Summary

This chapter's goals were as follows :

• To revisit our mainframe past to establish the perspective of a training effort

• To discuss tools and technologies of the Windows platform as prerequisites for .NET retraining

I have presented to you the areas that are typical stumbling points for the newly reformed mainframe programmer. First, I discussed the difference between learning a programming language and learning to use that language on a given platform. Second, I reviewed the technologies that should be on your "common sense" list ”in other words, your prerequisites. My intention was to smooth out the inevitable learning curve (and perhaps keep the discussion interesting at the same time).

The bottom line is, your prerequisites foundation is about half poured. In the next chapter, I will pour the remaining half. There, I will introduce you to an additional prerequisite section that I refer to as "Foundational Concepts for Web and Windows Programming."

Starting with Chapter 5 and continuing to the end of the book, you will remove the brakes and dive into .NET. In these subsequent chapters, I will spend more time explaining actual .NET topics. After all, I wrote this book to guide you through the .NET maze. I just cannot go forward (with a clear conscience) unless you first get all of your "foundational" learning out of the way. Thanks for your patience.