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by c_prompt
31 days ago
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Don't forget DataEase [1]. That's what I eventually moved to from dBase (although, IIRC, it was through back-and-forth evaluations of FoxPro, Clipper, and Paradox). DataEase was considered a "Fourth-Generation Language" (4GL) and it was wonderful to work with. As a teenage "systems analyst" working for a division of GE (my first paid tech job), I built a file room management system for their large file rooms (remember those?). Having to thoroughly test security, I put it through its paces and found a way to hack into any application built on DataEase. Eventually explaining the procedure to DataEase's development team (which included one developer traveling to my fraternity house for a face-to-face meeting; so funny trying to be business-like in a place with sticky floors and smelled like stale beer), they fixed the hole. There weren't any bug bounties during those days but, as a reward, they gave me lifetime upgrades and allowed me to go to all their training seminars for free. It was my 4GL experience that ultimately led to learning Cognos. Funny aside: I remember the first time my GE boss asked me for an invoice as it was the only way he could pay me. I had no idea what it should look like. So he sent me to the PM of one of the COBOL contractor teams who gave me a template that I copied. The PM eventually asked me to do some COBOL programming for them as well. Good times. [1] https://www.dataease.com/ |
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