11 23 Unlearning

LANSA Application Design

11.23 Unlearning

The methods used in data modeling and the new techniques available in application dialogue design mean that sometimes people have to "unlearn" or "discard" techniques they are already using.

The problem here is that some people are reluctant to do this and spend much of their time trying to "bend" the 4GL methodology to do things the way they always have done.

In most flexible 4GL products they can do this (to varying degrees), but the result is that often up to 70% of the development time is spent bending and fighting with the natural architecture built into the 4GL product.

This continual "bending" and "fighting" of the 4GL methodology may be the result of one or more of the following:

  • Poor knowledge of new techniques that 4GL makes available.
  • Resistance to change.
  • Fear of losing 3GL skills.
  • Designer wants to emulate existing systems.
  • End users have forced the designer to "emulate" existing systems.
  • Individual or corporate ego-based dialogue designs.