29
Fri, Nov
0 New Articles

mrc Offers Users a Crash Course in Modernization

Development Tools
Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times

Tool-maker supports an approach to modernizing legacy applications it calls "extend and surround" that advances the idea of eating the elephant one bite at a time.

 

Application modernization is a process that has been ongoing for some time. Even though the momentum has picked up pace recently, there are companies that have been working on this challenge for awhile and have a depth of experience. Two new white papers from tool developer mrc can help clarify the issues a company must face when considering modernization alternatives and help companies select which one of several specific approaches it may wish to take on this journey toward application modernization.

 

mrc, which stands for michaels, ross & cole, ltd., has a Java-based Rapid Application Development (RAD) tool called m-Power that is popular in the IBM midrange market and has roots in mrc's former 4GL development environment for the AS/400. With m-Power, even business users can create new applications, while seasoned RPG developers can create Java apps without suffering the steep learning curve some experienced a few years back when trying to acquire Java skills. The mrc tool uses prebuilt objects and templates that link to the Web server inherent in the AS/400 or IBM i server.

 

Apart from having released a new m-Power WYSIWYG screen designer called m-Painter last spring, MRC now has an application or "project exchange" where developers can upload their m-Power templates, external objects, and User-Defined Functions (UDFs—specific programming routes) and share them with other developers. The project exchange likely will greatly enhance the value of m-Power to existing customers if enough people contribute to it and could give m-Power an edge against competing tools. So far, there are 13 project contributions, and the list is likely to grow as even non-m-Power users are invited to contribute to the exchange.

 

Needless to say, if a company is interested only in a screen-scraping approach to application modernization, then m-Power is not the tool for them. What mrc advocates is an approach to application modernization that is more akin to redevelopment, one it calls "extend and surround." The eat-an-elephant-one-bite-at-a-time approach involves gradually surrounding your old applications with completely new and modern ones. The idea is to modernize different parts of your applications gradually as the need arises without touching other aspects. As one project is complete, you move on to focus on other areas that also need to be modernized.

 

The approach, says mrc, allows a company to modernize gradually, at a pace it can afford, but have a truly modern set of Web-based applications in the end. Of course, they share the same logic and database as do the old applications. There is no question the approach will take time for the development of these new applications and likely will require having a developer on staff familiar with modern methods and languages, but the task can be greatly simplified by using a tool such as m-Power, the company says. The approach does take much of the risk out of the undertaking compared to summarily rewriting all applications at once and can make the project more affordable for many companies that might be put off by a large dollar estimate.

 

In its white paper, "Crash Course in Modernization," mrc identifies several basic approaches. While it begins with screen-scraping, the company claims this is not really modernization at all because the underlying application hasn't been changed. While for some this could be the method's greatest advantage, mrc is not enthusiastic about screen-scraping. It does acknowledge, however, that often the IT department may be under so much pressure from upper management to get rid of the firm's text-based interfaces that it's a low-cost and attractive upgrade. However, the company points out that the underlying legacy applications, which more than likely are procedurally based, often cannot fulfill the changing needs of the business indefinitely and may increase maintenance since anytime the core application is changed, the graphical screens and links will also have to be updated.

 

The second approach is converting an application written in one language to the same application written in another modern programming language. This is done by running the code through a code converter and turning the applications into, say, Java. The solution may solve the problem of becoming dependent upon a dwindling talent pool to maintain old applications but the fact that a company still has legacy applications designed prior to the introduction of e-commerce will eventually be a limiting factor.

 

For those companies with beaucoup resources, the "rip-and-replace" method, whereby you build completely new applications using modern programming languages, methods, and databases etc., leaves you with applications that address your current and future business needs. They also are likely to be much easier to maintain as they will be more modular. They will be able also to support your growing business. However, throwing out all your old applications does pose significant risks. How much disruption can your organization afford? You will also need a cadre of loyal and skilled developers who know your business or have the ability to train new developers on how the company's business applications must function.

 

The final approach is to buy out-of-the-box applications that hopefully will work fairly closely along the lines of your business or can be customized to your specific business needs by your staff, a consultant, or the ISV from whence it came. The devil is in the details, however, and it's in the customizing that such projects get expensive, not to mention that many prebuilt application packages are expensive to begin with. Of course, you can always go with an open-source solution, but the customization required for that may also get pricey, and the eventual cost will be hard to estimate.

 

As Jon Paris of Partner400 says, "There is no silver bullet," but the folks at m-Power have a long history of helping people modernize their legacy applications, and the extend-and-surround approach makes good sense for many companies that don't have buckets of cash to throw at the problem. Whether written in J2EE or RPG, I personally like the idea of ending up with solid, Web-enabled, event-driven applications that support specific business functions. It may take a little longer to get there, but at the end of the journey, you have a modern, quality application that (hopefully) works. You haven't deferred dealing with the underlying problem, and you haven't shifted the task onto someone else's shoulders as you gingerly head off to accept your next career opportunity.

 

as/400, os/400, iseries, system i, i5/os, ibm i, power systems, 6.1, 7.1, V7,

Chris Smith

Chris Smith was the Senior News Editor at MC Press Online from 2007 to 2012 and was responsible for the news content on the company's Web site. Chris has been writing about the IBM midrange industry since 1992 when he signed on with Duke Communications as West Coast Editor of News 3X/400. With a bachelor's from the University of California at Berkeley, where he majored in English and minored in Journalism, and a master's in Journalism from the University of Colorado, Boulder, Chris later studied computer programming and AS/400 operations at Long Beach City College. An award-winning writer with two Maggie Awards, four business books, and a collection of poetry to his credit, Chris began his newspaper career as a reporter in northern California, later worked as night city editor for the Rocky Mountain News in Denver, and went on to edit a national cable television trade magazine. He was Communications Manager for McDonnell Douglas Corp. in Long Beach, Calif., before it merged with Boeing, and oversaw implementation of the company's first IBM desktop publishing system there. An editor for MC Press Online since 2007, Chris has authored some 300 articles on a broad range of topics surrounding the IBM midrange platform that have appeared in the company's eight industry-leading newsletters. He can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS

LATEST COMMENTS

Support MC Press Online

$

Book Reviews

Resource Center

  • SB Profound WC 5536 Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application. You can find Part 1 here. In Part 2 of our free Node.js Webinar Series, Brian May teaches you the different tooling options available for writing code, debugging, and using Git for version control. Brian will briefly discuss the different tools available, and demonstrate his preferred setup for Node development on IBM i or any platform. Attend this webinar to learn:

  • SB Profound WP 5539More than ever, there is a demand for IT to deliver innovation. Your IBM i has been an essential part of your business operations for years. However, your organization may struggle to maintain the current system and implement new projects. The thousands of customers we've worked with and surveyed state that expectations regarding the digital footprint and vision of the company are not aligned with the current IT environment.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT Generic IBM announced the E1080 servers using the latest Power10 processor in September 2021. The most powerful processor from IBM to date, Power10 is designed to handle the demands of doing business in today’s high-tech atmosphere, including running cloud applications, supporting big data, and managing AI workloads. But what does Power10 mean for your data center? In this recorded webinar, IBMers Dan Sundt and Dylan Boday join IBM Power Champion Tom Huntington for a discussion on why Power10 technology is the right strategic investment if you run IBM i, AIX, or Linux. In this action-packed hour, Tom will share trends from the IBM i and AIX user communities while Dan and Dylan dive into the tech specs for key hardware, including:

  • Magic MarkTRY the one package that solves all your document design and printing challenges on all your platforms. Produce bar code labels, electronic forms, ad hoc reports, and RFID tags – without programming! MarkMagic is the only document design and print solution that combines report writing, WYSIWYG label and forms design, and conditional printing in one integrated product. Make sure your data survives when catastrophe hits. Request your trial now!  Request Now.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericForms of ransomware has been around for over 30 years, and with more and more organizations suffering attacks each year, it continues to endure. What has made ransomware such a durable threat and what is the best way to combat it? In order to prevent ransomware, organizations must first understand how it works.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericIT security is a top priority for businesses around the world, but most IBM i pros don’t know where to begin—and most cybersecurity experts don’t know IBM i. In this session, Robin Tatam explores the business impact of lax IBM i security, the top vulnerabilities putting IBM i at risk, and the steps you can take to protect your organization. If you’re looking to avoid unexpected downtime or corrupted data, you don’t want to miss this session.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericCan you trust all of your users all of the time? A typical end user receives 16 malicious emails each month, but only 17 percent of these phishing campaigns are reported to IT. Once an attack is underway, most organizations won’t discover the breach until six months later. A staggering amount of damage can occur in that time. Despite these risks, 93 percent of organizations are leaving their IBM i systems vulnerable to cybercrime. In this on-demand webinar, IBM i security experts Robin Tatam and Sandi Moore will reveal:

  • FORTRA Disaster protection is vital to every business. Yet, it often consists of patched together procedures that are prone to error. From automatic backups to data encryption to media management, Robot automates the routine (yet often complex) tasks of iSeries backup and recovery, saving you time and money and making the process safer and more reliable. Automate your backups with the Robot Backup and Recovery Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAManaging messages on your IBM i can be more than a full-time job if you have to do it manually. Messages need a response and resources must be monitored—often over multiple systems and across platforms. How can you be sure you won’t miss important system events? Automate your message center with the Robot Message Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAThe thought of printing, distributing, and storing iSeries reports manually may reduce you to tears. Paper and labor costs associated with report generation can spiral out of control. Mountains of paper threaten to swamp your files. Robot automates report bursting, distribution, bundling, and archiving, and offers secure, selective online report viewing. Manage your reports with the Robot Report Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAFor over 30 years, Robot has been a leader in systems management for IBM i. With batch job creation and scheduling at its core, the Robot Job Scheduling Solution reduces the opportunity for human error and helps you maintain service levels, automating even the biggest, most complex runbooks. Manage your job schedule with the Robot Job Scheduling Solution. Key features include:

  • LANSA Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.

  • LANSAWhen it comes to creating your business applications, there are hundreds of coding platforms and programming languages to choose from. These options range from very complex traditional programming languages to Low-Code platforms where sometimes no traditional coding experience is needed. Download our whitepaper, The Power of Writing Code in a Low-Code Solution, and:

  • LANSASupply Chain is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. From raw materials for manufacturing to food supply chains, the journey from source to production to delivery to consumers is marred with inefficiencies, manual processes, shortages, recalls, counterfeits, and scandals. In this webinar, we discuss how:

  • The MC Resource Centers bring you the widest selection of white papers, trial software, and on-demand webcasts for you to choose from. >> Review the list of White Papers, Trial Software or On-Demand Webcast at the MC Press Resource Center. >> Add the items to yru Cart and complet he checkout process and submit

  • Profound Logic Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application.

  • SB Profound WC 5536Join us for this hour-long webcast that will explore:

  • Fortra IT managers hoping to find new IBM i talent are discovering that the pool of experienced RPG programmers and operators or administrators with intimate knowledge of the operating system and the applications that run on it is small. This begs the question: How will you manage the platform that supports such a big part of your business? This guide offers strategies and software suggestions to help you plan IT staffing and resources and smooth the transition after your AS/400 talent retires. Read on to learn: