Development Tools in 2006: any Room for a 4GL-style Language?

 
Dear Four J's Users,
 
Like many people, I am convinced that 4GL has its place in the 21st century,
between Java and .net or with Java and .net. Maybe the economic model of
"compiler" + "run time" is a little archaic, maybe not. Change usually
implies fear and the human beings like to preserve their environment. Is it
similar with his development environment? What would be the consequences for
a business? Is it OO (Object Orientation) that is the threat? Is it the lack
of communications? Is it the lack of standard? What about the web? What
about web integration? What about productivity tools such as automated unit
testing, code generator, comment generator and so much more.
 
I would like to answer many of these questions and even more and really try
to understand where 4GL fits in 2006. Is it near a cliff? Is it booming? 
 
Education is key to so many things. I hope this study will be educative and
that you will contribute to it.
 
The linked document is really a "place holder", it has some questions, some
choices to be made, but I voluntarily choose a Word document that everybody
can edit, modify, destroy, recreate to fit your needs, this is sometimes a
little friendly than a pure web-based survey!
 
Please consider answering before April 17th (Easter week-end for those who
are celebrating) it gives you about a month to reply. My goal is to release
the study during the IIUG / IDUG conference in Tampa (May 7th to 11th). IIUG
will have its AGM (Annual General Meeting) during this conference. It would
also be a good occasion to meet again and/or to send some of your team mates
to the major education event (and I will be speaking.).
 
Once again, I wish to emphasize on the importance of this study. I would
like to thank you in advance. If you know anyone ranging from C-level execs,
to developers via VPs, sales, QA people that would have something to say,
please forward them this e-mail.
 
Best regards and have a wonderful day,
 

P.S. 
If the attachment is lost or damaged, you can get a fresh copy on the
http://www.jgp.net web site.
This letter is available at: http://www.jgp.net/index.php?option=com_content
<http://www.jgp.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27&Itemid=27>
&task=view&id=27&Itemid=27.
The survey document is available at:
http://www.jgp.net/files/4GLMarketSurvey-US-005.doc. 


Jean Georges Perrin (aka jgp)
IIUG (International Informix Users Group) - Board of Directors
http://www.iiug.org <http://www.iiug.org/>  
[email protected] 
--
GO FURTHER... with DB2 and Informix.
Plan on attending the IDUG 2006 North America Conference.
Tampa, Florida, USA. May 7-11, 2006.
Visit http://www.iiug.org/conf for more information!