it relevant for today's developers. Especially for those transitioning from a non-IBM i background, having an up-to-date manual is crucial for mastering the intricacies of RPG IV in contemporary environments.

So, fellow RPGLE enthusiasts, let's open the floor for discussion.

Do you believe a revised edition is necessary? And if so, what updates and enhancements would you like to see? 

Share your thoughts and let's advocate for a resource that continues to empower RPG developers worldwide!

------------------------------
Ojay B
------------------------------

#IBMi
#rpgle
#modernization
#redbooks
#IBM-i
#IBMi
#ibmioss
#IBMionCloud
#RPG

That Redbook is now in excess of 7 years old. So, YES, there should be an update/revision/rewrite. Not sure IBM is putting any resources into Redbooks any longer but it would be nice. Redbooks and Red Papers are some of the best "how to" documentation resources IBM ever produced.

------------------------------
Gary Keith
------------------------------

As one of the authors of this magic tome it is always pleasing to see that people still find it useful.

I just wish that all of the topics in the original had been retained in the second edition ... but that's just me. It does make it hard though to know which version people are talking about as the two are significantly different.

As to IBM updating it - I don't think there is much hope of that. Redbooks seem to be all but dead and even when the second edition was done there was no "gathering of the clans" in Rochester to build the new version. It was all done remotely and frankly I think it suffewred becuase of that.

A few of us have chatted from time to time aboit at least updating the books to free-form and updating the content when appropriate - but nothing has come of it to date.


Jon Paris


Original Message:
Sent: 5/7/2024 9:43:00 AM
From: Gary Keith
Subject: RE: 📢 Calling all RPGLE developers!

That Redbook is now in excess of 7 years old. So, YES, there should be an update/revision/rewrite. Not sure IBM is putting any resources into Redbooks any longer but it would be nice. Redbooks and Red Papers are some of the best "how to" documentation resources IBM ever produced.

------------------------------
Gary Keith
------------------------------

It would be of course good, to have a new version of that Redbook ...

... but as always, the times have changed and the tides have turned.

IBM really doesn't make any efforts to make new Redbooks. And above that, if you are writing a Redbook today, many of the topics may have changed already by the time you are finishing the manuscript.

So to make it short - I would suggest, to make a collaborative effort to build a wiki-like website using standard tools like MarkDown and so on. So updating would be easy and fast, and many people can collaborate on text, code examples, corrections, and so on.

The wiki and the code could easily be hosted on GitHub as a public repository - we would need about 5-10 people who review pull-requests from collaborators.

To start quick, we all can use the "old" Redbooks as a starting point. Every chapter could be reviewed be a small team or an individual, and a skeleton of the site could be implemented.

We have so many good people - if Susan, Jon, Paul, Simon, Liam (to name only a few) only create one small chapter each - the book is up and running in no time. And I would love to participate - even when I'm not a native English speaker/writer.

The two primary targets IMHO should be
- make it open for everyone to collaborate
- have it hosted somewhere open and independent

This would make sure, that even if someone looses interest or can't contribute anymore, the project doesn't die.

Just my 2 cents.

Regards,
Daniel


Original Message:
Sent: 5/7/2024 11:16:00 AM
From: Jon Paris
Subject: RE: 📢 Calling all RPGLE developers!

As one of the authors of this magic tome it is always pleasing to see that people still find it useful.

I just wish that all of the topics in the original had been retained in the second edition ... but that's just me. It does make it hard though to know which version people are talking about as the two are significantly different.

As to IBM updating it - I don't think there is much hope of that. Redbooks seem to be all but dead and even when the second edition was done there was no "gathering of the clans" in Rochester to build the new version. It was all done remotely and frankly I think it suffewred becuase of that.

A few of us have chatted from time to time aboit at least updating the books to free-form and updating the content when appropriate - but nothing has come of it to date.


Jon Paris

I believe this is the right approach. The contents of this legendary tome are not "a book" but "information." Information is a living thing, and the only practical way to keep it alive is to free it from the constraints of books - editions, local copies, production schedules, and more.

I don't think the nature of this information warrants a "free for all" approach to updates, but there are known and trusted people in the industry who might be persuaded to contribute or, if more open access is to be given, moderate submissions.

I have spent the last 25 years championing openly available, instantly accessible, frequently updated information repositories. It started as a way to get people to stop asking me questions all the time. Now I recognise it as a pillar of a consistently high-performing team. 

------------------------------
Allister Jenks
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Tue May 07, 2024 11:44 AM
From: Daniel Gross
Subject: 📢 Calling all RPGLE developers!

It would be of course good, to have a new version of that Redbook ...

... but as always, the times have changed and the tides have turned.

IBM really doesn't make any efforts to make new Redbooks. And above that, if you are writing a Redbook today, many of the topics may have changed already by the time you are finishing the manuscript.

So to make it short - I would suggest, to make a collaborative effort to build a wiki-like website using standard tools like MarkDown and so on. So updating would be easy and fast, and many people can collaborate on text, code examples, corrections, and so on.

The wiki and the code could easily be hosted on GitHub as a public repository - we would need about 5-10 people who review pull-requests from collaborators.

To start quick, we all can use the "old" Redbooks as a starting point. Every chapter could be reviewed be a small team or an individual, and a skeleton of the site could be implemented.

We have so many good people - if Susan, Jon, Paul, Simon, Liam (to name only a few) only create one small chapter each - the book is up and running in no time. And I would love to participate - even when I'm not a native English speaker/writer.

The two primary targets IMHO should be
- make it open for everyone to collaborate
- have it hosted somewhere open and independent

This would make sure, that even if someone looses interest or can't contribute anymore, the project doesn't die.

Just my 2 cents.

Regards,
Daniel



Original Message:
Sent: 5/7/2024 11:16:00 AM
From: Jon Paris
Subject: RE: 📢 Calling all RPGLE developers!

As one of the authors of this magic tome it is always pleasing to see that people still find it useful.

I just wish that all of the topics in the original had been retained in the second edition ... but that's just me. It does make it hard though to know which version people are talking about as the two are significantly different.

As to IBM updating it - I don't think there is much hope of that. Redbooks seem to be all but dead and even when the second edition was done there was no "gathering of the clans" in Rochester to build the new version. It was all done remotely and frankly I think it suffewred becuase of that.

A few of us have chatted from time to time aboit at least updating the books to free-form and updating the content when appropriate - but nothing has come of it to date.


Jon Paris



Original Message:
Sent: 5/7/2024 9:43:00 AM
From: Gary Keith
Subject: RE: 📢 Calling all RPGLE developers!

That Redbook is now in excess of 7 years old. So, YES, there should be an update/revision/rewrite. Not sure IBM is putting any resources into Redbooks any longer but it would be nice. Redbooks and Red Papers are some of the best "how to" documentation resources IBM ever produced.

------------------------------
Gary Keith
------------------------------

I like to revive this thread a bit - what would you (the community) think of creating a Github repository and Wiki for that?

So we (the community) could start writing and creating?

I'm think writing in Markdown is pretty standard today, and the structure and content of this project would be open for everyone to participate.

------------------------------
Daniel Gross
#IBMChampion
Senior Core Developer, Geis Group
Pegnitz, Germany
https://blog.qpgmr.de/
------------------------------

OK - to get the ball rolling, I have setup a Githut repository as a start.

• https://github.com/qpgmr-de/WhoKnewYouCouldDoThatWithRPG

 

The idea is, to write the "book" in the repository wiki and put example code and anything else into the repository.

I have chosen the MIT License - but this is open for discussion, as there is not really something in the repository right now.

If someone else likes to have the repository under his/her name, I'm happy to transfer ownership.

What do you think? Who wants to contribute?

------------------------------
Daniel Gross
#IBMChampion
Senior Core Developer, Geis Group
Pegnitz, Germany
https://blog.qpgmr.de/
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Wed July 09, 2025 11:08 AM
From: Daniel Gross
Subject: 📢 Calling all RPGLE developers!

I like to revive this thread a bit - what would you (the community) think of creating a Github repository and Wiki for that?

So we (the community) could start writing and creating?

I'm think writing in Markdown is pretty standard today, and the structure and content of this project would be open for everyone to participate.

------------------------------
Daniel Gross
#IBMChampion
Senior Core Developer, Geis Group
Pegnitz, Germany
https://blog.qpgmr.de/
------------------------------

Certainly more than happy to participate.  I've had updating the source code from the original version on my to-do list for a while.

------------------------------
Jon Paris
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Wed July 09, 2025 11:08 AM
From: Daniel Gross
Subject: 📢 Calling all RPGLE developers!

I like to revive this thread a bit - what would you (the community) think of creating a Github repository and Wiki for that?

So we (the community) could start writing and creating?

I'm think writing in Markdown is pretty standard today, and the structure and content of this project would be open for everyone to participate.

------------------------------
Daniel Gross
#IBMChampion
Senior Core Developer, Geis Group
Pegnitz, Germany
https://blog.qpgmr.de/
------------------------------

Wow - Jon it would be great to have you on board - as one of the original authors of the book.

Do you already have a Github account? If yes, please PM me your Github user name, so I can add you to the "Collaborators" of the repository.

------------------------------
Daniel Gross
#IBMChampion
Senior Core Developer, Geis Group
Pegnitz, Germany
https://blog.qpgmr.de/
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Wed July 09, 2025 11:45 AM
From: Jon Paris
Subject: 📢 Calling all RPGLE developers!

Certainly more than happy to participate.  I've had updating the source code from the original version on my to-do list for a while.

------------------------------
Jon Paris
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: Wed July 09, 2025 11:08 AM
From: Daniel Gross
Subject: 📢 Calling all RPGLE developers!

I like to revive this thread a bit - what would you (the community) think of creating a Github repository and Wiki for that?

So we (the community) could start writing and creating?

I'm think writing in Markdown is pretty standard today, and the structure and content of this project would be open for everyone to participate.

------------------------------
Daniel Gross
#IBMChampion
Senior Core Developer, Geis Group
Pegnitz, Germany
https://blog.qpgmr.de/

Original Message:
Sent: 7/9/2025 12:05:00 PM
From: Daniel Gross
Subject: RE: 📢 Calling all RPGLE developers!

Wow - Jon it would be great to have you on board - as one of the original authors of the book.

Do you already have a Github account? If yes, please PM me your Github user name, so I can add you to the "Collaborators" of the repository.

------------------------------
Daniel Gross
#IBMChampion
Senior Core Developer, Geis Group
Pegnitz, Germany
https://blog.qpgmr.de/
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: Wed July 09, 2025 11:45 AM
From: Jon Paris
Subject: 📢 Calling all RPGLE developers!

Certainly more than happy to participate.  I've had updating the source code from the original version on my to-do list for a while.

------------------------------
Jon Paris
------------------------------