"If it wasn’t for IBM IMS/DB, we would have re-platformed our applications already"
Fast and reliable used to be the key factors for selecting IMS/DB as database system for mission critical data. During the last decades SQL databases have become as performing on a whole range of (cheaper) platforms. Also, the knowledge of IMS/DB is dwindling while at the same time SQL DBA’s are easier to find. The data however, that is stored in those mainframes databases, is nowadays needed and used in a much wider range of applications. These applications are running on mobiles and in the cloud. Providing the data from your existing IMS/DB applications to such modern apps is not an easy task. SQL databases are better equipped for it but that means a continuous replication of data.
The real solution would be to keep the implemented business logic but have the data in a SQL Database. For this major exercise a lot has to be changed in your applications. All these changes of the data access architecture and logic means a lot of work and risk of errors. Hence a lot of testing is needed.
Automation could minimize many of these efforts. It is this task that AMELIO Modernization Platform can perform for you: 100% automatically with only a short freeze period and a limited test impact.
Automatic Transformation
AMELIO Modernization Platform provides a fully configurable Software Modernization Factory. It imports and analyses all your source code. All relevant issues are identified and the factory is prepared for a modernization according to your wishes. Selected parts of the application, that cover all the identified issues, are modernized to validate the future situation. After extensive Meta-Level testing of these selected parts, the rest of applications are fed into the factory and the final modernization is performed.
This strategy enables you to adapt your future environment to new wishes or effects discovered during testing without redoing anything. It also enables normal maintenance during most of the modernization project. Only shortly before the final migration a short freeze is necessary. This enables you to adjust the outcome of the final modernization until very late in the project without the risk of running out of time and budget.
Meta-Level Testing
If an 100% automated process performs a task we can assume that, in contrast to human intervention, it always performs this task in the same reliable manner. It is therefore not necessary to test the outcome of all individual tasks that have been performed by an automated process. In our case a representative subset of the applications changed is enough to prove the correct functioning of the factory. This is what Meta-Level testing is about.
Here you find more information about AMELIO Modernization Platform and its extremely power for automated modernization of your applications. Get in touch right now – we are ready to help.
Download Language: Englisch - Version: MT21082.01
Safe Replacement of IMS Databases: How to Succeed!
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Many companies which chose IBM IMS/DB in the past now suffer from the fact that the IMS data can only be accessed by the “old” applications. Usually, those companies use modern SQL databases as well. From there the data is available more easily and numerous tools support their evaluation. But to be able to provide e.g. the IMS data together with the SQL data in a data warehouse, the IMS data must be extracted first. In this way, real time evaluations / applications are not possible.
Moreover, by now there is a dwindling knowledge about how IMS/DB and how it is used within these companies.
That alone is a good reason to think about a change of the applications from IMS/DB to a SQL database. Furthermore, the use of multiple technologies creates unnecessary costs which is an additional reason to start looking for alternatives.
Without the connection to IMS/DB, a lot of more cost-effective platforms are available for the applications. However, the real challenge when changing from IMS/DB to relational is the associated paradigm change.
From hierarchic to relational – 100% automated
The goal is to change the application to clean SQL – i.e. not to “translate” the IMS accesses to SQL only by using a proprietary intermediate layer during runtime.
As a result of the complexity and the potentially lack of knowledge, for such a modernization task an automated transformation is needed. A manual modernization hardly will succeed due to the diversity of necessary changes. Our solution is the AMELIO Modernization Platform, a 100% automated modernization factory that guarantees an error-free change.
The following steps, which all are automatically performed by the modernization factory, are required for the paradigm change:
- New data model:
A proposal for the new relational data model is derived based on the existing hierarchical data model and the usage in the applications. - Transformation:
Depending on the context and the new data model the database accesses are changed. - Code reduction:
Redundant IMS coding is removed. - Neutralization:
The IMS-specific error handling is neutralized.
For the data model as well as for the transformation and the neutralization, at first a proposal is determined/created in coordination with the customer. This way the change process is exactly tailored to the customer’s requirements.
Download Language: Englisch - Version: MT21082.01
Safe Replacement of IMS Databases: How to Succeed!
Read moreFurther Modernization Possibilities
A benefit of the 100% automated modernization is the possibility to perform additional application changes without additional risk.
In this way, there is e.g. the possibility for an architecture modernization: SQL coding could be implemented directly in the business logic, on the other hand it may be transferred into data services modules. The great advantage of data services is to keep changes low in the programs itself. As a result, the testing efforts for the transformed applications are reduced and the programs keep their appearance. Moreover, the data services also are re-usable.
The simultaneous replacement of IMS and migration to another platform is a further option. Of course, a platform change then requires further changes of the application, e.g. for the EBCDIC – ASCII change and the replacement of other platform specifics. Such adaptations can be made in conjunction with the database change and automated by the modernization factory.
AMELIO Modernization Platform: Tailor-made for your specific task
The factory is configured on the basis of the customer’s requirements, because every application is unique. Therefore it is not a “one size fits all” solution!
For this factory approach there is no necessity to test every changed application component in detail, only the correct operation of the factory must be proved. This proceeding reduces the testing efforts by over 75%. The automatic approach guarantees an extremely high security, especially at complex changes.
Download Language: Englisch - Version: MT21053.01
Modernisation of the mainframe applications in order to reduce platform costs, gain platform independence and modernise the application architecture to prepare future development.
Read moreThe final result is specified very early at a manual transformation: The point of no return is reached at a very early stage. But a factory-based project offers the possibility to reconsider and change the implementation decisions for a long time after project starting. A new factory run lasting a few days only is sufficient to take effect on the decisions.
The result of the modernization are applications which are ongoing usable and maintainable without footprint or vendor-lock-in (without any dependence and/or license fees on any emulators or other products).
AMELIO Modernization Platform: Features
The AMELIO Modernization Platform allows to perform 100% automated mass changes in your software. The AMELIO technology has proved its high flexibility, high quality and low testing efforts in many projects.
The features:
- 100% automated, strictly rule-based changes
- Transformation factory configured for the individual task – no “one size fits all”.
- Short Freezes: undisturbed maintenance and development
- Derivation of a proposal for the required relational data model
- Inline SQL or architecture transformation with data servers (the decision must be made during the project)
- Automatic derivation of the SQL data servers
- No footprint solution – for the transformed application as well as for the new data services
- Possible in combination with a platform migration also
- Audit-proof documentation of all performed changes – per module and for the overall application
Learn more in our articles on: "Successfully Replace IMS Databases"
Better Software Faster
Using our tools, organisations of all branches automate the development, integration, modernization and analysis of their individually developed software applications.
- Automated Software Development: Creating high-performance data services with just a few clicks, generating software for different variants and/or platforms, accelerating (product line) development through individual software generators
- Flexible Software Integration: Reusing legacy functions in service-oriented architectures, building composite applications from applications with different architectures and development paradigms, creating new business services, joining different database architectures
- Secure Software Modernization: Implementing extensive changes and architecture transformations for large-scale IT applications risk-free and in parallel to the development and to the productive business operation – 100% automatically and error-free
- Individual Software Analysis: Extracting relevant information instead of unmanageable amounts of data as well-founded basis for optimization and re-development
Delta Software Technology
Using our generative software tools you can measurably increase the quality and flexibility of your IT applications. You can enhance the support of your business processes, implement new requirements faster - and cut costs.
We offer
- calculable costs due to tool-based solutions instead of service/outsourcing approaches
- independency, because our tools help to avoid vendor-lock-ins and footprints
- sustainable investment security, future-proof by stepwise proceeding with early results and without dead-ends but with the possibility to revise decisions and to change strategies halfway
- increased productivity and quality through mature methodology and maximised automation
Integration - Simply Building Bridges
Integration - Simply Building Bridges
You’d like to build new applications fast and efficiently? Then our generative tools help you to
- Reuse proven functionality from existing applications
- Build composite applications and service-oriented architectures (SOA)
- Integrate heterogeneous architectures, paradigms, languages, platforms and databases
- Automate service enablement for legacy-reuse, process mapping, data mapping
Keep it simple. With our generative tools you can automatically build bridges, integrate components independently from architecture and technology and manage interfaces. Thus, you can quickly adapt your applications to changing business requirements, technical infrastructures and available resources.
Contact us
Contact us if you like to know how you can integrate your proven functions in new architectures quick and easy.
Learn more about us and our offers now...
Further Information
Read on to get more information concerning our integration solutions
Productivity Tools for Software Integration
We support your application integration with the following tools:
- SCORE Data Architecture Integration – DBMS independent persistency layer
- SCORE Adaptive Bridges - generative service enablement
Development - Efficiently Generated
Development - Efficiently Generated
You’d like to speed up your software development?
- For different platforms, languages, paradigms, databases
- Of business- and data-services
- Of persistency layers and service-oriented architectures (SOA)
- Of product lines and software variants?
Our generative tools can help.
Increase the quality and efficiency of your software development by automating the
- Development for and with reuse
- Deployment of proven functionality as services
- Development of tailor-made software generators and DSLs
Contact us
You’re looking for tools to speed up and support your software development? Contact us.
Learn more about us and our offers now.
Further Information
Read on to get more information about our development solutions
Productivity Tools for Software Development
With these tools you can accelerate your software development:
- SCORE Adaptive Bridges – generative service enablement
- SCORE Data Architecture Integration – DBMS independent persistency layer
- ADS 6 – platform independent backend and batch applications (also available as Eclipse plugin)
- SCOUT² – integrated development processes
- HyperSenses – tailor made DSLs and generators
Modernisation - Really Safe
Modernisation - Really Safe
You’d like to modernize your individual IT-applications safe and error-free? With our tools we help you to
- Understand your applications
- Migrate your software, e.g. in case of OS- or DBMS change
- Transform the architecture of your software
- Perform mass changes in your applications
Safe, reliable and error-free due to 100% automation.
You don’t have to accept compromises. As specialist for generative development tools we have automated our own product development. Therefore we can offer you a “modernisation factory” that is exactly tailored to your requirements. In addition, we ensure
- Interference-free continuing development and maintenance during the project
- There is no Point of No Return. Strategy changes are always possible
- The result is future proof and does not create dependencies, vendor lock-ins or foot prints
Contact us
You’d like to modernise? Tell us about your requirements! Let us talk about possible proceedings and profit from the experiences of other customers using our solutions.
Learn more about us and our offers now.
Modernisation Topics
Read on to get more information about important modernisation issues
Productivity Tools for Software Modernisation
We support your modernisation project with these tools:
- AMELIO Modernization Platform - fully automated application transformation
- AMELIO Logic Discovery - Understanding COBOL, PL/I and Delta ADS Applications
- SCORE Adaptive Bridges - generative service enablement
- SCORE Data Architecture Integration - DBMS independent persistency layer