AMELIO Logic Discovery helps you to (re) understand your large and complex COBOL, PL/I and ADS applications. The two new perspectives “KnowledgeBase” and “CallTree” speeds up this process.
KnowledgeBase – Finding instead of Searching
With the KnowledgeBase perspective, you get an overview of all analysed artifacts at the push of a button. You can quickly and safely find the access to the modules that are relevant for your task.
Furthermore,
- You get analysis information on groups of artifacts as well as on each individual artifact
- You will find out which (code) patterns were found and how often, both for the entire application, for groups of artifacts or just individual artifacts
- You can use the comment function to record findings and make them available to others
- With the bookmarks and tags you get the possibility to mark artifacts of particular interest to find them easier
- With intelligent filter functions, you can simply focus on the artifacts that are relevant to the current task
Query Technology
The new query technology expands the KnowledgeBase perspective and provides you with exactly the modules that are relevant for your task. In addition to the ready-made queries, you can now easily define your own queries with the query builder.
Overview in the Application Network
One question that always recurs is to identify dependencies in the network of artifacts: Who is calling whom and who is being called by whom? AMELIO Logic Discovery provides that too at the push of a button. The new CallTree perspective is the counterpart to the established ProgramTree perspective. For a program, it shows the other programs from which it is called.
And beyond,
- You receive information about the program interfaces, which parameters are expected and which are actually transferred
- Decision tables show you clearly and unambiguously which conditions must be fulfilled to enable a program to be called.
Ensure the Success of your Project through optimal Application Analysis with AMELIO Logic Discovery
Do you want to (re) understand your application, carry out a migration or modernization project?
Or get rid of technical debt from your applications?
AMELIO Logic Discovery helps you with this and automatically provides all the information you need. Try it.
You can find more information about AMELIO Logic Discovery on our website ... or just contact us directly.
Also read ...
Download Language: Englisch - Version: mt21093.02
Existing applications have accumulated a lot of technical debt over the years. Removing it could speed up maintenance significantly. In reality the task of improve the software by removing the obsolete parts is seldom performed. The risk of introducing errors and the cost of testing is the biggest reason for not doing anything.
Read more
Dear Reader,
As much as the pandemic restricts us - professionally as well as privately: it creates the opportunity for many companies to tackle long-needed projects in software development.
The modernisation as well as the re-implementation and maintenance of your applications cause high costs and considerable risks for the operational business. You can reduce costs and, above all, risks through automated solutions.
Find out today about automated assessments, complete analyses and customised clean-ups that can help you make better use of your resources and reduce risks for your projects.
We hope you enjoy reading and welcome any feedback!
Your Delta Software Technology Team
3 Important Steps for the Sustainable Software Modernisation
You value the reliability, speed and functionality of your COBOL and PL/I applications?
These applications are an indispensable part of your application landscape for you in the future?
You want your operational back-end applications to be permanently of good quality?
But: You also want to implement changes quickly and benefit from new technologies. You want to play it safe with all changes.
We show you 3 steps that will help you modernise your applications securely and sustainably.
3 Important Steps for the Sustainable Software Modernisation
3 Important Steps for the Sustainable Software Modernisation
- Do you value the functionality and reliability of your COBOL and PL/I applications?
- Are you struggling with the complexity and do you lack precise knowledge about the implementation of the functionality?
- Have you also been reducing your investment in existing backend applications for a long time and your experts and knowledge carriers are on their way to retirement?
- Do you want to modernise your operational backend applications and benefit from new technologies while playing it safe with all changes?
We discuss 4 steps that will help you to modernise your applications securely and sustainably. Read now:
Best Practices for Application Modernisation
Although there are countless reasons for application modernisation, the overarching goal is always to reduce the risks of legacy applications, save costs, increase organisational agility with modern IT and, last but not least, be attractive to new specialists.
The following 4 steps will help you to modernise your applications securely and sustainably.
- Custom-fit Assessments for good decisions: For detailed information, read ‘4 Important Steps for Sustainable Software Modernisation (Step 1: Custom Fit Assessments)’
- Automated Application Analysis for a comprehensive and accurate (re)understanding of the implemented application logic in order to reduce risks and costs for modernisation or new implementation and ensure easy knowledge transfer. For detailed information, read ‘4 Important Steps for Sustainable Software Modernisation (Step 2: Automated Application Analysis)’
- Agile Clean-up to optimise the use of your resources.
- Fully Automated Transformation for a completely secure and flexible modernisation.
Simplify Your Legacy Application Modernisation
For almost 50 years, our customers have benefited from our automated solutions to develop their customised IT applications securely and sustainably while reducing costs and risks. From our experience with very large projects, we can say that most of the applications developed in COBOL and PL/I or created by generators are very large and complex because the business logic they implement is extensive and complex.
Application size, complexity and strong interconnectivity of the individual components, code that is no longer required in the applications as well as a lack of knowledge about the applications' implementation and inappropriate documentation hinder safe, effective and efficient modernisation.
So, how do you gain a comprehensive and accurate understanding of the applications that enables secure modernisation and flawless transformation of your valuable legacy applications into future-proof applications?
So, how can you attain good decisions and realistic planning, get a comprehensive and accurate understanding of the applications and execute a reliable clean-up that enables a secure modernisation and error-free transformation of your valuable legacy applications into future-proof applications?
Step 1: Custom-fit Assessments
Step 1
Custom-fit Assessments for Good Decisions
So, how can you attain good decisions and realistic planning that enables a secure modernisation and error-free transformation of your valuable legacy applications into future-proof applications?
The solution is an assessment. But, be careful: It is not enough - as many providers propose - to simply list a few figures about the approximate size and number of modules in order to receive reliable estimates of the effort and costs. The risks, as so often, lie in the details.
Of course, rough decisions and gut feeling could also lead to success. As a rule, however, they lead to delays (also in other projects) and significant cost increases and, unfortunately, often also to the failure of modernisation projects.
In its Chaos Report 2019, the Standish Group reports that 83.9% of IT projects fail partially or completely. The following reasons for failure are repeatedly cited in studies:
- Badly defined requirements
- Poorly defined or unrealistic planning
- Inaccurate and unrealistic estimates
The modernisation projects that we have implemented for large financial service providers have shown that only a complete analysis of all sources in advance provides reliable information. The emphasis here is placed on Complete and All. This is the only way to recognize all obstacles and dependencies. This is the only way to make good decisions and eliminate the risks.
Tailor-made Assessment - Why?
Simply collecting all the data about your applications will not help you to reliably assess the risks and costs of extensive changes. This can only be achieved by an analysis that is precisely tailored to your project goal and your applications.
Our projects have shown us that a targeted and individually tailored analysis of the applications is a crucial basis for:
- The exact definition of the requirements
- Reliable planning
- Inaccurate and unrealistic estimates
The modernisation projects that we have implemented for large financial service providers have shown that only a complete analysis of all sources in advance provides reliable information. The emphasis here is placed on Complete and All. This is the only way to recognize all obstacles and dependencies. This is the only way to make good decisions and eliminate the risks.
Tailor-made Assessment - Why?
Simply collecting all the data about your applications will not help you to reliably assess the risks and costs of extensive changes. This can only be achieved by an analysis that is precisely tailored to your project goal and your applications.
Our projects have shown us that a targeted and individually tailored analysis of the applications is a crucial basis for:
- The exact definition of the requirements
- Reliable planning
- The realistic assessment of the risks and efforts
A tailor-made assessment finds all stumbling blocks and helps to precisely define the requirements for a project, enables precise planning and thus paves the way for the successful implementation.
What Can We Do for You?
If you want to ensure the success of your modernisation projects, find out about the possibilities of our tailor-made application assessments.
You can find an initial overview in our flyer “Application Assessment: Don't Guess – Assess”.
Download Language: Englisch - Version: mt21085.02
Tailor-made application assessments enable you to pinpoint and to reliably evaluate all critical issues for your projects. They help you to accomplish your projects in the areas of modernisation, migration, mass changes and clean-up of your COBOL and PL/I applications successfully in time and in budget.
Read moreEvery project is different and our flyer just gives you a first general idea. To get the best solution for you, you should directly discuss the requirements and details of your project with us.
Step 2: Automated Application Analysis
Step 2
Automated Application Analysis – Why?
Regardless of whether you want to modernise the functionality of your backend applications by changing the data management system or replacing individual technology modules, or whether you want to redevelop them using ‘modern’ languages, you always need to know exactly what is currently implemented and how it is implemented.
Understanding large and complex applications is a Herculean task! Especially if you have not developed the applications yourself and even more so if the original developers are no longer available. The documentation - if available and up-to-date - does not provide the knowledge about the implementation of the functionality that is necessary for understanding and modernising or rewriting.
Even if the applications were originally well structured, this design has often suffered over the decades. Old architectures and techniques are used. New code was repeatedly added to fulfil new requirements. However, code that was no longer needed was rarely removed, as there was no real certainty that this code was no longer needed under any circumstances and the cost and effort of testing was spared. It is generally estimated that the proportion of ‘dead code’ in applications increases by around 10% per decade. This also prevents precise understanding.
Poor understanding of existing applications leads to
- poorly or even incorrectly defined requirements
- poorly defined and unrealistic planning
- unrealistic estimates of risks and expenses
- errors during modernisation or new implementation
Read also ‘Chaos Report 2019 by the Standish Group’ for more details.
In addition, a lack of understanding of existing applications usually also leads to delays (also in other projects) and significant cost increases and, unfortunately, often to the failure of modernisation projects.
Really Understanding Applications – A Dream?
The truth or rather the entire knowledge about your applications, their functionality and their actual implementation is in the current source code!
But beware: It is not enough - as many providers propagate - to simply visualise the application code, data usage and possibly also the dependencies. Some tools, especially those that are also used for maintenance, also offer step-by-step execution of the code. All of this is not enough to really understand the applications and their implementation.
But, the good news is: this knowledge can be recovered quickly using our automated application analysis.
Proper Structuring and Logical Abstraction
Real understanding can only be gained through the right structuring and logical abstraction, through the ability to view the analysed code under varying aspects and from different perspectives and, above all, to be able to abstract the implementation across multiple levels.
The aim is not only to visualise the physical code and data structures, but also to determine the logical components of the source code and the conditions for their interaction. This is the only way to derive the implemented functions, their interfaces and the conditions for their execution.
To simplify knowledge transfer, onboarding and subject-specific communication, the information also needs to be presented in a language-neutral way.
Automated Application Analysis with AMELIO Logic Discovery
AMELIO Logic Discovery is an innovative analysis tool that helps you to better understand your native and generated COBOL, PL/I and Delta ADS applications and to comprehensively secure the relevant functionality.
Through in-depth and comprehensive analyses of the applications, AMELIO Logic Discovery determines
- what is implemented
- how it is implemented
- which logical relationships exist
- which components form a logical unit (procedures, composites, ...)
- the conditions under which procedures and components are called or executed
- what the interfaces of these components look like
- which data structures are used, how and where (definition, scope, ...)
The implementation details are abstracted, the information obtained is connected, logically structured and the knowledge about the functionality of the application is derived. The result is a clear, language-neutral and technology-independent visualisation of the application logic, in which users can navigate freely across all levels, in topic-related views and in selectable levels of detail, so that your teams can easily understand the applications.
The modernisation projects we have accomplished for large companies have shown that a precise understanding of the functionality of the existing applications and their implementation is essential for the success of modernisation projects.
AMELIO Logic Discovery offers new, flexible and well-structured views of our applications. Especially the logical views help to find and understand the crucial points in our applications.
Marcel Rozema (Senior Software Architekt, RDW)
AMELIO Logic Discovery offers you a reliable basis for your application modernisation, for the elimination of technical debt, for decisions on the next development steps, for new development with modern languages and for many other tasks.
The AMELIO Tool Family
AMELIO Logic Discovery can be extended according to your specific needs. For example, it is possible to use code-smell analyses to determine whether company-specific coding standards are being violated and, if so, where. For modernisation projects, the ‘points of interest’ and thus possible crucial points can be determined automatically.
Especially for clean-up and modernisation projects, AMELIO Logic Discovery can be combined with other tools from the AMELIO family to perform the necessary changes to the source code in a fully automated and audit-proof manner.
Our tools help you to analyse COBOL, PL/I and Delta ADS applications in a targeted manner, to adapt them quickly and securely to new requirements and technical infrastructures and to reliably assess risks.
This (and more) is what we can do for you!
If you want to reduce the risks and costs for your modernisation projects and to make it easier for your teams to really (re)understand your applications, then find out now about the possibilities of our automated application analysis with AMELIO Logic Discovery.
We offer you an initial overview in our flyer ‘Analysis for COBOL & PL/I - (re)understanding applications’
Download Language: Englisch - Version: MT21098.02
AMELIO Logic Discovery is an innovative analysis tool that helps you to better understand your native and generated COBOL, PL/I and Delta ADS applications and to comprehensively secure the relevant functionality.
Read moreFurther information on AMELIO Logic Discovery can also be found here:
AMELIO Logic Discovery: Really Understanding COBOL, PL/I, Delta ADS Applications
Every project is different and our flyers only give you an initial overview. To get the best solution for you, you should discuss the requirements and details of your project with us directly.
Step 3: Agile Clean-up
Step 3
First Clean Up, Then Modernise - Why?
How often have you removed code from productive applications? Were you sure about it or did you feel queasy because you were not 100% sure whether this code would really never be needed again? Or did you simply add the new functions, thinking that code that won't be executed won’t do any harm? And if you only add code, you only need to test this code. So everything is OK? Not at all!
With the important backend applications in COBOL and PL/I, which have been in use for decades, it is not uncommon for 25 - 40% of the code to be no longer required. This code impairs readability, makes it difficult to understand the applications and not only drives up maintenance costs, but it is also a significant hurdle to modernisation and obstruct development processes.
Technical debt and neglected clean-ups in productive applications are responsible for
- poorly defined and unrealistic project planning
- higher maintenance costs and maintenance delays
- slower development and higher workload for developers
- bumpy development processes
- greater risk due to security vulnerabilities
- larger module sizes and therefore higher system load
- higher costs and risks for modernisation projects
- lack of future sustainability of applications
- poorer support for business processes
- and much more ...
It is therefore worth to execute clean-ups and the elimination of so-called technical debt before starting to modernise and also at regular intervals or as part of the maintenance. After all, you also regularly declutter your possessions or take your car in for a service so that you can enjoy and benefit from the things you really need for as long as possible.
Automated and Agile Clean-up of Applications - Why?
The requirements for the clean-up are high:
- Ongoing operations must not be disrupted under any circumstances.
- The maintenance and further development of the applications must not be impaired in any way.
- A step-by-step approach is required as it economises resources.
- The clean-up should be automated in order to ensure audit compliance.
Normally, software clean-ups are carried out manually (if at all). The variety of possible clean-ups is executed programme by programme. However, not all necessary or possible clean-up measures are always known from the outset. Some can only be recognised when other measures have already been completed.
It is safer and more manageable if a specific clean-up is executed for all programs or program packages at the same time. This may require programs to be tackled several times. Risk and effort can be minimised with an automated procedure that can be used as often as required for clean-ups and that can also be expanded to include new clean-ups.
All this is guaranteed by cleaning up your software with AMELIO CleanUp, our washing machine for software. AMELIO CleanUp also offers an agile approach:
- New clean-up measures can be added gradually.
- The applications can be divided into manageable packages and the measures to be applied can be defined separately for each package.
- Each package can be processed by the washing machine as often as required.
For more information, read the report from our customer RDW: ‘RDW eliminates technical debt with Delta's automated solution’.
Download Language: Englisch - Version: mt21093.02
Existing applications have accumulated a lot of technical debt over the years. Removing it could speed up maintenance significantly. In reality the task of improve the software by removing the obsolete parts is seldom performed. The risk of introducing errors and the cost of testing is the biggest reason for not doing anything.
Read moreAutomated, Secure and Efficient Cleaning with AMELIO CleanUp - the Washing Machine for Your Software
AMELIO CleanUp is an innovative solution that cleans up your native and generated COBOL, PL/I and Delta ADS applications securely and automatically - a washing machine for your software.
You can
- define any number of steps for the clean-up
- use ready-made wash programmes
- have project-specific wash programmes developed iteratively
The washing machine AMELIO CleanUp will be perfectly customised to your situation. Each wash programme solves a problem in all applications. Several wash programmes can be run in one wash cycle. After each wash programme, the sources can be returned directly to production.
The clean-up of your applications is performed in stages, fully automated and therefore absolutely audit-proof. This is the very best preparation for your modernisation projects.
The projects we have accomplished for large companies have shown: it pays off to eliminate technical debt: A (regular) clean-up increases software quality, reduces costs (TCO) and ensures that applications are future-proof. It also significantly reduces costs and risks for modernisation projects.
"AMELIO CleanUp allows us to make our applications future-proof in small steps and without any freeze time."
Roland Römer, Product Owner, RDW ICT
AMELIO - The Tool Family for Your Successful Software Modernisation
Our tools help you to analyse COBOL, PL/I and Delta ADS applications in a targeted manner, to adapt them quickly and securely to new requirements and technical infrastructures, and to reliably assess risks.
Our tailor-made Assessment, AMELIO Logic Discovery and AMELIO CleanUp offer you a reliable basis for your application modernisation, for the elimination of technical debt, for decisions on the next development steps, for new development with modern languages and for many other tasks.
This (and more) is what we can do for you!
If you want to reduce the risks and costs for your modernisation projects, reduce technical debt and reliably free your applications from unnecessary ballast, then find out now about the possibilities of our agile, automated software washing machine AMELIO CleanUp.
You can find an initial overview in our flyer ‘AMELIO CleanUp: Eliminate your technical debt’
Download Language: Englisch - Version: MT21102-02
Software also accumulates dust over the years. Because of the effort and risk, a removal of the dust is often avoided. On the other hand, the maintenance is becoming increasingly difficult. If the proven code should be used continuously, either in maintenance or as a basis for rewriting, it is worth cleaning up the applications. To save the time-consuming manual work and to minimize the risks, we have developed a washing machine for software for this task.
Read moreYou can also find more information about AMELIO CleanUp on our website: AMELIO CleanUp aka. Washing Machine for Software
Every project is different and our flyers only give you an initial overview. To get the best solution for you, you should discuss the requirements and details of your project with us directly.
Step 4: Automated Transformation
Step 4
Fully Automated Transformation
Coming soon
What's next
In the next newsletters you will receive further information on important steps for sustainable software modernisation and we will explain the criteria for security and flexibility in software modernisation.
We help you to make good decisions for your modernisation projects through customised assessments, to recover the necessary application knowledge through automated application analysis, to retain only what is really necessary through agile clean-up and to modernise your applications in an absolutely audit-proof manner through fully automated transformation.
We help you to accomplish your modernisation projects successfully - guaranteed!
Let us discuss your projects now!
Send us an e-mail to
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msg Relies on AMELIO Logic Discovery for Modernizing Applications
On behalf of a large insurer, msg Systems ag Switzerland was looking for an analysis tool to rewrite parts of a business-critical core application. For this purpose, a tool should be found that automatically extracts the business logic from the application and displays it clearly so that it can be understood more quickly and transferred into a new language.
The msg is convinced that AMELIO is a great help with modernization and offers support with the conversion.
We would be happy to show you the capabilities of AMELIO Logic Discovery using your examples.
You can find out more about the project here:
msg Relies on AMELIO Logic Discovery for Modernizing Applications
msg Relies on AMELIO Logic Discovery for Modernizing Applications
On behalf of a large insurer, msg Systems ag Switzerland was looking for an analysis tool to rewrite parts of a business-critical core application. For this purpose, a tool should be found that automatically extracts the business logic from the application and displays it clearly so that it can be understood more quickly and transferred into a new language.
There are special hurdles to overcome in modernization projects: On the one hand, some of the original developers are no longer available. Instead, the applications are maintained by their "heirs" who, however, know nothing of the origins and the reasons for certain decisions. On the other hand, the existing documentation is used to support the maintenance. But for modernization or rewriting information is required that the documentation usually does not provide. Thus, the only reliable source is the source code itself. The problem is aggravated when a service provider wants to understand or modernize a customer's application. So how can the knowledge necessary for modernization be transferred and possibly even regained?
The msg is confronted with this task - for a large insurance company, parts of a business-critical core application should be rewritten. The existing application was developed in COBOL and PL/I, partly native and partly generated with Delta ADS. The msg decided to evaluate the performance of AMELIO Logic Discovery. A part of this application has been removed and analyzed and assessed manually and automatically. It quickly became clear:
"AMELIO Logic Discovery helps and presents everything very clearly!"
msg Systems
AMELIO works model-oriented and makes the analysis results available as language-neutral documentation. AMELIO is configurable and can be perfectly adapted to the needs of a (modernization) project.
Clear Recommendation for AMELIO
The msg is convinced that AMELIO is a great help with modernization and offers support with the conversion. The knowledge of an application can be built up faster, easier and more securely so that it can be rewritten more efficiently.
About the msg Group
The msg systems ag Switzerland is part of msg, an independent group of companies with more than 8,500 employees. The msg group is active in 28 countries in the automotive, banking, consumer products, food, healthcare, insurance, life science & chemicals, manufacturing, public sector, telecommunications, travel & logistics and utilities sectors and supports its customers in their digital transformation.
See for Yourself
Do you also have business-critical core applications and are looking for a way to analyze them fully automatically and reliably?
Then contact us. We would be happy to show you the capabilities of AMELIO Logic Discovery using your examples.
RDW Removes Technical Debts using Delta’s Automated Solution
Existing applications have accumulated a lot of technical debt over the years. Removing it could speed up maintenance significantly. In reality the task of improve the software by removing the obsolete parts is seldom performed. The risk of introducing errors and the cost of testing is the biggest reason for not doing anything.
RDW has been able to take up the task of removing technical debt in a secure manner. Delta’s AMELIO Modernization Platform plays a key role in this endeavour.
You can find out more about the project here:
RDW Removes Technical Debts using Delta’s Automated Solution
RDW Removes Technical Debts using Delta’s Automated Solution
Existing applications have accumulated a lot of technical debt over the years. Removing it could speed up maintenance significantly. In reality the task of improve the software by removing the obsolete parts is seldom performed. The risk of introducing errors and the cost of testing is the biggest reason for not doing anything.
RDW has been able to take up the task of removing technical debt in a secure manner. Delta’s AMELIO Modernization Platform plays a key role in this endeavour.
Technical Debt hampers Application Maintenance
The Netherlands Vehicle Authority (RDW) is a long-time user of Delta ADS, Delta Software Technology’s software development product suite. In the past decades, the key applications have grown and also been migrated to different platforms. All these changes over the years have decreased the maintainability of the application portfolio. To improve the maintainability of this application portfolio the decision was made to invest in the removal of technical debts (and 'Clean Code').
The task of discovering and safely removing technical debts is a complex one. To remove or change code from a program that you have written yourself might be an option but if it has been written years ago by a predecessor that is not available to consult is another question. It is not without reason that many programmers do not trust themselves to perform these type of program changes. They have a rightful fear of cascading side effects of a change.
Another obstacle arises because removing the technical debts involves many programs that are depending on each other to work correctly. The fact that all these programs must be changed at the same time leads to freezing them all preventing all other functional maintenance that is needed for the business.
Database Access – an Example of Reducing Technical Debt
RDW had implemented a new architecture for the database access in their applications which co-exists with an older way of accessing the data. This hybrid architecture was more and more considered to be a technical debt. A manual change was started for the less complex situations but in general a large portion remained and with the manual approach the completion would have taken many more years.
The remaining 9,000+ data access calls (of originally 16,000) contained also the most complex ones, some of them not yet made available in the new architecture. RDW decided to make use of Delta’s AMELIO Modernization Platform to perform an automated replacement of the remaining old data access architecture by the new one.
Transformation Step-by-Step
Knowing that the new data access architecture did not yet support all features of the old architecture, the chosen approach was to use the AMELIO Modernization Platform to create a learning factory to discover and perform all the necessary changes in the application sources. That didn’t have to be perfect for all possibilities in the beginning. No time was lost with specifying everything in all detail, the specification for the already performed manual transformation was used as a starting point. As a first step, the simpler data access types were analysed and transformed with the goal to make the programs productive even when they still contained other or more complex data access types using the old architecture. The next step was to remove the next type of data access, where the result from the previous step could be input as well as programs that were not handled by the factory before. This iterative process continued until at the end also the most complex data accesses were transformed.
"In the end our decision paid off. Using an automated approach also means almost no freeze and the possibility to change implementations at a very late stage. It enabled us to improve on the end result without any problem. With a manual approach, we would have passed the moment to do something in a different way long before."
Roland Römer - Product Owner RDW
Continuously Moving Forward
After the migration to the new Data Access architecture the AMELIO Modernization Platform will now be used as an environment to perform other mass changes in the application sources that will reduce the technical debt.
"We now see Delta’s AMELIO Modernization Platform as a kind of washing machine. As long as we chose the right program it will remove a ‘stain’ (technical debt) from our applications. It’s a great solution for when we have mass changes that need to be carried out on our application portfolio."
Gert-Jan Theuwissen - Division Manager RDW ICT
About RDW
RDW ICT is the IT service provider of the national vehicle authority of The Netherlands. Their main tasks include the inspection and registration of vehicles, market authorisation of vehicles, administration of driving licenses, information services for the police – in total more than 300 million transactions annually. RDW repeatedly has been awarded as the best and most innovative government organization, for best management and best annual results.
Convince Yourself
Interested in reducing the technical debt in your applications? Contact us and let us prepare a demo with some of your sources.
Download Language: Englisch - Version: MT21102-02
Software also accumulates dust over the years. Because of the effort and risk, a removal of the dust is often avoided. On the other hand, the maintenance is becoming increasingly difficult. If the proven code should be used continuously, either in maintenance or as a basis for rewriting, it is worth cleaning up the applications. To save the time-consuming manual work and to minimize the risks, we have developed a washing machine for software for this task.
Read moreDownload Language: Englisch - Version: mt21093.02
Existing applications have accumulated a lot of technical debt over the years. Removing it could speed up maintenance significantly. In reality the task of improve the software by removing the obsolete parts is seldom performed. The risk of introducing errors and the cost of testing is the biggest reason for not doing anything.
Read moreDownload Language: Englisch - Version: MT21100.01
RDW has been developing and maintaining its core business applications for over 30 years. The applications work reliably, but over time technical debts have accumulated that make maintenance and further development difficult. The daily business as well as the size and criticality of the application do not allow a manual clean-up of the software. The solu tion for the problem: a washing machine that performs an automated cleaning of the soft ware from its technical debts.
Read more
Review: Our Highlights 2020
Home office and social distancing dominated a large part of this year and required organizational changes. Nevertheless, we managed to implement business-critical projects on time and on budget together with our customers and partners. Once again it has been shown how much can be achieved by using automated solutions.
Here you will find our Highlights:
- Gothaer Systems starts migrating its IBM IMS Databases
- LzLabs teams up with Delta Software to ensure seamless application maintenance & development
- Insurance company assesses unified Micro Focus development environment with Delta Software
Download Newsletter
Download Language: Englisch - Version: nl21021.01
Content
- 3 Important Steps for the Sustainable Software Modernisation
- msg Relies on AMELIO Logic Discovery for Modernizing Applications
- RDW Removes Technical Debts using Delta’s Automated Solution
- Review: Our Highlights 2020
Dear Reader,
Home office and social distancing dominated a large part of this year and required organizational changes. Nevertheless, we managed to implement business-critical projects on time and on budget together with our customers and partners. Once again it has been shown how much can be achieved by using automated solutions. We are proud to help our customers and partners to modernize their core applications and their development environments and processes during these difficult times and we say “Thank you” for the flexible and very pleasant cooperation.
A tip for the end of the year: Plan your product updates and training dates now!
We wish you happy and relaxing Holidays, as well as a healthy and happy New Year.
Your Delta Software Technology Team
Gothaer Systems starts migrating its IBM IMS Databases
Moving away from IMS/DB to DB2, that is the goal of Gothaer Systems.
Together with Delta, Gothaer Systems started this major project that affects many of their core applications.
First parts of the applications have already been freed from IMS/DB by using AMELIO, the automated transformation solution from Delta, and run problem-free with IBM DB2 in production.
Find out more about the cooperation between Gothaer Systems and Delta Software Technology ...
Gothaer Systems starts migrating its IBM IMS Databases
Gothaer Systems starts migrating its IBM IMS Databases
The project has successfully completed. You can find the project report here:
IMS Replacement at Gothaer: In Time – In Budget – In Scope
Together with Delta Software Technology GmbH, Gothaer Systems is consolidating its IMS databases into IBM Db2.
Gothaer Systems (GoSys) aims to migrate all its data stored in IMS/DB to new Db2 structures. IMS/DB data access calls in the existing COBOL programs (both native and generated with Delta ADS) should be replaced automatically, with the aim of completely replacing the IMS databases. Delta Software Technology (Delta) offers know-how and the right tools for this task. By building a tailor-made factory with AMELIO Modernization Platform (AMELIO), all necessary steps for the migration can be performed automatically.
Proof of Concept
In the first step, Delta presented the procedure and the basic functionality for the automated transformations with AMELIO. After a successful proof of concept, in which the concepts and techniques of the fully automatic transformation were verified, GoSys decided to go this path together with Delta.
Project started
We are currently in the middle of the project: In close coordination between GoSys and Delta, the AMELIO-Factory has been successfully configured and is constantly being expanded. Regular maintenance and further development continues during the setup phase. The resulting new versions of source modules are included in the ongoing AMELIO work. After the successful transformation of the applications, they are transferred to GoSys in order to check and approve these modules using meta-level testing.
The first packages with IMS databases and all of their data and applications have now been successfully transformed to use Db2 and are in productive use.
Get to know AMELIO and Delta as well
Due to the high degree of automation, transformations can be repeated, understood and reproduced at any time. Freeze periods are reduced to a few days. The migration can be divided into packages and the result is applications that can still be used and maintained without a footprint or vendor lock-in.
- Would you like to find out more about such migration projects or are you planning a modernization or refactoring?
- Do you want to migrate an application package to a new platform?
- Are you interested in mass change automation?
We would be happy to show you which options the AMELIO Modernization Platform offers you. We are looking forward to your contact.
About Gothaer Systems
„Gothaer Systems is the central IT service provider for the Gothaer Group. We ensure that Gothaer is always up to date with the latest information technology: through innovations and continuous further development of technology and organization. We also provide the infrastructure for the access to data and business processes. This is how we ensure a high level of IT quality within the group - and thus support Gothaer's business.“
Further Information
Here you can find more articles on the topic:
- IMS Replacement at Gothaer: In Time – In Budget – In Scope
- Provinzial realizes complete migration from IBM IMS/DB to IBM Db2 with Delta
- Automatically replacing IBM IMS/DB
- Successfully Replace IMS Databases
- IBM IMS/DB? Modernization Now!
- Modernization Project at BSQ Bauspar AG
Download Language: Englisch - Version: MT21097.01
Gothaer Systems migrates its IBM IMS databases to IBM Db2 together with Delta Software Technology
Read moreDownload Language: Englisch - Version: MT21092.01
Together with Delta Software Technology GmbH, Gothaer Systems is consolidating its IMS databases into IBM DB2.
Read moreDownload Language: Englisch - Version: MT21082.01
Safe Replacement of IMS Databases: How to Succeed!
Read more
LzLabs teams up with Delta Software to ensure seamless application maintenance & development on open systems
Customers using Delta ADS to generate COBOL or PL/I can continue to run and maintain applications on LzLabs Software Defined Mainframe®
Learn more about the cooperation between LzLabs and Delta Software Technology ...
LzLabs teams up with Delta Software to ensure seamless application maintenance & development on open systems
LzLabs teams up with Delta Software to ensure seamless application maintenance & development on open systems
Insurance company assesses unified Micro Focus development environment with Delta Software
A modern development environment is the goal for the software developers of a large insurer.
Together with Micro Focus and Delta Software Technology, the insurance company examined the connection of Delta ADS to Micro Focus Enterprise Developer for Z.
Follow the path too and simplify the maintenance and development of your applications ...
Insurance company assesses unified Micro Focus development environment with Delta Software
Insurance company assesses unified Micro Focus development environment with Delta Software
A modern development environment is the goal for the software developers of a large insurer. Together with Micro Focus and Delta Software Technology, the insurance company examined the connection of Delta ADS to Micro Focus Enterprise Developer for Z.
The insurance company based in Germany successfully uses the Delta ADS for COBOL generator from Delta Software Technology (Delta) for decades. The ADS programs are developed on the host, maintained and then generated in COBOL tailor-made to the customer’s requirements.
In order to provide the developers with a modern development environment, several approaches from various manufacturers were assessed. The long-term goal is to offer Java developers as well as COBOL and Delta ADS developers a uniform platform. The decision was made to perform a more in-depth analysis of Micro Focus Enterprise Developer for Z (Micro Focus EDz) and Delta ADS on Eclipse. The use of Delta ADS on Eclipse has the advantage that it can be integrated directly into all Eclipse-based environments.
Added value created
With the help of Delta ADS on Eclipse (respectively ADS on Micro Focus EDz), the development and maintenance of the Delta programs is greatly simplified and modernized. By using analysis and coverage functions as well as the use of the post-generation debugger, the maintenance is accelerated because the application heirs have easier access to the ADS programs. It is also possible to offload the generation process of the ADS programs to the PC. This saves, among other things, valuable CPU time on the mainframe.
Delta ADS on Micro Focus Enterprise Developer for Z
Thanks to the good partnership between Micro Focus GmbH and Delta, nothing stood in the way of expanding the Delta ADS connection to Micro Focus EDz. The development and generation processes of Delta ADS programs were seamlessly integrated into Micro Focus EDz. This made it possible to provide the insurance company with a uniform solution.
The insurance company has now successfully put this joint solution through its paces and found it to be good. Nothing stands in the way of a long-term use.
Go the same way
Would you also like to provide your developers with a modern and integrated development environment? Get in touch with us, ADS on Eclipse is also available for other Eclipse-based development environments and Microsoft Visual Studio. In addition, active Delta customers receive the upgrade to the latest Delta ADS version free of charge.
Go the same way and simplify the maintenance and development of your Delta ADS applications - the application heirs will thank you.
„For us it is and has always been of crucial importance that the Delta tools are supported in the long term. This also means that they are constantly being developed to meet new requirements, always on the cutting edge of technology. An excellent example of this is the extensive integration into the open standard Eclipse. That fits perfectly into our strategy of a modern and future-proof development landscape.“
Peter Bauch,Management Board, B+S Banksysteme
More about ADS on Eclipse
Would you like to know how you can easily perform your application development with ADS under Eclipse? Please contact us.
Support Information: New Product Versions available
We have released new versions of the following products:
- ADS for COBOL & PL/I
- ADS on Eclipse
- ADS on Micro Focus EDz
- Generator Engine (all platforms)
- Delta SCOUT² & Delta SourceAssistant
- License Management
You can find more information about new features and fixes in the release notes at the support area of our website ...
Support Information: New Product Versions available
Support Information: New Product Versions available
Today we have released new versions of the following products:
- ADS for COBOL (6.4.3) - for all platforms
- ADS for COBOL (5.1 C)
- Generator Engine for IBM z/OS (6.4.13)
Please also note the following information:
- New: Delta ADS 6 on Mainframe
Delta ADS 6's new capabilities to more efficiently develop, maintain, and test the ADB-generated COBOL and PL / I applications and the application frameworks created with ADS MACRO ...
You can find more information about new features and fixes in the release notes at the support area of our website.
Get information and updates right now. You’ll find the list of our current product versions here.
New Delta Training Courses: Register Now
Our training courses and workshops help you to use Delta tools efficiently and to optimise the development of your applications: Practice-oriented and taking into account your main areas of interest.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the training courses will only be offered online in the first half of 2021.
Here you will find the new dates ...
New Delta Training Courses: Register Now
New Delta Training Courses: Register Now
Anyone using tools to automate software development needs in-depth knowledge of the methods, modes of operation, and capabilities of the tools. And not just "in principle", but in relation to the concrete environment and task.
Our training courses and workshops help you to use Delta tools efficiently and to optimise the development of your applications: Practice-oriented and taking into account your main areas of interest.
ADS Basics - ADS for Administrators - ADS Refresher - ADS on Eclipse - ADS What's new
Here you will find the new dates:
- 05.03.-07.03.2025 and 17.09.-19.09.2025 - ADS Basics
- 12.03.-14.03.2025 and 25.09.-26.09.2025 - ADS for Administrators
- 20.03.-21.03.2025 and 09.10.-10.10.2025 - ADS Refresher
- 03.04.-04.04.2025 and 29.10.-30.10.2025 - ADS on Eclipse
- 08.04.2025 and 06.11.2025 - ADS What’s new
- 29.04.2025 and 13.11.2025 - Delta DETAB
Learn more about our trainings and workshops ...
Contact us to discuss your requirements for a customised training.
Download Newsletter
Download Language: Englisch - Version: NL21020.01
Content
- Gothaer Systems starts migrating its IBM IMS Databases
- LzLabs teams up with Delta Software to ensure seamless application maintenance & development on open systems
- Insurance company assesses unified Micro Focus development environment with Delta Software
- Support Information: New Product Versions available
- New Delta Training Courses: Register Now
Some time ago, we released Delta ADS 6 on PC as a new version of our proven generative development system for the application development on PC platforms. With this new Delta ADS, we offer many new functions that significantly improve the understanding of the applications and facilitate the development and maintenance of the extensive and complex COBOL and PL/I applications.
Many of our customers see the mainframe and the generative development of their important core applications with Delta ADS as a strategic part of their IT environment. This is why we are now making Delta ADS 6 available for mainframe environments as well.
The new Delta ADS 6 on Mainframe can be used stand-alone on the mainframe or together with Delta ADS 6 on PC.
Delta ADS 6 on Mainframe
With its new functions, Delta ADS 6 helps to develop, maintain and test the COBOL and PL/I applications generated with ADS and the application frameworks created with ADS MACRO even more efficiently:
- ADS 6 improves the understanding of applications developed with ADS.
- Language extensions for ADS MACRO simplify the development and maintenance of the application frameworks.
- The Macro Optimizer makes existing macros easier to read and maintain. With its help, the new language extensions can be automatically applied to existing macros.
- Various restrictions for variables, parameters and statements have been loosened or removed.
- Support for new data types such as BLOB, CLOB, XML, etc.
- And more ...
All these functions help to better understand the applications and to train and familiarise new colleagues faster.
The Best of Both Worlds: Delta ADS 6 on Mainframe combined with Delta ADS 6 on PC
Delta ADS 6 for the development on PC offers a number of additional functions that benefit in particular from the possibilities available on modern Microsoft Windows platforms. We offer Delta ADS 6 for the development under Eclipse, Micro Focus EDz, IBM IDz and Microsoft Visual Studio. The combined usage of Delta ADS 6 on Mainframe and Delta ADS 6 on PC offers you many advantages:
- Load reduction for the mainframe environment with regard to development, generation and testing through cross-generation
- The development process can be flexibly adapted while using the existing infrastructure and integrating the source management systems.
- Development, code generation and testing can be executed on PC as well as on mainframe.
- The modules are identical and therefore arbitrarily interchangeable between the environments.
- The Post-generation Debugger simplifies the understanding and testing of the generation process.
- Discovery and application mining for ADS applications help to (re-)document the applications and provide reliable information for the evaluation of the applications.
- And more ...
Now that Delta ADS 6 is available in both worlds, development, generation and testing can be transferred to the PC on demand without any loss of functionality and security.
Release
Delta ADS 6 on Mainframe is currently undergoing pre-release testing at customer sites.
At the end of 2019, Delta ADS 6 for COBOL will be released for IBM z/OS. This will be followed by versions for the other systems.
The response from our customers has been very positive. We are convinced that the new functions of Delta ADS 6 on Mainframe offer you many advantages.
The new ADS 6 enables us to improve the efficiency and quality of our software development and maintenance once again. For example, the new functions for the detailed documentation and description of the generation process help us to make changes and enhancements to our extensive, complex applications safely and quickly.
(Oswald Klackl, Head of Architecture & Quality Management, B+S Banksysteme, Austria)
Automatically optimized macros with new syntax, identifiers, indentation
Develop More Efficiently and Better Understand Your Applications
Request more information now to update your ADS development system.
Dear Reader,
The importance of mainframes for IT landscapes in large companies has changed: Whereas they were previously regarded as a necessary evil and condemned to extinction like dinosaurs, today they are increasingly seen as a strategically important element for the future.
Discuss with experts and users at the Mainframe Technology Workshop.
We also have news for you on generative development with Delta ADS, so that you can make your development even more efficient - on mainframes and PCs.
We wish you informative reading and look forward to your feedback.
Your Delta Software Technology Team
1. New: Delta ADS 6 on Mainframe
Some time ago, we released Delta ADS 6 on PC as a new version of our proven generative development system for the application development on PC platforms. With this new Delta ADS, we offer many new functions that significantly improve the understanding of the applications and facilitate the development and maintenance of the extensive and complex COBOL and PL/I applications.
Many of our customers see the mainframe and the generative development of their important core applications with Delta ADS as a strategic part of their IT environment. This is why we are now making Delta ADS 6 available for mainframe environments as well.
Further information can be found here:
New: Delta ADS 6 on Mainframe
New: Delta ADS 6 on Mainframe
Some time ago, we released Delta ADS 6 on PC as a new version of our proven generative development system for the application development on PC platforms. With this new Delta ADS, we offer many new functions that significantly improve the understanding of the applications and facilitate the development and maintenance of the extensive and complex COBOL and PL/I applications.
Many of our customers see the mainframe and the generative development of their important core applications with Delta ADS as a strategic part of their IT environment. This is why we are now making Delta ADS 6 available for mainframe environments as well.
The new Delta ADS 6 on Mainframe can be used stand-alone on the mainframe or together with Delta ADS 6 on PC.
Delta ADS 6 on Mainframe
With its new functions, Delta ADS 6 helps to develop, maintain and test the COBOL and PL/I applications generated with ADS and the application frameworks created with ADS MACRO even more efficiently:
- ADS 6 improves the understanding of applications developed with ADS.
- Language extensions for ADS MACRO simplify the development and maintenance of the application frameworks.
- The Macro Optimizer makes existing macros easier to read and maintain. With its help, the new language extensions can be automatically applied to existing macros.
- Various restrictions for variables, parameters and statements have been loosened or removed.
- Support for new data types such as BLOB, CLOB, XML, etc.
- And more ...
All these functions help to better understand the applications and to train and familiarise new colleagues faster.
The Best of Both Worlds: Delta ADS 6 on Mainframe combined with Delta ADS 6 on PC
Delta ADS 6 for the development on PC offers a number of additional functions that benefit in particular from the possibilities available on modern Microsoft Windows platforms. We offer Delta ADS 6 for the development under Eclipse, Micro Focus EDz, IBM IDz and Microsoft Visual Studio. The combined usage of Delta ADS 6 on Mainframe and Delta ADS 6 on PC offers you many advantages:
- Load reduction for the mainframe environment with regard to development, generation and testing through cross-generation
- The development process can be flexibly adapted while using the existing infrastructure and integrating the source management systems.
- Development, code generation and testing can be executed on PC as well as on mainframe.
- The modules are identical and therefore arbitrarily interchangeable between the environments.
- The Post-generation Debugger simplifies the understanding and testing of the generation process.
- Discovery and application mining for ADS applications help to (re-)document the applications and provide reliable information for the evaluation of the applications.
- And more ...
Now that Delta ADS 6 is available in both worlds, development, generation and testing can be transferred to the PC on demand without any loss of functionality and security.
Release
Delta ADS 6 on Mainframe is currently undergoing pre-release testing at customer sites.
At the end of 2019, Delta ADS 6 for COBOL will be released for IBM z/OS. This will be followed by versions for the other systems.
The response from our customers has been very positive. We are convinced that the new functions of Delta ADS 6 on Mainframe offer you many advantages.
The new ADS 6 enables us to improve the efficiency and quality of our software development and maintenance once again. For example, the new functions for the detailed documentation and description of the generation process help us to make changes and enhancements to our extensive, complex applications safely and quickly.
(Oswald Klackl, Head of Architecture & Quality Management, B+S Banksysteme, Austria)
Automatically optimized macros with new syntax, identifiers, indentation
Develop More Efficiently and Better Understand Your Applications
Request more information now to update your ADS development system.
2. Mainframe Technology Workshop of T-Systems
"The mainframe is an important component of a modern, holistic cloud strategy. At the Mainframe Technology Workshop 2019, the community will discuss real use cases and important milestones with specialists and customers." (T-Systems)
On November 12, 2019, T-Systems will host a Mainframe Technology Workshop in Ludwigsburg, Germany. Customers, partners, experts and industry analysts will discuss top issues of mainframe users and present solutions.
As a partner of T-Systems, Delta Software Technology reports on "Application Modernisation in Parallel to Ongoing Operation - That's How It's Safe," explains the key points and pitfalls in modernisation projects and highlights solutions.
Please find further information and the registration here ...
Mainframe Technology Workshop of T-Systems
Mainframe Technology Workshop of T-Systems
"The mainframe is an important component of a modern, holistic cloud strategy. At the Mainframe Technology Workshop 2019, the community will discuss real use cases and important milestones with specialists and customers." (T-Systems)
T-Systems organises a Mainframe Technology Workshop in Ludwigsburg, Germany, on November 12, 2019. At this one-day event, T-Systems brings together customers, partners, experts and industry analysts to discuss top issues of mainframe users and to present solutions. (Conference language is German)
16. Mainframe Technology Workshop
12th November 2019, Ludwigsburg, Germany
In the breakout session "Application Modernisation in Parallel to Ongoing Operation - That's How It’s Safe", Delta Software Technology, as a partner of T-Systems, will report on the sticking points and pitfalls of these projects and demonstrate solutions using the example of a customer project in the mainframe area.
Breakout Session
"Application Modernisation in Parallel to Ongoing Operation - That's How It’s Safe"
Contents
The foundation of business-critical applications has often evolved over decades. During this time, the applications were changed and further developed. New technologies were introduced, partly without completely removing the old technologies.
Modernisations such as clean-up, refactoring, technology exchange and standardisation as well as platform migration are necessary to meet new requirements, improve performance and maintainability, and increase the sustainability of the backend applications.
The documentation of the applications and the knowledge about what was implemented and why it was implemented that way has been lost over time.
So, how do you determine which parts of your application are relevant to the task? What do you do with the dependencies? What about the risks? How do you find all the sticking points? How do you organise change processes? What needs to be tested? What about parallel changes and further development?…
The solution lies in the precisely targeted analysis prior to a modernisation project, the complete automation of the changes and the flexible organisation of the project processes.
Referencing a customer project in the mainframe area, we show you how you can safely and reliably carry out a complex modernisation of your applications in parallel to ongoing operation.
View Lecture on Slideshare
Our Speaker
Dr. Daniela Schilling
Dr. Daniela Schilling is Managing Director of Delta Software Technology.
Further Information
Agenda
Please find further information and the registration here ...
You cannot attend? Then contact us, we would be happy to schedule another appointment.
3. New Delta ADS Release Supports New Data Types
Digitisation requires not only new forms of processing, but also new data types. The now released Delta ADS for COBOL offers you additional functions for creating Data Access Servers for IBM DB2 and Oracle and supports the usage of new SQL data types such as BLOB, CLOB, XML, etc.
These data types are defined differently in the different database systems. As always, Delta ADS compensates these differences automatically, following the principle "Single Source - Multiple Target".
In addition, the new Delta ADS also includes new features that improve performance. Please refer to our Release Notes for further information.
Contact us and order your update for your Delta ADS now.
New Delta ADS Release Supports New Data Types
New Delta ADS Release Supports New Data Types
Digitisation requires not only new forms of processing, but also new data types. Examples of this are new data types such as
- BLOB - Binary Large Object
- CLOB - Character Large Object
- XML, etc.
These data types enable the storage of large unstructured binary data objects such as image, audio or multimedia files as part of the corresponding data records directly in the respective database or, in the case of CLOB, to process data in international Unicode format.
Delta ADS 6.4.0
The now released Delta ADS for COBOL 6.4.0 offers you additional functions for creating Data Access Servers for IBM DB2 and Oracle and supports the usage of new SQL data types such as BLOB, CLOB, XML, etc.
These data types are defined differently in the different database systems. As always, Delta ADS compensates these differences automatically, following the principle "Single Source - Multiple Target".
In addition, the new Delta ADS 6.4.0 also includes new features that improve performance. Please refer to our Release Notes for further information.
Contact us and order your update for your Delta ADS now.
4. Delta ADS Plugin for Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 available
With ADS on Visual Studio you can now standardize your working environments for the application development. ADS on Visual Studio smoothly integrates all ADS tools into your development environment.
This plugin is now also available for Microsoft Visual Studio 2019.
In addition to Visual Studio, plug-ins for Eclipse-based development environments are also available such as Micro Focus Enterprise Developer for z.
Further information can be found here:
Delta ADS Plugin for Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 available
Delta ADS Plugin for Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 available
With ADS on Visual Studio you can now standardize your working environments for the application development. ADS on Visual Studio smoothly integrates all ADS tools into your development environment.
This plugin is now also available for Microsoft Visual Studio 2019.
In addition to Visual Studio, plug-ins for Eclipse-based development environments are also available such as Micro Focus Enterprise Developer for z.
Further information can be found here:
https://delta-software.com/link.php?en=6306
Bedag: Same Development Environment for Different Programming Languages
A uniform process control and development environment for the different programming languages is the goal of many enterprises. The Bedag Informatik AG modernizes its development environment and combines the (Viacar) development in C# and Delta ADS in a .NET framework under Microsoft Visual Studio.
Read more here:
https://delta-software.com/link.php?en=6291
Download Newsletter
Download Language: Englisch - Version: NL21019.02
Content
- New: Delta ADS 6 on Mainframe
- Mainframe Technology Workshop of T-Systems
- New Delta ADS Release Supports New Data Types
- Delta ADS Plugin for Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 available
Dear Reader,
The replacement of technologies for core applications is complex, expensive and risky. Our tailored and flexible automated solutions will eliminate these obstacles. The articles in this newsletter give you some examples for solutions.
In addition, we have new product versions, training courses and events for you.
We wish you informative reading and look forward to your feedback.
Your Delta Software Technology Team
1. Successful Assessment for Replacing VORELLE
The assessment for the replacement and consolidation of decision table generators has been completed successfully. Delta Software Technology assessed, for a large insurer, the possibility of an automated conversion from VORELLE to DETAB but also to Plain COBOL.
Read more about replacing VORELLE with reduced test effort here ...
Successful Assessment for Replacing VORELLE
Successful Assessment for Replacing VORELLE
The assessment for the replacement and consolidation of decision table generators has been completed successfully. Delta Software Technology assessed, for a large insurer, the possibility of an automated conversion from VORELLE to DETAB but also to Plain COBOL.
Read more about replacing VORELLE with reduced test effort here ...
Decision tables simplify the software development
Many of our customers are convinced by the decision table technique. Decision tables simplify the software development and enable an implementation with a clear source code. They are an important method for the clearly structured description of complex facts and the related rules.
The development and maintenance of a complex rulebook in native COBOL or PL/I code is too time-consuming and inefficient for our customers, that is why they have been using decision table generators for a long time.
Consolidate or replace decision table generators?
Many companies use several generators, e.g. VORELLE (gadiv, formerly mbp), LF-ET (Lohrfink), Delta DETAB (Delta Software Technology) etc. for COBOL and PL/I.
If the maintenance of applications is transferred to new developers, they have to adopt the different techniques. So, it makes sense to consolidate generators that fulfil the same task.
In addition, many generators are already at the end of life and the maintenance would have to be performed on the generated code in the future. This generated code is very complex, nested and barely legible. Therefore, the code is hard to understand and to maintain. An automated consolidation into a table generator that will remain in maintenance in the future, prevents an increase in complexity, thus facilitating the maintenance.
Assessed possible strategies
In an assessment for a large insurer we have assessed possible strategies if and how an automated transfer from VORELLE to DETAB is possible. For that purpose, all COBOL and Delta ADS sources that contain decision tables, have been analysed and evaluated with respect to their use. In addition, a test strategy was developed, which keeps the test effort low and yet proves the correctness.
Results of the assessment
The result of the assessment was clear:
- An automated transfer from VORELLE to DETAB is possible.
- The syntax of the two generators is very similar: A re-training of previous VORELLE users is not or only minimally necessary.
Different solution variants
As a result of the assessment, possible solution variants were proposed to the customer how the VORELLE tables can be transferred. Most of the tables can be automatically converted into almost identical DETAB tables. In addition, the customer has the option to transform smaller tables directly into easily readable code. For the transformation our AMELIO Modernization Platform can be adopted to fit the customers’ need.
Reduced testing effort
AMELIO automates the changes – 100%. Thus, it is not necessary to test all transformed programs. Instead, the rules for the changes are tested in advance according to the principle of meta-level testing. In this way, the test effort can be drastically reduced compared to conventional test methods.
“AMELIOs Meta-Level Testing verifies the transformation rules - not the transformed programs."
Conclusion
The automated transfer from VORELLE to DETAB or native Cobol code is possible and the test effort remains manageable.
As a further result, we were able to create an individual project and financial plan for the customer in order to minimize risks and to present costs transparently.
The desire of the customer to bring about a consolidation of the generators can be met - and is also clearly our recommendation.
And your decision table generator?
If you also plan to consolidate, replace or modernize your decision table generators, then contact us directly.
2. Aquila Heywood introduces ADS on Eclipse
Aquila Heywood improves its Delta ADS software development by moving to Eclipse and Update to Delta ADS 6.
Read more ...
Aquila Heywood introduces ADS on Eclipse
Aquila Heywood introduces ADS on Eclipse
Aquila Heywood improves its Delta ADS software development by moving to Eclipse and Update to Delta ADS 6.
Aquila Heywood develops and maintains its “Altair” pensions administration package with Delta ADS for COBOL for decades. During these years the development has been performed using the SCOUT² development environment provided by Delta Software Technology.
As most of the other software development at Aquila Heywood is done in an Eclipse environment already, the decision was made to migrate the Delta ADS development to Eclipse too. Delta Software Technology provided the Plug-in to support the Delta ADS generation process and the resulting object types. With this change to one single development platform Aquila Heywood want to improve the productivity of its development. The extra functionality that is provided with the Eclipse Plug-in contributes to that.
ADS on Eclipse
Delta’s Eclipse Environment, ADS on Eclipse, facilitates the development with Delta ADS by integrating Editor, Generator and the Post-Generation debugger under Eclipse. The modern environment enables better understanding of the application as the generator provides more information about the use of the components that contribute to the application. It also provides all modern handling like chroma coding, code folding and coding assistance as well as extensive documentation possibilities. In addition, it allows a seamless integration of the development with ADS in the overall development process.
“After installation of the Plug-in we tested the generated output and it was 100% identical. Therefore we will go productive with the Delta ADS development on Eclipse in the beginning of 2019. As developers we can now work in one environment without having to switch between SCOUT² and Eclipse.”
Graham Dohren - Senior Developer at Aquila Heywood
About Aquila Heywood
Aquila Heywood is the largest provider of life, pensions, and investment policy administration platforms in the UK and Ireland, and the fifth largest across the EU. More than 200 commercial and public sector organisations use its highly scalable administration platform to manage the lifetime financial security of over ten million working pensions members, and make over 20 million payments a year to retirees.
Download Language: Englisch - Version: MT21090.01
Aquila Heywood improves its Delta ADS software development by moving to Eclipse and Update to ADS 6.
Read more
3. IBM IMS/DB? Modernization Now!
"If it wasn't for IMS DB, we would have re-platformed our applications already", many users judge. An automation of the migration will minimise efforts and guarantee success. AMELIO Modernization Platform can accomplish that this task for you.
Learn more here ...
IBM IMS/DB? Modernization Now!
IBM IMS/DB? Modernization Now!
"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: MT21097.01
Gothaer Systems migrates its IBM IMS databases to IBM Db2 together with Delta Software Technology
Read moreDownload Language: Englisch - Version: mt21096.01
With the tools and services from Delta Software Technology, Provinzial Rheinland finished the complete application and data migration from IBM IMS/DB to IBM Db2, automated and securely, of over 75 IBM IMS databases and over 36,000 artefacts.
Read moreDownload Language: Englisch - Version: MT21082.01
Safe Replacement of IMS Databases: How to Succeed!
Read more
4. Let's meet Delta
Following you will find some great events that we recommend and at which you can meet us and our partners:
- SVA: Mainframe Dayz
- IBM: Application Development Days
- Micro Focus Universe
- GSE European Modernization Working Group Meeting
Please give us a call to schedule a date. We are looking forward to seeing you.
Let's meet Delta
Let's meet Delta
We wish you a Happy New Year 2019!
Following you will find some great events that we recommend and at which you can meet us and our partners:
- SVA: Mainframe Dayz | 19.-20.02.2019, Wiesbaden, Germany
- IBM: Application Development Days 2019 | 12.-14.03.2019, Boeblingen, Germany
- Micro Focus Universe | 26.-28.03.2019, Vienna, Austria #MicroFocusUniverse
- GSE European Modernization Working Group Meeting | 01.-03.04.2019, Prague, Czech Republic
Please give us a call to schedule a date. We are looking forward to seeing you.
https://delta-software.com/link.php?en=6955
5. Support information: New Product Versions available
Today we have released new versions of the following products:
- ADS for COBOL
- ADS on Eclipse
- ADS on Micro Focus EDz
- Generator Engine for Windows
- Generator Engine for IBM z/OS
- ADS on Visual Studio
You can find more information about new features and fixes in the release notes at the support area of our website.
Support information: New Product Versions available
Support information: New Product Versions available
Today we have released new versions of the following products:
- ADS for COBOL (6.3.0)
- ADS on Eclipse (7.0.0)
- ADS on Micro Focus EDz (7.0.0 Beta)
- Generator Engine for Windows (6.3.0)
- Generator Engine for IBM z/OS (6.3.0 Beta)
- ADS on Visual Studio (1.1.3)
You can find more information about new features and fixes in the release notes at the support area of our website:
https://delta-software.com/link.php?en=6837
6. New Delta Training Courses: Register Now
Our training courses and workshops help you to use Delta tools efficiently and to optimise the development of your applications: Practice-oriented and taking into account your main areas of interest.
Here you will find the new dates ...
New Delta Training Courses: Register Now
New Delta Training Courses: Register Now
Anyone using tools to automate software development needs in-depth knowledge of the methods, modes of operation, and capabilities of the tools. And not just "in principle", but in relation to the concrete environment and task.
Our training courses and workshops help you to use Delta tools efficiently and to optimise the development of your applications: Practice-oriented and taking into account your main areas of interest.
ADS Basics - ADS for Administrators - ADS Refresher - ADS on Eclipse - ADS What's new
Here you will find the new dates:
- 05.03.-07.03.2025 and 17.09.-19.09.2025 - ADS Basics
- 12.03.-14.03.2025 and 25.09.-26.09.2025 - ADS for Administrators
- 20.03.-21.03.2025 and 09.10.-10.10.2025 - ADS Refresher
- 03.04.-04.04.2025 and 29.10.-30.10.2025 - ADS on Eclipse
- 08.04.2025 and 06.11.2025 - ADS What’s new
- 29.04.2025 and 13.11.2025 - Delta DETAB
Learn more about our trainings and workshops ...
Contact us to discuss your requirements for a customised training.
Download Newsletter
Download Language: Englisch - Version: NL21019.01
Content
- Successful Assessment for Replacing VORELLE
- Aquila Heywood introduces ADS on Eclipse
- IBM IMS/DB? Modernization Now!
- Let's meet Delta
- Support information: New Product Versions available
- New Delta Training Courses: Register Now