4GL to EGL Hype or Reality

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1 Session: I02 4GL to EGL Hype or Reality Jean Georges Perrin IIUG Monday, October 2 nd :30 14:30. Platform: IDS, EGL 1

2 Agenda Who Am I EGL Overview 4GL to EGL Conversion Partner Technology Summary 2 2

3 Agenda Who Am I EGL Overview 4GL to EGL Conversion Partner Technology Summary 3 3

4 Who am I? My Unix box usually answers 4 Yes, I know, it is not wise. I am a developer, I am no system administrator, I am no DBA, and so, unless my application requires it, root is fine. Otherwise, I am also known as jgp. 4

products since 97 IIUG board member since 02 Lives in Strasbourg, France 5 Jean

using many development languages ranging from Informix-4GL to Java, through Visual

Jean Georges has been working on the Web and related technologies since 1994.

5 Who am I (outside of a Unix box)? Jean Georges Perrin Development tools (xgl, Java EE, PHP) Works with Informix products since 97 IIUG board member since 02 Lives in Strasbourg, France 5 Jean Georges Perrin has been involved in software engineering for the last 10 years, using many development languages ranging from Informix-4GL to Java, through Visual Basic, C, C++, EGL and PHP. Jean Georges has been working on the Web and related technologies since He has been elected on the Board of Directors of IIUG since He is now Vice President of R&D for RBS, a software company based near Strasbourg, France, where he lives with his wife and two sons. 5

6 A little more Application developer, started with Visual Basic, in the early 90s In the web since 1994 Move to 4GL in 1997 Goals: Webizing all things I touched (business apps, catalogs and i-4gl ) Find the ease of use of Visual Basic EGL 6 6

7 And you Who knows 4GL? Who knows Java? Who thinks Java is difficult? Who knows EGL? Who knows.net? Who is going my Java & PHP lectures later this week? 7 7

8 Agenda Who Am I EGL Overview 4GL to EGL Conversion Partner Technology Summary 8 8

9 What is EGL? What is EGL? Business Programming Language + Development Environment Business Programming Language Robust, easy-to-learn, mature Aimed squarely at technical business developers, who need to solve business problems as quickly and efficiently as possible Based on combination of Informix 4GL + IBM s VAGen Over 25 years of R&D + production use + Development Environment Integrated into Rational Software Development Platform Based on industry-standard artifacts and development patterns 9 9

10 EGL Enables 4GL VAGen EGL Power Builder EGL Oracle Forms Deploy to diverse platforms Visual Basic RP G C O B O 10 L Higher Productivity No need to understand Java/J2EE No need to be Object-Oriented 10

11 Software Deliverables What can you build using EGL? Database oriented applications Standalone Batch / Reporting applications Standalone CUI (Character User Interface) applications Linux, Unix, Windows, iseries, CICS (zos) Web applications Provide Web Services / Consume Web services Message-oriented applications (WebSphere MQ Support builtin) Rich GUI clients (planned for Rational SDP 7.0) Callable programs from traditional Java rich GUI clients EGL generates both Java (standard) and COBOL (optional) WSED required for COBOL generation 11 11

12 Rational Software Development Platform Configurations Rational Software Architect Rational Application Developer Robust J2EE transactional Applications EJB development Rational Web Developer Web Applications Page & site visual composition JSP, Servlet, XML, & Web services tools Rich Java Client tools Rapid, simplified Development -JSF/WDO, Wizards, Struts Visual Builder -Enterprise Generation Language (EGL) Integrated Test Environment For architects and lead developers building J2EE or C++ based solutions Portal/Portlets design and construction tools Code analysis assistance and automation UML visual editors Team Support Clearcase LT United Java and C/C++ development platform Application analysis assistance and automation UML language transforms Full RSM capabilites Full RAD capabilites Workbench: Configurations & perspectives" Plug-in Architecture Local & Team resource management A comprehensive Java IDE with unprecedented flexibility & extensibility Common IDE across Windows & Linux Superior Java programming facilities

13 EGL Data Access: Simplified programming model for data access Record abstracts access to: Relational data MQ messages Indexed, Relative, Serial data DL/I (v7.0) EGL EGL Record Record Add Get Replace Delete Commit SQL MQ DL/I XML Serial Indexed Relative * - future Common verbs for data access/unit of work management Add, Get, Replace, Delete, Commit I/O errors handled in a common fashion across disparate data types Data format conversions handled automatically 13 13

14 EGL Batch applications Easy access to data sources EGL record concept Inline coding of SQL statements execute #sql{... } Command line arguments are supported SysLib.getCmdLineArg() SysLib.getCmdLineArgCount( ) Character based output and displaylinemode() result = promptlinemode() 14 14

ascurses-based (Linux, Unix) or Java windows based (Windows, Linux, Unix) The EGL CUI look and

15 EGL CUI applications EGL supports character oriented (CUI) and text oriented (TUI) applications CUI: Windows, Linux, Unix TUI: zos, iseries EGL CUI applications can be deployed either ascurses-based (Linux, Unix) or Java windows based (Windows, Linux, Unix) The EGL CUI look and feel is based on the Informix 4GL menus and forms behaviour EGL CUI forms support Query by Example (QBE) 15 15

EGL Web applications Seamles integration with JSP (Java Server pages) and JSF (Java Server Faces) Pagehandler code: 100% EGL Contains functions and data related to a.

16 EGL Web applications Seamles integration with JSP (Java Server pages) and JSF (Java Server Faces) Pagehandler code: 100% EGL Contains functions and data related to a.jsp page onpageload() function Declare local data structures Functions bound to command buttons Deployment support for WebSphere application server and Apache s Tomcat 16 16

EGL Reporting (JasperReports) EGL has a builtin reporting API, based on JasperReports JasperReports: powerful OpenSource, Java based reporting engine Multiple Output formats: Text, PDF, HTML, XML,

17 EGL Reporting (JasperReports) EGL has a builtin reporting API, based on JasperReports JasperReports: powerful OpenSource, Java based reporting engine Multiple Output formats: Text, PDF, HTML, XML, CSV Callback function support Complex sub-report and grouping functionality The JasperReports libraries are bundled with Rational SDP Jasper report design editors available ireport Standalone, OpenSource JasperAssistant Eclipse plugin, Commercial 17 17

EGL Messaging / File Access EGL supports easy access to message queues and external files Based on the EGL record concept EGL Messaging support based on WebSphere MQ Allows easy integration with

18 EGL Messaging / File Access EGL supports easy access to message queues and external files Based on the EGL record concept EGL Messaging support based on WebSphere MQ Allows easy integration with heterogeneous applications EGL file access serialrecord (all operating systems) indexedrecord, relativerecord (VSAM access only AIX and zos) EGL relational database table export / import functions syslib.unloadtable() syslib.loadtable() 18 18

19 EGL in a Service Oriented Architecture JSF Page & Handler custsearch.jsp custsearch.jsp custsearch Interface Service Implementation Javascript Service Implementation JSF customer Customer; Function onpageload() EGL customerlib.getcust(id); customerlib.getdisc(id); End Function updatecustomer() updatecustomer(); calcdiscount(cust); End DiscountService Service Discount Function CalcDiscount(cust) EGL End CustomerService Service Customer Function allcustomers() get customers; End Function updatecustomer() update customer End EGL Function sendrequest() Customer Informix, DB2, Cloudscape 19 19

20 Agenda Who Am I EGL Overview 4GL to EGL Conversion Partner Technology Summary 20 20

21 Why move to EGL? Support for Informix IDS and DB2 Support for Windows platforms A single development environment: supporting EGL, Java, COBOL and Web application development to maintain and enhance existing TUI applications Mature, field-tested I4GL business logic can be used within new web applications Standard curses library will allow much better color support in character applications Many legacy I4GL constructs can also be deployed as host (z and i-series) applications Enhanced reporting capabilities 21 21

22 I4GL Program becomes EGL Program C functions form.per main.4gl inventory.4gl catalog. 4gl Text c_code.c Reports I4GL to EGL Conversion IDS Database main_program.egl SchemaLib.egl formform.egl main.egl inventory.egl catalog. egl Text Reports C functions c_code.so or c_code.dll 22 22

23 Conversion Strategy Goal is to convert an I4GL application to the equivalent EGL application that uses: the same display device the same database server I4GL TUI applications will be converted to EGL TUI applications Convert, on a program-by-program basis, using the conversion utilities: provided as part of the IDE also available from the command line Separate conversion passes required for: database metadata extraction 4GL shared libraries I4GL source code Automated conversion should convert most I4GL source code some I4GL programs may require manual intervention 23 23

24 Converting 4GL code? Rational SDP conversion plug-in runs within the EGL development GUI wizard collects information generates configuration XML files invokes the conversion utility Command line conversion utility Java program can be run in current I4GL build environments requires configuration file describing current I4GL environment generates EGL conversion projects 24 24

25 Conversion Artifacts Configuration file XML file generated from interaction with conversion wizard contains required conversion project information Manifest file XML file generated during conversion of shared libraries contains declaration and usage information about the functions used in the shared library Log file contains warnings and errors status of each source file summary of conversion Makefile single makefile for all I4GL platforms used to re-link the project shared library with EGL JNI stack library 25 25

26 Conversion Assumptions I4GL code is legal it will compile with I4GL 7.32 compiler conversion will not fix invalid I4GL code Multiple passes are required Functions that can not be resolved during conversion are assumed to be C code functions if function is later found to be an I4GL function, re-conversion would be required C code functions do not use undocumented I4GL internal functions 26 26

27 Conversion Order Database metadata conversion creates EGL packages for each database used in the project schema metadata will become a separate EGL project which can be referenced by other EGL projects I4GL Shared libraries conversion generates Manifest file and makefile I4GL Source files.4gl files.per (form) files message files 27 27

28 Pre-Conversion Tasks Identify & locate all the components of the 4GL application to be converted (.4gl,.per, message files, shared libraries) Identify connection information for each database used Start Informix database instances Mount/copy source code to EGL development machine, if required Determine destination directory for converted EGL source code & conversion artifacts Identify Client locale used to convert message files Identify font information used to generate report designs 28 28

29 Post-Conversion Tasks Review log file Fix identified problems on the 4GL side and re-convert or in the new EGL file shared libraries may have to be re-converted if functions cannot be resolved Open the project in the IDE Verify EGL packages and source files View/update EGL build descriptor file Generate Java code for the project fix problems in the EGL code Set runtime properties from existing environment variables Launch new EGL project 29 29

30 Conversion Limitations Database connections cannot be shared between EGL and C code C code cannot call EGL functions 30 30

Now What Can You Do With It Webmain.egl Use your I4GL Business Logic in EGL Web Services Use your I4GL Business Logic in whatever comes next!!! Webinventory.

31 Now What Can You Do With It Webmain.egl Use your I4GL Business Logic in EGL Web Services Use your I4GL Business Logic in whatever comes next!!! Webinventory.egl DB2 IDS HTML Output Use your I4GL with Message Queues PDF Output XML Output C functions form.egl SchemaLib.egl BL main.egl BL inventory.egl 31 BL BL catalog.egl Text Reports c_code.so 31

32 From 4GL to EGL and beyond... EGL EGL GUI GUI App App (RSDP (RSDP 7.0) 7.0) Eclipse RCP RCP Plugin Plugin (RSDP (RSDP 7.0) 7.0) e.g. Lotus Workplace Informix 4GL 4GL App App Batch-/ Batch-/ Character based based EGL EGL App App WebSphere Application Server Web Web (JSF) (JSF) EGL EGL App App EGL EGL based based Portlet Portlet (EGL.Next) e.g. WebSphere Portal Server 32 32

33 Agenda Who Am I EGL Overview 4GL to EGL Conversion Partner Technology Summary 33 33

34 Technology Developed by Partners Migrate Informix 4GL to EGL web using esmartsoft EGL TUI to EGL web conversion Parser 4GL Text UI Application I4GL to EGL Conversion tool EGL Text UI Application esmartsoft esmartsoft EGL EGL TUI TUI to to EGL EGL Web Web Conversion Conversion Parser Parser EGL Web Application 34 34

35 esmartsoft Technology Field tested with three 4GL to EGL web conversion already completed and in deployed in production. Capability to handle large complex projects. Already implemented conversion of 1600 module 4GL application to EGL Web. Language neutral, bidirectional including 7-bit locale conversion to Unicode 35 35

36 esmartsoft conversion process Movie Time 36 36

37 Agenda Who Am I EGL Overview 4GL to EGL Conversion Partner Technology Summary 37 37

38 EGL Summary Easy to learn, lowers skills barrier to e-business Higher productivity to deliver systems faster Maximum flexibility Multiple platforms and topologies Step to Java if required Integrated with latest technology (Eclipse, JSF, Jasper, ) Bring legacy to e-business Easily connect to existing resources Quickly develop new functions on traditional platforms EGL = Great language for new application development! 38 38

39 And now I recommend you come n see: Introduction to Java development with IDS and Introduction to PHP development with IDS Come to see me in San Jose (May 2007): Introduction to EJB3 dev. with IDS and Viper (Give me good marks so I can be selected as best speaker of the conference and beat Darryl, Lester and Art - previous speakers)

40 And now (seriously) Download EGL (I guess you all have IDS already) Download the fix packs Download Jonathan Sayles excellent work from Join the development-tools forum on IIUG web site Get started with a few examples 40 40

41 And as Winter is coming The 4GL/EGL Redbook! EGL Language Concepts The Rational SDP environment A simple EGL web application 4GL to EGL conversion EGL and databases Advanced EGL web programming EGL and JasperReports EGL Deployment EGL CUI applications plus much more

42 Additional Resources & Forum EGL on IBM DeveloperWorks EGL Tutorials EGL Documentation EGL Code Examples An active EGL Forum plus more... URLs:

43 I02 4GL to EGL Hype or Reality Jean Georges Perrin IIUG 43 The first is for saving pandas, sorry, Informix users and the last one is to send me checks (I have a few others but I do not think it would be worth mentioning). 43

ZOS15P1 - Rational Business Developper : Comment développer rapidement une application zos/db2 sans connaissance Cobol avec EGL et RBD

IBM Software Group ZOS15P1 - Rational Business Developper : Comment développer rapidement une application zos/db2 sans connaissance Cobol avec EGL et RBD What is EGL? IBM s high-level procedural programming