I agree about the false dichotomy, but don't agree with you about updating SEU. It would cost a lot of $s to implement it and for what? The hard core SEU users are still using fixed format which it does well.
Remember the survey doesn't really tell you much about SEU usage as it is bundled with PDM. I still use PDM a bit but don't use SEU at all.
Original Message:
Sent: 3/27/2025 7:13:00 AM
From: ace ace
Subject: RE: Merlin
Agreed. There is no mutual exclusion between tools. You use a screwdriver, or scapel, when needed.
This isn't even a discussion in *nix world or a problem... one can use nano, emacs, vi, or visual tools... nobody sees problem there.
So to SEU or not SEU is a false dichotomy.
The problematic thing is that, according to the data above, SEU is still hit a lot ... so the big question is why the vendor IBM EOS'ed it in terms of evolution... cmon... at list fix syntax checking for **FREE members.
And going to sources from members to IFS stream as "better" solution is going back in time. More open and compatible, yes, better, no.
If even source should should be stored in even more structured DB format, allowing a lot of structured metadata per line of code, contextual to it, to aid even external revision/audit tools.
--ft
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--ft
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Original Message:
Sent: Wed March 26, 2025 12:59 PM
From: Jon Paris
Subject: Merlin
I think the survey can be misleading in cases like this. For example, I know many people who use RDi or Code for i who also use PDM because it is much easier to use for some tasks than Code for i and even RTDi in some cases. Few of those people are using SEU but they will from time to time for a quick edit of (say) a CL member. The way the question is posed in the survey inflates the usage level I think.
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Jon Paris
Original Message:
Sent: Tue March 25, 2025 05:14 PM
From: Eric Simpson
Subject: Merlin
From the survey, 77% are still using SEU/PDM.
For some of them, Merlin might be the correct choice or it might be RDi or VSCode. Hopefully, they see the options they have and they try one. On Wednesday, I'll show Merlin so they can learn about that option.
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Eric Simpson
Original Message:
Sent: Tue March 25, 2025 09:31 AM
From: Steven Riedmueller
Subject: Merlin
If we subscribed to the notion that adoption equates with quality, we'd be in the wrong industry. :)
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Steven Riedmueller
Certified IBM i Admin
Speaker, Mentor, and Advocate
Original Message:
Sent: Mon March 24, 2025 12:22 PM
From: Robert Berendt
Subject: Merlin
According to the Fortra Survey at https://www.fortra.com/resources/guides/ibm-i-marketplace-survey-results/initiatives under application development tools Merlin is used by 2% of IBM i shops. While RDi and Visual Studio Code are neck and neck at 54% and 53%.
So, does one attend the IBM i Guided Tour on Merlin on Wednesday or not?
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Robert Berendt IBMChampion
Business Systems Analyst, Lead
Dekko
Fort Wayne
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