Newsletter October 2023

Webinar IBM IMS/DB Replacement: Exchanging Experiences with Gothaer and Provinzial

You probably know all the good reasons to replace your IMS databases:

• Reduction of cost and maintaining multiple database technologies
• Lack of flexibility of IMS databases
• Diminishing know-how and specialists
• No successors available
• Difficult connection with new technologies like Mobile Cloud etc.

The hurdles for replacing IMS-databases are huge and the applications are running smoothly. These, often mission critical, applications are big, complex and the documentation is in most cases not sufficient for the task ahead.

From hierarchical to relational - 100% automated

The aim is to convert the application to clean SQL, i.e. not to "translate" the IMS accesses to SQL at runtime using a proprietary intermediate layer. The customised, fully automated transformation with AMELIO Modernization Platform guarantees the consistent and audit-proof migration of your COBOL and PL/I applications.

How can you replace your IMS system safely and efficiently?

Delta Software Technology presented a reliable solution that gives you the following advantages:

• You are supported in defining the new relational data model.
• The transformation is carried out securely and completely automatically - with automatic integration of the changes from the parallel ongoing development.
• The testing effort is drastically reduced thanks to the complete automation of all changes.
• There is no footprint and no vendor lock-in.

Review of the Webinar

We were able to win Gothaer Solutions GmbH and Provinzial Versicherung AG for this webinar. The participants took the opportunity to ask their questions directly to the companies' experts who have already successfully replaced their IMS databases.

Dr. Daniela Schilling (CEO, Delta Software Technology GmbH) presented the Delta solution AMELIO:
"Automated and Secure Migration from IBM IMS/DB to Db2 with AMELIO Modernisation Platform"

In the subsequent discussion, experts from Gothaer and Provinzial were on hand to answer questions from the audience. They reported that production and development continued undisturbed and that the migration project ensures the maintainability and future viability of the systems. Processes have been standardised and, thanks to targeted and, of course, automatically implemented optimisation of the access logic, individual applications now run even more efficiently than with the hierarchical database system.

When asked what they would do differently next time, both customers agreed: less testing and no more manual migration! This would save them even more time, money and nerves, because Delta's automated solution simply works.

Slides and Recording of the Webinar

You couldn't attend?
No problem: you can request the presentation slides and recording here.
(it will be in german - If you would like the presentation in english, please contact us by This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.):

We would be happy to show you the possibilities that AMELIO Modernisation Platform offers you for your projects. We look forward to hearing from you.

Are you looking for further information?
Then you will find the relevant reports here:

Gothaer migrates its IBM IMS Databases to IBM Db2 together with Delta Software Technology

Gothaer Systems migriert zusammen mit Delta mehr als 400 IMS-Datenbanken zu Db2. Durch den Aufbau einer passgenauen Factory konnten notwendige Schritte zur Transformation automatisiert, gut kalkuliert und risikoarm durchgeführt werden.

„By migrating from IBM IMS/DB to IBM Db2 together with Delta, we have successfully mastered the next big step in the ‘Smarter Mainframe’ project.“
Burkhard Oppenberg, CIO, Gothaer

Read here the success story:
https://delta-software.com/link.php?en=0314

From IBM IMS/DB to Db2 - Provinzial realizes complete Migration

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.

"The guaranteed operational “smoothness” in the project, despite the complex modernization, is certainly a unique feature of the solution.“
Stephan Kaiser, Program ‘sponsor’ Provinzial

Read here the success story:
https://delta-software.com/link.php?en=0329

Coming Soon: Delta ADS Generation for the Java Target System P3/COBOL

Existing IT applications are often a company's most valuable software assets, setting it apart from its competitors. One of today's greatest challenges is therefore to expand a company's technology base without having to give up decades of valuable development work.

So how do you bring your COBOL applications generated with Delta ADS into the modern world quickly and securely? It's simple! To make it easier for you to integrate your Delta ADS applications into your Java environment, Delta Software Technology made the Delta ADS development system available for the EasiRun P3/COBOL compiler.

Delta ADS for COBOL

Delta ADS for COBOL is one of the most successful development systems for operational backend applications in COBOL. The sophisticated and comprehensive generator technology enables the automated creation of platform-independent online and batch applications in COBOL. This automated generation of standardised, optimised and correct code

• speeds up development by providing tools for recurring standard sequences in the program logic and for function types/groups,
• ensures quality and drastically reduces the testing effort,
• ensures vendor independence on the one hand by dispensing with interpretative runtime components and on the other hand by separating application logic and platform-specific implementation for operating systems, data storage systems and TP monitors.

Our customers have realised extremely large applications with Delta ADS: With hundreds of thousands of programs and billions of lines of code (LoC) generated. Development with Delta ADS is characterised by a high degree of abstraction and automation. It is stable, reliable and extraordinarily efficient.

EasiRun P3/COBOL

P3/COBOL was developed for the transition from COBOL to Java. P3/COBOL is a system that is completely based on Java and compiles the COBOL applications into Java source code. No native C or C++ add-ons are required. P3/COBOL relies on pure Java functions for performance optimisation, so you don't have to leave the current JVM.

P3/COBOL is a proven technology that generates 100% Java code.

Delta ADS for P3/COBOL

We developed Delta ADS for the new target system P3/COBOL in close cooperation with our partner EasiRun. This enables special optimisations of the code generation that take into account the specific features of the P3/COBOL compiler.

Delta ADS for P3/COBOL enables you to integrate your Delta ADS applications comfortably and securely into your Java runtime environment. These are the advantages for you:

• You keep your efficient application development with Delta ADS while compiling the generated COBOL code to a Java source with P3/COBOL.
• You quickly and safely bring your proven Delta ADS applications into your Java runtime environment.
• You have the possibility to embed native Java code directly into the Delta ADS sources.
• You benefit from a proven technology that creates 100% Java code.

Delta ADS for P3/COBOL offers you the highest level of security on your way to Java and supports you in quickly placing your applications in a modern world.

Integrate your Delta ADS applications easily into your Java environment

Do you also want to integrate your Delta ADS applications seamlessly and securely into your Java environment? We would be happy to take your requirements and wishes into account in our new solution. Please contact us directly!

E-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone +49 2972 97190

EasiRun + Delta = A Successful Partnership

"The companies EasiRun and Delta have maintained a successful and project-proven partnership for many years and we are pleased to continue this partnership with the new project," says Dr. Daniela Schilling, CEO Delta Software Technology. Don Fitzgerald, CEO EasiRun Europe, confirms: "Delta convinces with the experience of more than 45 years and a multitude of successfully implemented modernisation projects."

EasiRun is both a provider of tools and consulting services with a focus on application modernisation and transformation, as well as a solution provider in the areas of mainframe, Java, .NET and COBOL (Linux, UNIX, Windows) and cloud. The portfolio offers, among other things, Eclipse IDEs, COBOL transpilers, data storage and web browser solutions, analysis services as well as automation and integration for the individual needs of the customers.

Delta Software Technology offers tools and custom-fit solutions for

• automated application generation for all platforms (OS, DBMS, TP monitor, compiler)
• automated application analysis and knowledge discovery
• automated clean-up to get rid of technical debts
• automated application migration, transformation and modernisation

Large companies use Delta solutions to develop their proven individual IT applications securely and sustainably and make them fit for the future. They thereby reduce the costs and risks for the maintenance, modernisation and re-implementation of their applications and gain flexibility, freedom of decision and security.

YOUPLUS Unifies its Development Environment and Updates Delta ADS

A modern development environment was the goal for the software developers of YOUPLUS Assurance Schweiz AG. Together with Delta Software Technology, the previous development environment was replaced by ADS on Eclipse and at the same time the generator system Delta ADS for COBOL was updated.

In 2020, YOUPLUS Assurance Schweiz (YOUPLUS) acquired an insurance portfolio from AIG Life Insurance Switzerland Ltd., Breganzona and at the same time another part of AIG - American Security Life Insurance Company Ltd in Vaduz, Switzerland.

In 2023, YOUPLUS has started its operation in a new company providing solutions for the tied pension 3a and the cost-free pension 3b, which combines unique investment logic with client's personal pension objectives.

YOUPLUS Group is now active in eight European countries. It specialises in Life & Pension solutions and is considered as one of the fastest growing insurance companies in Europe.

The insurance company YOUPLUS Lugano, Switzerland, insurance company successfully uses the generator system Delta ADS for COBOL & PL/I (ADS) from Delta Software Technology (Delta) for more than 30 years. At YOUPLUS, the ADS programs are developed and maintained on the PC and then generated exactly fitting in COBOL. The programs are then executed on IBM z/VSE.

Update to the Latest ADS Release

In the first step, ADS was updated from an outdated version to the latest version (6.6.2). For this, only the individual generators had to be updated and standard macros hat to be checked and adapted if necessary. Delta is skilled at this task and brings the appropriate know-how for the secure modernisation.

In order to provide the developers with a modern and uniform development environment, the Delta development system SCOUT² was replaced by ADS on Eclipse (Delta IDS). The use of Delta ADS on Eclipse has the advantage that it can be directly integrated in all Eclipse-based environments. In this case, the plugin was integrated into the OpenText (Micro Focus) development environment.

More Effective Maintenance and Development

With the help of ADS on Eclipse, the working method for developing and maintaining ADS programs is simplified and modernised so that developers are optimally supported. The use of the Post-generation Debugger makes maintenance much easier, simpler and faster. With it, the generation process can be followed step by step. This makes it much easier for the developers and also the application inheritors to get a handle on the ADS programs.

The development and generation processes of ADS programs were seamlessly integrated into the customer’s development environment. Thus, YOUPLUS could be provided with a uniform and integrated solution.

You Too Can Follow This Way

Do you also want to provide your developers with a modern and integrated development environment? Then contact us! Our modern and integrated development solution Delta IDS is available for many environments, e.g. ADS on Eclipse Eclipse-based development environments, as ADS on Visual Studio for Microsoft Visual Studio or Visual Studio Code. In addition, active Delta customers receive the upgrade to the latest Delta ADS version free of charge.

You can also go this way and simplify the maintenance and development of your Delta ADS applications - your developers and their application heirs will be grateful.

More about ADS and Delta IDS

You would also like to upgrade your ADS installation and know how you can easily integrate your application development with ADS into your PC-based environments? Then get in touch with us.

Support Information: New Product Updates Available

We have implemented your suggestions and further improved our products. The following product releases are now available for you:

Delta ADS 6 for COBOL (6.6.3)

In the new release Delta ADS 6.6.3, we have implemented a number of corrections and, above all, improvements in the Post-Generation Debugger. With the Post-Generation Debugger, you can significantly accelerate the maintenance of your Delta ADS applications by quickly and accurately following the generation process.

We have also implemented further improvements in the area of generating Data Access Servers for the object-based database integration (Delta DBI).

Delta ADS 6.6.3 is now available for all platforms.

AMELIO Logic Discovery (2.4.1)

In the new release of AMELIO Logic Discovery 2.4.1 we have, besides some corrections, further optimised the navigation. With our innovative analysis tool for COBOL, PL/I and Delta ADS applications, you can now find the relevant knowledge and the corresponding locations in the code even faster.

Benefit from the Improvements Now

Simply request the new product releases now directly here.

Curious? Get to Know our AMELIO Product Family!

You don't know AMELIO yet? We would be happy to introduce you to our innovative tools for the automated software evolution:

• AMELIO Logic Discovery for easy (re-)understanding.
• AMELIO CleanUp - our Washing Machine for agile cleanup
• AMELIO Modernization Platform for fully automated modernisation

See for yourself how you can make your backend applications fit for the future securely, perfectly fitting and in parallel with ongoing development.

Please send us a message via our website or call us at +49 (0) 2972 97 19-0.

Software Reengineering & Evolution: Benefit from the Direct Exchange between Practice and Research

“Software Reengineering and Evolution” is an evergreen in software development. However, new technologies and possibilities in the area of development lead to ever new challenges in dealing with the existing software.

The expert group Software Reengineering and Evolution (SRE) within the Gesellschaft für Informatik (GI) - the German-speaking professional society for computer science - deals with all aspects of software reengineering, software maintenance and software evolution. In principle, this includes all activities whose goal is analysis, visualisation, evaluation, improvement, migration and further development.

Workshop Software Reengineering & Evolution (WSRE)

With the conference series Workshop "Software Reengineering and Evolution" (WSRE), the SRE expert group aims to bring together practice and research and to promote professional exchange with a variety of current topics.

Practitioners and researchers are cordially invited to report on experiences, projects, research results, methods, tools and “war stories” in this field at the WSRE, to present their current work and to discuss it constructively in an open environment.

Save the date for WSRE 2025

We are pleased to announce the next Workshop on Software Reengineering and Evolution (WSRE): 27. WSRE 2025 will take place from 09.-11.04.2025 in Bad Honnef!

Call4Papers

You would like to present your challenges or solutions and tools on the topic and exchange ideas with other interested parties? Anyone can take part - even if you are not a member of the GI.

• Contributions can be submitted until 14.02.2025.

Take the opportunity for direct exchange and networking. Participation is open to everyone. All information about the workshop and how to submit contributions can be found here.

WSRE 2024

The 26th Software Reengineering & Evolution Workshop of the GI Software Reengineering (SRE) specialist group took place on 29 and 30 April in Bad Honnef.

How to Quickly (Re-)Gain the Knowledge about Your COBOL Applications

At this year's tool session, Dr. Daniela Schilling, CEO of Delta Software Technology, presented:

‘When the English Dictionary is Not Enough - Understanding COBOL Applications with AMELIO Logic Discovery’

In order to (re)understand large, complex COBOL applications that have grown over decades, it is not enough to be able to read the code. Instead, it is necessary to abstract from technical details and gain knowledge at a glance. Appropriate views of the application are also required for various tasks. We present AMELIO Logic Discovery, a tool for automated knowledge (re)gain.

You couldn’t attend? No problem!
Contact us directly and find out how AMELIO Logic Discovery can help you to re-understand your COBOL applications.