John, A phased in approach to a new JCL could work. Let me thunk
Scott ford www.identityforge.com from my IPAD 'Infinite wisdom through infinite means' > On Nov 10, 2013, at 10:35 AM, John McKown <[email protected]> > wrote: > > On Sun, Nov 10, 2013 at 9:02 AM, John McDowell <[email protected]> wrote: > > >> My thought is to contain the changes to the Converter only, no changes to >> the Interpreter or any other components. This will restrict what new >> functions can be provided but I think it has the potential to provide some >> significant new capability as well as provide a good platform for other >> future changes. > > OK, this really helps me to understand the scope of what to think on. > > >> >> Your comment regarding "new Coke" goes to the heart of my concern. If the >> "new JCL" does not provide an overwhelming improvement such that people >> want to use it then it probably doesn't make any sense. So the question I >> am trying to explore is can there be enough new capability added to the >> Converter (only) to get over this threshold ? I think there is, but it all >> depends upon what the collective sense what the existing JCL deficiencies >> are. >> >> It probably doesn't need to be said but I will anyway, the introduction of >> the "new JCL" would need to exist side by side with the "old JCL". So >> unlike the introduction of "new Coke" wherein "Coke classic" suddenly >> became a precious commodity "old JCL" will live on :-) I know you are a >> Linux/Unix guy so I would describe this as a "fork" (or is it a spawn ?), I >> am not a Unix guy so I will defer to you on that :-) You just gotta tip >> your hat to an OS that allows you to say: "I need to kill the daemon spawn" >> with a straight face :-) > > <snip> > >> >>> // JCLLIB ORDER= - One guess - Correct! Allow me to specify a UNIX >>> directory for PROCs and members which are // INCLUDE . Again, lower case >>> and >8 characters would be nice. >> The use of z/OS UNIX directories could actually be contained as a >> Converter only change, and thus falls into what I believe is containable. >> Although I suspect that "lower case and >8 characters" may be a bridge to >> far :-( and would not make the cut. (Note: My guess (I have no specific >> knowledge) is that the Converter currently uses FIND or perhaps BLDL to >> locate PROCs/INCLUDEs, neither of which provide the needed support. There >> is a faint glimmer of hope for this. it would first require that DESERV be >> added to the list of services that support z/OS UNIX directories and then >> the Converter could take advantage of this support.) > > I always thought that the 8 character limit was due to the natural limit of > PDS member names. Seems reasonable to retain this due to the "pain" of > trying to increase it. But I am certain that FIND / BLDL is in no way > restricted to upper case alphabetics only. SMP/E maintained PDS libraries > contain really weird (unprintable hex) member names with _no_ problems. And > I'm as certain as I can be without having access to the source that SMP/E > uses standard BPAM for most of its functions. There is no documentation in > the DFSMS manuals about not using any hex value, other than 8x'FF', as a > member name. > > <snip> > > > >>>> Snip << >> >>> John McKown >> >> John, I judge you to be someone who can see both "classic" z/OS and "new" >> Linux/Unix capabilities and is always looking for opportunities to bring >> the "new" to the "classic". I think this is a useful and creative outlook >> so I thank you for contributions to this discussion. > > I'm a Windows refugee who has embraced Linux. And I really even enjoyed > MS-DOS and CP-M/80 (let's not talk about TRSDOS, OK?) I do enjoy z/OS UNIX. > I am not the partisan that Gil is. But I will use it when it helps _me_ to > get _my_ work done. I'll even admit to using awk at times. And liking it! > <grin/>. And I absolutely love the stuff that Dovetailed Technologies has > done to support z/OS UNIX. Wonderful software that I can run with a no-cost > license. > > >> >> John McDowell >> >> -- > This is clearly another case of too many mad scientists, and not enough > hunchbacks. > > Maranatha! <>< > John McKown > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, > send email to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
