COMMON POWERUp 2023

Everyone who uses free-format RPG knows the basics of using prototypes to replace their old parm lists for program calls. However many RPGers don't realize just how much prototypes can do for them.
In this session, Susan reviews prototype basics but will concentrate mostly on exploiting their often-overlooked features. She'll even look at how much some of the hot-off-the-presses enhancements from IBM can simplify things.
Did you know that prototypes:
• Protect against parameter mis-matches
• Provide automatic conversion of parameter types and sizes
• Enable passing literals, built-in functions or function calls as parameters
• Allow you to specify optional parameters
• Enable you to call C functions and system APIs that return values
We'll also look at how to exploit these features of prototypes effectively, including examples of the right way for called programs (or procedures) to safely handle optional parameters.