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RPG Ports from AS/400 to Linux?

Posted by Cliff on from the report-program-generator dept.

Spacemonkey asks: "So, IBM has finally ported Linux to run on their veritable plethora of hardware. Sounds like a real solid commitment to OSS, right? Well, the devil's in the details, however. After spending several hours searching on the Internet, I could not find one single implementation of the RPG ? environment on Linux. So IBM really wants to run Linux on their machines, but what if you want to run your AS/400 applications within the Linux space instead of OS400?"

"So now come the other questions, fast and furious:

  • Is it possible to run the RPG environment within Linux?
  • Can it be done on x86 hardware?
  • Are there any legal restrictions on doing the port?
  • If it has been done, where's the beef?
What good is running Linux on a cavalcade of hardware if you can't get to your 'native' applications? If I can get COBOL, then RPG should be just around the corner..."

6 of 38 comments (clear)

  1. Yes it is possible by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    RPG can be converted into COBOL using a simple Perl script; from there you can use GNU COBOL to compile it. I've done this with our businesses payroll program, now we run it on a cluster of Linux machines, we used to use an AS/400. Now we donated the AS/400 to a local school and couldn't be happier... personally I find Linux easier to use and more reliable than propetary OS400.

    1. Re:Yes it is possible by Jeremiah+Cornelius · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Where do you find this Perl of Wisdom? A link, or even a name might be of assistance.

      --
      "Flyin' in just a sweet place,
      Never been known to fail..."
  2. Nethack on AS/400 by BigJim.fr · · Score: 4, Funny

    I am the only one who jumped to the article thinking that some guys ported role playing games to the AS/400 ?

  3. Re:YES, NO, MAYBE by Cato · · Score: 3, Insightful

    You need to improve your googling skills - the third item or so on googling for Unibol was http://www.californiasoftware.com/calsw/rvb_unibol 400.htm .

    This is an RPG/400 compiler for Unices including Linux, based on much older Unibol versions (read: mature and reliable!).

    Also, have a look at http://www.well.com/~jax/rcfb/as400.html - links all about Open Source and the AS/400.

  4. Re:SOL? by Cato · · Score: 5, Informative

    There's at least one RPG compiler for Linux - see http://www.californiasoftware.com/calsw/rvb_unibol 400.htm

  5. Re:Why run RPG? by JabberWokky · · Score: 3, Insightful
    absolutely NONE of the benefits.

    Except massive amounts of code that have been tested for bugs in the region of hundreds of thousands or more manhours.

    --
    Evan

    --
    "$30 for the One True Ring. $10 each additional ring!" -- JRR "Bob" Tolkien