[Info-vax] Python on VMS

[Dave Froble]

On 1/17/2019 12:46 PM, Arne Vajhøj wrote:
> On 1/16/2019 1:21 PM, Jan-Erik Söderholm wrote:
>> Den 2019-01-16 kl. 18:01, skrev Arne Vajhøj:
>>> On 1/16/2019 9:11 AM, Bill Gunshannon wrote:
>>>> On 1/16/19 8:34 AM, Arne Vajhøj wrote:
>>>>> But Python is let me call it "convenient" or "practical" - if
>>>>> one needs to get something done then it is usually very easy
>>>>> in Python.
>>>>
>>>> It is not really any easier to do anything in Python than
>>>> in a real language.  But using a real language just wouldn't
>>>> be as cool.  The current nature of the industry.
>>>
>>> I will assume you by real languages mean traditional
>>> languages like Fortran, Cobol, C, Pascal etc..
>>>
>>> Python is a lot easier than those languages for
>>> a lot of what Python is used for.
>>
>> Agree! Last spring, when we needed to implement a REST interface
>> to a new server/application, we selected to use Python (that we
>> already had since many years on our VMS servers) since it already
>> had an installed version of the "requests" package/module.
>>
>> Look up "requests" in the list of installed packages/moduls:
>>
>> http://www.vmspython.org/doku.php?id=downloadandinstallationpython
>>
>> Some examples using requests:
>>
>> https://www.pythonforbeginners.com/requests/using-requests-in-python
>>
>> Using this tool within Python is *far* easier then to code the same
>> REST/HTTP calls using such as a C library and having some Cobol code
>> calling that. Far far easier and much faster to get it running.
>>
>> Python also have built in tools to deal with the JSON formatted
>> replies from the server, also way easier than to write our own
>> code to encode and decode JSON data.
>
> I know about Python requests.
>
> http://www.vajhoej.dk/arne/articles/wsrest.html
>
> down under "client" "framework".
>
> :-)
>
> BTW, why does VMS Python come with requests instead of just coming with
> pip and have those that need requests get it with pip?
>
>> Saying that it is just as hard in Python as any other traditional
>> language just shows the ignorance of the one claiming that.
>
> There are many other languages with good libraries.

This is the issue.  Library routines can be implemented in many 
languages, even Cobol.  Perhaps what Python has done better is to gather 
together more library routines in a distribution package.

I've got lots of library routines written in and for Basic, and am 
constantly adding to them.  Want Socket communications?  Want HTTP 
communications.  Got them.  Now, HTTPS is a bit of a OpenSSL issue, not 
a language issue.

I doubt I'm unique in this.  Most likely there are plenty of shops who 
have helpful library routines.  Just most of us don't embrace the YAEL 
syndrome.

I will admit that my libraries contain hundreds of tools, not the 
thousands I've seen claimed for such as Python.

> I would not expect too much for RESTful web service calls in Cobol,
> but Python is not the only one.

Why not?  Perhaps talk to Richard?

> But Python almost always have something and more important
> something that is relative easy to use.
>
> Python is a language where one usually get positive
> surprised if one need top get something done without
> too much hassle.

No, such products are for those who will not or can not develop their 
own.  Not that I'm advocating NIH, I don't subscribe to that and will 
use whatever works.


-- 
David Froble                       Tel: 724-529-0450
Dave Froble Enterprises, Inc.      E-Mail: davef at tsoft-inc.com
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