29
Fri, Nov
0 New Articles

RPG Academy – Modernization: Why, What, Where, and How

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

It’s time to start discussing modernizing your IBM i applications. This new subseries of RPG Academy presents some questions to ask yourself and offers some answers.

The “modernization” buzzword has been making the rounds for quite a while, but it has gained traction in recent years among the IBM i community, due to the advent of mobile computing, more-demanding users, and the whole cloud computing paradigm. This and the next few TechTips of this subseries will discuss the different facets of this fuzzy buzzword from my point of view.

Let me start by saying that I’m not a modernization expert. In fact, this buzzword means so many different things that I suspect nobody is an expert in this “field.” However, I have read about and experienced many different aspects of modernization, application restructuring, and MVC, among other interesting topics. I have also talked with experts in areas usually associated with modernization. In all of that, I couldn’t find a clear and concise definition for modernization in IBM i’s context. However, all sources point to a few common aspects of what modernization means:

  • Modular and reusable components (programs)
  • Modern, graphical user interfaces
  • Structured, flexible, and responsive databases

I’ll touch on all three of these aspects of modernization in this and the next TechTips. First, let’s talk about why you should consider modernizing your applications.

Why You Should Give Modernization a Shot

Moving from OPM to ILE is a big step toward modernization, because if you do it right, it will help you build modular and reusable components. If you follow a few standards and guidelines (like the ones I wrote about in the “Write Better Code” subseries), you’ll find that reusing code instead of rewriting it facilitates future maintenance and shortens development time. In other words, it helps cut costs. This is particularly important because it’s hard to sell “invisible” modernization to the top managers of most companies. I say “invisible” because the screens and printouts might remain the same, even though you have rebuilt all or part of the application in a modular fashion. Either managers are in the right mindset or you have to sugar-coat modernization with something they can relate to. Cutting costs is definitely something managers hold close to their hearts (and their budgets, too).

At least in the beginning, it will be hard to calculate the actual cost-savings of ILE because of the learning curve involved—it’s not too steep, but it does exist—and the need for defining your own code standards and guidelines. Fortunately, managers also relate to ballpark estimations. You won’t be able to come up with a very precise figure, but you should have an approximate idea, based on your modernization goals (more on this later).

This is not the only reason to modernize, but it’s probably the easiest way to get top management to support modernization. Be careful, however. If you don’t have experience with ILE and/or modernization processes and you provide management with unrealistically high cost-savings estimates, you’ll not only doom the current modernization initiative, but also future ones!

Modernization Eye Candy

Let’s go over the most visible aspect of modernization: the user interface. One of the most common complaints IBM i developers get from the users, particularly the younger generation of users, is that the user interface is “ugly, hard to work with, and confusing.”

I can see why people who were practically born holding a mouse (or even a smartphone) find a text-only interface ugly. Similarly, the lack of design skills most RPG programmers display (let’s face it; we’re programmers, not designers) leads us to stuff the screens with information, not always in the best of ways.

Even without migrating to web-based front-ends (more on that in one the next TechTips), there are things you can do:

  • Read about User Experience and User Interface (UX/UI)—There are literally thousands of free articles online about UX/UI. It’s true that most are written for graphical interfaces, but the principles are there, and you can apply them to text-only interfaces.
  • Listen to your users—Listen especially to the younger users and/or the most recent ones in the company. Their experience and ideas might sound a bit alien at first, but if you can relate to them, you might find interesting concepts that you can incorporate into your design standards.
  • Go all-in and consider a total UI redesign—A web-based user interface will definitely give your application a modern look. However, this might not be an easy path! There are a lot of products and frameworks you can use, ranging from free to very expensive. I’ll list a few of them later (probably in another subseries), but it’s up to you to decide if this is really the right thing at this moment, because trying to modernize the UI without changing what’s happening under the hood is generally not a good idea. As you’ll see later, it might be better to start with the code modernization—convert to ILE, restructure, and make your code more modular—before even thinking about a new UI. Again, it all depends on what you want to modernize and how much time and money you’re allowed to spend.

This seems like a good place to stop and let you mull over these ideas. Next time around, I’ll talk about restructuring the database and other possible approaches to application modernization.

Rafael Victoria-Pereira

Rafael Victória-Pereira has more than 20 years of IBM i experience as a programmer, analyst, and manager. Over that period, he has been an active voice in the IBM i community, encouraging and helping programmers transition to ILE and free-format RPG. Rafael has written more than 100 technical articles about topics ranging from interfaces (the topic for his first book, Flexible Input, Dazzling Output with IBM i) to modern RPG and SQL in his popular RPG Academy and SQL 101 series on mcpressonline.com and in his books Evolve Your RPG Coding and SQL for IBM i: A Database Modernization Guide. Rafael writes in an easy-to-read, practical style that is highly popular with his audience of IBM technology professionals.

Rafael is the Deputy IT Director - Infrastructures and Services at the Luis Simões Group in Portugal. His areas of expertise include programming in the IBM i native languages (RPG, CL, and DB2 SQL) and in "modern" programming languages, such as Java, C#, and Python, as well as project management and consultancy.


MC Press books written by Rafael Victória-Pereira available now on the MC Press Bookstore.

Evolve Your RPG Coding: Move from OPM to ILE...and Beyond Evolve Your RPG Coding: Move from OPM to ILE...and Beyond
Transition to modern RPG programming with this step-by-step guide through ILE and free-format RPG, SQL, and modernization techniques.
List Price $79.95

Now On Sale

Flexible Input, Dazzling Output with IBM i Flexible Input, Dazzling Output with IBM i
Uncover easier, more flexible ways to get data into your system, plus some methods for exporting and presenting the vital business data it contains.
List Price $79.95

Now On Sale

SQL for IBM i: A Database Modernization Guide SQL for IBM i: A Database Modernization Guide
Learn how to use SQL’s capabilities to modernize and enhance your IBM i database.
List Price $79.95

Now On Sale

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: