Ateras, a provider of legacy migration and modernization solutions, announced a tool that enables mainframe analysts and developers to create customized applications in C# or Java from either COBOL or Natural, without any knowledge of C# or Java required.
The tool, eavRPM (for Rapid Program Modernization), was designed to simplify the modernization process, empowering the existing mainframe programming staff to create modern .NET and Java applications via an easy-to-use graphical user interface. The tool uses the existing mainframe applications as both the specifications and the code foundation for creation of new web applications.
"Many mainframe shops are looking to unlock the data of their online applications. Using eavRPM enables this to happen and paves the way to SOA," Anna Stamatelatos, vice president of sales and marketing for Ateras, tells 5 Minute Briefing. "The resulting applications are based on the existing mainframe applications as far as business rules and flow. But the code is native Java taking full advantage of the Java language and is delivered directly to the Java IDE of choice."
In fact, eavRPM users only need to know how the application works and have a general knowledge about the current COBOL or Natural language. That's because eavRPM allows capture of mainframe screens and lines of COBOL or Natural code, and provides the mechanism to quickly and simply paste the screens and desired business rules into the new web applications. Ateras says a COBOL or Natural developer can complete a C# or Java website that prototypes the processing of an entire mainframe application within a few hours.
The resulting Java applications take full advantage of the Java language and the advanced features in JSP/Struts, AJAX, Tomcat/JBoss and Hibernate/JDBC. Because eavRPM generates native C# and Java solutions, all applications are delivered directly from eavRPM to either Visual Studio or to your Java Integrated Development Environment (IDE).
"eavRPM is complementary to WebSphere," says Stamatelatos. "The goal of eavRPM is to quickly modernize the applications to Java without any remaining infrastructure or license fees."
The resulting .NET applications take full advantage of the Microsoft software stack (Windows, Visual Studio, Internet Information Services (IIS), Team Foundation Server, etc.) and exploit the nature of object-oriented applications through the use of HTML, AJAX, ASPX, ADO.NET and C#.
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