I’ve ‘inherited’ a PowerBuilder application at work. I’ve always done ColdFusion so it’s a bit intimidating but I’m anxious to learn something new even though it appears that - unlike the ‘ColdFusion is dead’ rumors… PowerBuilder is on the respirator and not looking good.
Looking at Amazon - the latest ‘introductory’ book they list is for version 6 or 7 and I’m using 10 at work. Not good.
Anyone use PowerBuilder? If so I’d love to hear any resources, etc. you’ve found that may help out a newbie. I’ve dug around on the web and can’t find much in the 243 gazillion pages Google searches.
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Interestingly enough, I’ve found it pretty common to encounter customers wanting to port their PowerBuilder applications to Flex/SOA. Like COBOL, there’s still plenty of PowerBuilder out there (as well as other client/server technologies). I don’t know if a Flex port is an option for you here, but I thought I’d throw it out there.
I haven’t found any tools that do any kind of magic for PB.
I’ve found the best thing for maintenance, after 15 years of PB experience, is to step through the code in the debugger and make copious notes. Pay particular attention to the header of the debug window. It will tell you what event of what object you’re currently stepping through. You practically have to be OCD to debug this way, but it is effective.
For new development, keep it simple.
If you have any particular issues you would like to hash out, I’d be glad to help, if I can.
PowerBuilder kicks ass. Warning: Once you learn the product, you could fall in love with it. If I had my choice, I would program in it till I die.
Version 11, very exciting.