All list members are hereby invited to help develop the next version
of NetRexx!
As you may know, the easy part of improving NetRexx is the coding part since the translator itself is written in NetRexx. But even if you cannot help write new translator code, the more difficult tasks that remain are to test and document new enhancements, provide tutorials or examples for new users and to report success or failure of bug fixes. And especially to make suggestions about changes you would like to have considered! Development is well under way for the 3.03 release although the exact feature set is still to be determined. Since the project released version 3.00 in 2011, 3.01 in 2012, and 3.02 in 2013, it seems to me like a good goal to produce a new release each year as long as there is still a need for changes. I hope we can finish 3.03 this year! As my own contribution to development, I have set up a new experimental branch of NetRexx to test possible new features and fixes for future release. The branch name is x2014 and the source can be checked out of the Kenai SVN repository here: https://svn.kenai.com/svn/netrexx~netrexxc-repo If there is a strong desire for the source outside of version control, I may publish a weekly zip version. The current binary files for the experimental NetRexx (NetRexxC.jar and NetRexxR.jar) can be downloaded from the NetRexx Plus project download area found here: https://kenai.com/projects/netrexx-plus/downloads/directory/Experimental%20NetRexx%20Build This test version is currently internally identified as 3.03x but that does not guarantee that any of it's feature set will be included in the official 3.03 release. The new features currently available to test on this version are the following three items: (1) Binary blocks. Issues #69, #41. This enhancement allows use of code like the following in non binary classes and methods to perform binary operations: do binary(2) Interface class support for default and static methods as in Java 8. Issue #108. Allows use of code like the following: class java8face interface(3) A List processing API. Issue #110. This is a powerful API that allows NetRexx to understand data in formats like CSV and JSON, etc. The Rexx object contains the API. The current woefully inadequate documentation is online in HTML format: http://kermitkiser.com/NetRexx/structuredlist/NetRexx%20List%20Processing%20Feature.html See the forwarded message below for information on some additional features I hope to make available for testing soon. -- Kermit -------- Original Message --------
If there are no objections I am going to create a new experimental sandbox in SVN for the testing of possible new NetRexx features. These are the items/issue numbers that I hope to explore this year:
In the interest of clarity, these are items I will NOT look at since I consider them syntactic "candy" that is not required for the compatibility of NetRexx with Java:
-- Kermit _______________________________________________ Ibm-netrexx mailing list [hidden email] Online Archive : http://ibm-netrexx.215625.n3.nabble.com/ |
I am currently packaging the "Java 8 compatible" version, which is the 3.02GA version + the one necessary patch for the new bytecode introduced in 7 but used in 8 that Kermit prepared.
What do we all think the version number should be? One way is to call it 3.021 Another way is to call it 3.03 and make the next update 3.1 (but that clashes with the mainframe convention to call the "3.0" version 3.1 or 4.0 I expected the 3.03 version to have the scripting enhancements, but they are not really releaseable yet. I think with the proposed enhancements, that version (with the do binary blocks etc) deserves a 4.0 name. I'll consider all input but I am trying to release, including the new eclipse compiler, today CET, so Tom can have a go at updating the GUI installer. best regards, René. On 14 apr. 2014, at 12:05, Kermit Kiser <[hidden email]> wrote: > All list members are hereby invited to help develop the next version of NetRexx! > _______________________________________________ Ibm-netrexx mailing list [hidden email] Online Archive : http://ibm-netrexx.215625.n3.nabble.com/ |
Kermit,
guessing that this list is just as good as the developer list to continue the discussion: I have taken a look at the amount of things that are fixed, not only code but also documentation, examples, that I am now against doing a quick 'replacement' fix. The one thing that held up the release of the scripting support was the fact that its context does not hold up across different invocations from the command line in a REPL loop. But I can live with that as a temporary restriction. In your, opninion, what is holding us back to release the (vastly improved over 3.02GA) 3.03 as is? best regards, René Jansen. Begin forwarded message:
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In reply to this post by rvjansen
On 14-Apr-14 06:08, René Jansen wrote: > What do we all think the version number should be? > > One way is to call it 3.021 In my opinion it should have an alpha suffix, like "v3.02a", to distinguish it slightly from the purely-numeric major/minor releases, but also to show "stepwise refinement." That way, v3.03 can still be reserved for the full package with all planned features. It should never become a long string of digits (v3.02.01). _______________________________________________ Ibm-netrexx mailing list [hidden email] Online Archive : http://ibm-netrexx.215625.n3.nabble.com/ |
Tom,
it is Rexx - the version needs to be a decimal number. I might find a way to slip in some other identifier elsewhere, but not in the version number. If all goes according to plan, we'll have a 3.03 that solves it very soon. best regards, René. On 14 apr. 2014, at 23:28, Tom Maynard <[hidden email]> wrote: > > On 14-Apr-14 06:08, René Jansen wrote: >> What do we all think the version number should be? >> >> One way is to call it 3.021 > In my opinion it should have an alpha suffix, like "v3.02a", to distinguish it slightly from the purely-numeric major/minor releases, but also to show "stepwise refinement." That way, v3.03 can still be reserved for the full package with all planned features. > > It should never become a long string of digits (v3.02.01). > > _______________________________________________ > Ibm-netrexx mailing list > [hidden email] > Online Archive : http://ibm-netrexx.215625.n3.nabble.com/ > _______________________________________________ Ibm-netrexx mailing list [hidden email] Online Archive : http://ibm-netrexx.215625.n3.nabble.com/ |
Hi Rene, Kermit, Tom Maynard, & All Others:
1.) As already said, I shall recommend to call the new version 3.03 :-) 2.) Yust have seen that Rene has been are doing a better implementation of my ancient class 'SysCmd' of package Rexx2Nrx.RunTime That are Good News, as it shall allow us then to implement the badly needed ADDRESS Command available in classic Rexx and ooRexx, at least I think so ;-) It shall be, however, essential (I think) to SWITCH from *OS dependent COMMANDS* to OS Independent *CONCEPTS* in the actual NOTATION USED to become NetRexx an OS System Independent Language. Same holds true for *File Identifiers* (and Conventions) to be able to read -- members of a Directory (in Windows/Unix/Linux) -- members of a ZIP File (Windows) *or* TAR File (Unix/Linux) *or* Partinioned DataSet (zOS MainFrames are still there) -- components of an Internet URL (URI's) ************************ *All the same Way * ************************ At least I do think so, becoming Older and Older, and becoming more and more *bored* by all those languages, terms, dialects, and conventions introduced again, and again, ... By the way, Kermit&Rene&Mike: Isn't a *static Method* with a RETURN Value in Java 8 a *Function* as I said long time ago ? *And* a *static Method* without a RETURN VALUE* a *Routine/Subroutine* ? End of (R)evolution. My personal impression still is: We (might shall need) to talk about CONCEPTS, *not* about SYNTAX&SEMANTICS ;-) Anyway: Happy EASTER to all of You! (whatever (a)religion/race/nationality You have: Think Global, Act Local, as J. Steinringer said) Wir müssen neue Denkmuster schaffen, die alten sind für die Zukunft wertlos! (J. Steinringer, ibw, 1996) Thomas Schneider. =============================================================== Am 15.04.2014 00:34, schrieb René Jansen: > Tom, > > it is Rexx - the version needs to be a decimal number. I might find a way to slip in some other identifier elsewhere, but not in the version number. > If all goes according to plan, we'll have a 3.03 that solves it very soon. > > best regards, > > René. > > On 14 apr. 2014, at 23:28, Tom Maynard <[hidden email]> wrote: > >> On 14-Apr-14 06:08, René Jansen wrote: >>> What do we all think the version number should be? >>> >>> One way is to call it 3.021 >> In my opinion it should have an alpha suffix, like "v3.02a", to distinguish it slightly from the purely-numeric major/minor releases, but also to show "stepwise refinement." That way, v3.03 can still be reserved for the full package with all planned features. >> >> It should never become a long string of digits (v3.02.01). >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Ibm-netrexx mailing list >> [hidden email] >> Online Archive : http://ibm-netrexx.215625.n3.nabble.com/ >> > _______________________________________________ > Ibm-netrexx mailing list > [hidden email] > Online Archive : http://ibm-netrexx.215625.n3.nabble.com/ > _______________________________________________ Ibm-netrexx mailing list [hidden email] Online Archive : http://ibm-netrexx.215625.n3.nabble.com/
Thomas Schneider, Vienna, Austria (Europe) :-)
www.thsitc.com www.db-123.com |
Thomas --
Where is this new 'SysCmd' you mentioned? If an "ADDRESS" command is "badly needed", why is there no project ticket requesting such a feature and why has there been no discussion about it on the list? -- Kermit On 4/15/2014 4:22 AM, Thomas Schneider wrote: > Hi Rene, Kermit, Tom Maynard, & All Others: > > 1.) As already said, I shall recommend to call the new version 3.03 :-) > 2.) Yust have seen that Rene has been are doing a better > implementation of my ancient > class 'SysCmd' of package Rexx2Nrx.RunTime > > That are Good News, as it shall allow us then to implement the badly > needed > ADDRESS Command available in classic Rexx and ooRexx, at least I think > so ;-) _______________________________________________ Ibm-netrexx mailing list [hidden email] Online Archive : http://ibm-netrexx.215625.n3.nabble.com/ |
SysCmd has been always there ...
It has been uploaded to the contrib branch of the Kenai SVN long time ago thankfully by Rene Vincent Jansen. All my run-Time routines are at: svn-contrib/compatibility/src/org/netrexx/thsitc/runtime/compatibility As I did actually DONATE those sources to NetRexx.org I always and also did provide test programs, I always wondered why they never made their way to www.NetRexx.org. Probably because I refused those times to learn SVN :-( Afterwards I went sick, and also have been bothered with a lot of Computer problems (First Viruses and Trojans, then stolen computers, etc) Just trying to get my computer running again, install all my locally saved sources. It has been *my fault* I didn't use SVN from the very beginning, of course. Sorry, I am a fool (looking backwards). Maybe Rene can add the other methods of my SysCmd.nrx etc to his rewrite as well. For sure his current approach is more elegant, as I did implement SysCmd when I did invent Rexx2Nrx (back in 2002, I think) . Best regards, Thomas. ========================================================================== Am 15.04.2014 22:36, schrieb Kermit Kiser: > Thomas -- > > Where is this new 'SysCmd' you mentioned? > > If an "ADDRESS" command is "badly needed", why is there no project > ticket requesting such a feature and why has there been no discussion > about it on the list? > > -- Kermit > > > On 4/15/2014 4:22 AM, Thomas Schneider wrote: >> Hi Rene, Kermit, Tom Maynard, & All Others: >> >> 1.) As already said, I shall recommend to call the new version 3.03 :-) >> 2.) Yust have seen that Rene has been are doing a better >> implementation of my ancient >> class 'SysCmd' of package Rexx2Nrx.RunTime >> >> That are Good News, as it shall allow us then to implement the badly >> needed >> ADDRESS Command available in classic Rexx and ooRexx, at least I >> think so ;-) > > _______________________________________________ > Ibm-netrexx mailing list > [hidden email] > Online Archive : http://ibm-netrexx.215625.n3.nabble.com/ > _______________________________________________ Ibm-netrexx mailing list [hidden email] Online Archive : http://ibm-netrexx.215625.n3.nabble.com/
Thomas Schneider, Vienna, Austria (Europe) :-)
www.thsitc.com www.db-123.com |
In reply to this post by Kermit Kiser
On 14-Apr-14 05:05, Kermit Kiser wrote:
All list members are hereby invited to help develop the next version of NetRexx! Would it be possible to have a "laundry list" of tasks that need to be done? While I probably am capable, and I'm certainly willing, I am not confident enough simply to dive in and tackle something without prior authorization and coordinating. Instead of a "dish-to-pass" luncheon, where three people always bring exactly the same thing (like potato chips), just having a list of waiting projects might be inspiration enough for some of us to step up and do something. Something I personally would desperately like to contribute is a step-by-step procedure for the installation (and use) of the Eclipse NetRexx plugin. I'd have done it already but I can't get my efforts working yet! So the doc is both the motivation and the reward in this case. (And yes, that's a blatant hint to Bill F. to lend me a hand, so I can lift up the whole community.) After all, to use the famous last words, "How hard can it be?" (I am instantly reminded of working up the first NetRexx installer. The first one was hard, now it's not so bad ... if the lapse between releases isn't too long, and I forget everything.) The TODO list could be categorized by type: Coding, Documentation and Tutorials, Testing, etc. And that could add to the incentive. Of course if it has no effect whatsoever, it would be silly to maintain the list ... since it just adds more work to the list! _______________________________________________ Ibm-netrexx mailing list [hidden email] Online Archive : http://ibm-netrexx.215625.n3.nabble.com/ |
In reply to this post by Kermit Kiser
Tom,
The installation of the Eclipse NetRexx plugin is very simple - possibly you are assuming that it is difficult and are trying to download files, etc. To install the plugin in Eclipse: on the main Eclipse menu, click on "Help -> Eclipse Marketplace". That brings up the Marketplace panel. Then type "NetRexx" into the "Find" box and then click on the search icon (magnifying glass) to the right. That brings up a NetRexx specific panel with an "Install" button. Click on the "Install" button and then just follow the instructions. (They are the same as for many of the approximately 1,000 other Eclipse plugins.) Honestly, I don't know how it could be more simple. Do you? This is the kind of one-click install that I have long advocated for the NetRexx package. Of course, learning Eclipse itself can be a daunting task, and it appears to me that few if any of the readers of this list use (or are interested in learning) Eclipse. I have not updated the NetRexx plugin for a very long time. It is very much out of date. Bill PS. If you do not have the Eclipse Marketplace installed, perhaps you are not using a current version of Eclipse? Marketplace itself can be installed into Eclipse relatively easily - a simple google search will point you in the right direction. Original email: ----------------- From: Tom Maynard [hidden email] Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2014 01:33:36 -0500 To: [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Ibm-netrexx] Fwd: NetRexx work for 2014 On 14-Apr-14 05:05, Kermit Kiser wrote: > All list members are hereby invited to help develop the next version > of NetRexx! Would it be possible to have a "laundry list" of tasks that need to be done? While I probably am capable, and I'm certainly willing, I am not confident enough simply to dive in and tackle something without prior authorization and coordinating. Instead of a "dish-to-pass" luncheon, where three people always bring exactly the same thing (like potato chips), just having a list of waiting projects might be inspiration enough for some of us to step up and do something. Something I personally would desperately like to contribute is a step-by-step procedure for the installation (and use) of the Eclipse NetRexx plugin. I'd have done it already but I can't get my efforts working yet! So the doc is both the motivation and the reward in this case. (And yes, that's a blatant hint to Bill F. to lend /me/ a hand, so I can lift up the whole community.) After all, to use the famous last words, "How hard can it be?" (I am instantly reminded of working up the first NetRexx installer. The first one was hard, now it's not so bad ... if the lapse between releases isn't too long, and I forget everything.) The TODO list could be categorized by type: Coding, Documentation and Tutorials, Testing, etc. And that could add to the incentive. Of course if it has no effect whatsoever, it would be silly to maintain the list ... since it just adds more work to the list! -------------------------------------------------------------------- myhosting.com - Premium Microsoft Windows and Linux web and application hosting - http://link.myhosting.com/myhosting _______________________________________________ Ibm-netrexx mailing list [hidden email] Online Archive : http://ibm-netrexx.215625.n3.nabble.com/ |
Perhaps it is time to find out how many on the list use - or want to use,
Eclipse for NetRexx? If so, count me as a user. Dave. -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of [hidden email] Sent: 17 April 2014 20:15 To: [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Ibm-netrexx] Fwd: NetRexx work for 2014 Tom, The installation of the Eclipse NetRexx plugin is very simple - possibly you are assuming that it is difficult and are trying to download files, etc. To install the plugin in Eclipse: on the main Eclipse menu, click on "Help -> Eclipse Marketplace". That brings up the Marketplace panel. Then type "NetRexx" into the "Find" box and then click on the search icon (magnifying glass) to the right. That brings up a NetRexx specific panel with an "Install" button. Click on the "Install" button and then just follow the instructions. (They are the same as for many of the approximately 1,000 other Eclipse plugins.) Honestly, I don't know how it could be more simple. Do you? This is the kind of one-click install that I have long advocated for the NetRexx package. Of course, learning Eclipse itself can be a daunting task, and it appears to me that few if any of the readers of this list use (or are interested in learning) Eclipse. I have not updated the NetRexx plugin for a very long time. It is very much out of date. Bill PS. If you do not have the Eclipse Marketplace installed, perhaps you are not using a current version of Eclipse? Marketplace itself can be installed into Eclipse relatively easily - a simple google search will point you in the right direction. Original email: ----------------- From: Tom Maynard [hidden email] Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2014 01:33:36 -0500 To: [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Ibm-netrexx] Fwd: NetRexx work for 2014 On 14-Apr-14 05:05, Kermit Kiser wrote: > All list members are hereby invited to help develop the next version > of NetRexx! Would it be possible to have a "laundry list" of tasks that need to be done? While I probably am capable, and I'm certainly willing, I am not confident enough simply to dive in and tackle something without prior authorization and coordinating. Instead of a "dish-to-pass" luncheon, where three people always bring exactly the same thing (like potato chips), just having a list of waiting projects might be inspiration enough for some of us to step up and do something. Something I personally would desperately like to contribute is a step-by-step procedure for the installation (and use) of the Eclipse NetRexx plugin. I'd have done it already but I can't get my efforts working yet! So the doc is both the motivation and the reward in this case. (And yes, that's a blatant hint to Bill F. to lend /me/ a hand, so I can lift up the whole community.) After all, to use the famous last words, "How hard can it be?" (I am instantly reminded of working up the first NetRexx installer. The first one was hard, now it's not so bad ... if the lapse between releases isn't too long, and I forget everything.) The TODO list could be categorized by type: Coding, Documentation and Tutorials, Testing, etc. And that could add to the incentive. Of course if it has no effect whatsoever, it would be silly to maintain the list ... since it just adds more work to the list! -------------------------------------------------------------------- myhosting.com - Premium Microsoft Windows and Linux web and application hosting - http://link.myhosting.com/myhosting _______________________________________________ Ibm-netrexx mailing list [hidden email] Online Archive : http://ibm-netrexx.215625.n3.nabble.com/ --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com _______________________________________________ Ibm-netrexx mailing list [hidden email] Online Archive : http://ibm-netrexx.215625.n3.nabble.com/ |
In reply to this post by billfen
On 17-Apr-14 14:14, [hidden email] wrote: The installation of the Eclipse NetRexx plugin is very simple Okay, I should have been more explicit: Installation was easy enough (even your Sourceforge page reveals that much). It’s making it work afterwards that is causing me problems. The plugin can’t seem to find my JDK (which I’d prefer to use, since I’m running JDK 8 now, and need to test some things — including I guess the plugin). If you think it advisable, I can probably yank it out and start over. I have been an off &
on user of Eclipse since it first appeared (actually even before
it first appeared, when it was still the VisualAge IDE). When I
don’t feel the need of the full power of the IDE I usually rely
simply on Vim at the command line. Because of this, I already
have
My little
Oh, and I’m running Eclipse “Kepler” Service Release 2 (v4.3.2.v20140221-1852) 64-bit. possibly you are assuming that it is difficult I certainly won’t deny that. I’m famous for making things difficult, always finding complexity where none exists (“Complicate, and add difficulty…”). Since the other alternative JVM language plugins don’t seem to have problems, I presume it’s Pilot Error, but I haven’t been able to resolve it. Specifically, when I try
to run a Java project, with a _______________________________________________ Ibm-netrexx mailing list [hidden email] Online Archive : http://ibm-netrexx.215625.n3.nabble.com/ |
In reply to this post by Dave Woodman
On 17-Apr-14 14:38, Dave Woodman wrote: > Perhaps it is time to find out how many on the list use - or want to use, > Eclipse for NetRexx? With those criteria, I fall into the "Used to be" and "Want to be again" categories. Is that two votes up? _______________________________________________ Ibm-netrexx mailing list [hidden email] Online Archive : http://ibm-netrexx.215625.n3.nabble.com/ |
In reply to this post by Tom Maynard
Tom --
Your commitment and willingness to prioritize NetRexx are encouraging! (We all have twice as many things to do as there are hours in a day! ;-) How about we pick an item and make it into a list like you proposed: (1) Binary blocks. Issues #69, #41. This enhancement allows use of code like the following in non binary classes and methods to perform binary operations: do binary say 8|2|1 end TODO List: [x] Coding - write working code. Build/publish testable modules. Update SVN branch with change to protect source from loss. Draft simple use case for testers. [ ] Testing - try all possible cases in all available environments. Report successes and failures. Give any suggestions for changes and documenting. OS[ ] Documentation - examine existing docs if any and draft recommended changes. Publish to list for feedback. Update SVN copies of docs. Provide recommendations for tutorials if needed. [ ] Tutorial - Draft a simple "how to" paper with possible example code, publish to list for comments, add to distribution/contribution as appropriate. If you decide you can help with this item, say in the testing, you download the test translator, fire it up on your system and try anything you can think of, then report back: "It works in OS *** with Java *, but it allows me to code "do binary binary" with no error reported - should probably be changed. We code and publish a fix for that issue and you try again, then find that nested do blocks are also affected, so you report that and ask if it is supposed to work that way. List discusses the situation and decides that the behavior is consistent with existing block inheritance of "binary" from class or method. Then maybe you move on to documenting what you learned or someone else jumps in for the next step using your suggestions. Some steps may require more people, like testing which has to cover multiple environments. Does any of this make sense? Or match what you are thinking? -- Kermit On 4/16/2014 11:33 PM, Tom Maynard
wrote:
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In reply to this post by Tom Maynard
Hi Tom,
the 3.03 documentation (Programming Guide, p 87, I'll send it in a separate mail) has steps to use the Eclipse interface, you know where to find the source of the document. best regards René. On 17 apr. 2014, at 08:33, Tom Maynard <[hidden email]> wrote:
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In reply to this post by Tom Maynard
I use it regularly to demonstrate NetRexx to young 'Eclipse-heads'.
best regards, René. On 18 apr. 2014, at 03:16, Tom Maynard <[hidden email]> wrote: > > On 17-Apr-14 14:38, Dave Woodman wrote: >> Perhaps it is time to find out how many on the list use - or want to use, >> Eclipse for NetRexx? > With those criteria, I fall into the "Used to be" and "Want to be again" categories. Is that two votes up? > > _______________________________________________ > Ibm-netrexx mailing list > [hidden email] > Online Archive : http://ibm-netrexx.215625.n3.nabble.com/ > _______________________________________________ Ibm-netrexx mailing list [hidden email] Online Archive : http://ibm-netrexx.215625.n3.nabble.com/ |
In reply to this post by billfen
On 17-Apr-14 14:14, [hidden email] wrote: The installation of the Eclipse NetRexx plugin is very simple Ah, Bill. I take back
most of the nasty things I’ve said about you (mostly under my
breath, while staring at an Eclipse screen). Thanks to a vital
clue from René I have become aware of the NetRexx Menu
in Eclipse (!). Heretofore I had been either typing My apologies to one and all for the embarrassing waste of bandwidth. Nothing to see here, move along now…. _______________________________________________ Ibm-netrexx mailing list [hidden email] Online Archive : http://ibm-netrexx.215625.n3.nabble.com/ |
In reply to this post by Kermit Kiser
On 18-Apr-14 03:51, Kermit Kiser wrote:
To you, perhaps. But your suggested list of waiting fixes exposes my unworthiness, insuitability, and overall incapacity to help in any significant way. I'm not even capable (any more) of doing any "heavy lifting." I can't help you move, e.g. I could bring beer, I suppose. I just don't think I'd have sufficient courage to tackle any of the items on your list, alas. However, perhaps someone else will be inspired to step up and take my place. Sorry! Tom. _______________________________________________ Ibm-netrexx mailing list [hidden email] Online Archive : http://ibm-netrexx.215625.n3.nabble.com/ |
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