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4GL to EGL – Hype or Reality

Session: I02. 4GL to EGL – Hype or Reality. Jean Georges Perrin IIUG. Monday, October 2 nd 2006 • 13:30 – 14:30. Platform: IDS, EGL. Agenda. Who Am I EGL Overview 4GL to EGL Conversion Partner Technology Summary. Agenda. Who Am I EGL Overview 4GL to EGL Conversion

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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 2nd 2006 • 13:30 – 14:30. Platform: IDS, EGL

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

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

  4. Who am I? • My Unix box usually answers…

  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

  6. EGL 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

  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?

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

  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

  10. EGL Higher Productivity VAGen 4GL Deploy to diverse platforms Oracle Forms Power Builder EGL • RPG • COBOL Visual Basic EGL Enables

  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

  12. For architects and lead developers building J2EE or C++ based solutions Rational Software Architect • United Java and C/C++ development platform • Application analysis assistance and automation • UML language transforms • Full RSM capabilites • Full RAD capabilites Rational Application Developer Robust J2EE transactional Applications • EJB development • Portal/Portlets design and construction tools • Code analysis assistance and automation • UML visual editors • Team Support Clearcase LT 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 Workbench: A comprehensive Java IDE with unprecedented flexibility & extensibility • Common IDE across Windows & Linux • Superior Java programming facilities • http://www.eclipse.org • Configurations & “perspectives" • Plug-in Architecture • Local & Team resource management Rational Software Development Platform Configurations

  13. Add Get Replace Delete Commit EGL Record Relative MQ DL/I XML Serial SQL Indexed * - future 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) • 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

  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()

  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)

  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

  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 • http://jasperreports.sourceforge.net • The JasperReports libraries are bundled with Rational SDP • Jasper report design editors available • iReport – Standalone, OpenSource • JasperAssistant – Eclipse plugin, Commercial

  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()

  19. JSF Page & Handler Interface Service Implementation custSearch.jsp custSearch.jsp custSearch customer Customer; Function onPageLoad() customerLib.getcust(id); customerLib.getdisc(id); End Function updateCustomer() updateCustomer(); calcDiscount(cust); End Javascript JSF EGL CustomerService Service Customer Function allCustomers() get customers; End Function updateCustomer() update customer End Function sendRequest() … Customer DiscountService EGL Informix,DB2,Cloudscape Service Discount Function CalcDiscount(cust) … End EGL Service Implementation EGL in a Service Oriented Architecture

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

  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

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

  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

  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”

  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

  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

  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

  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

  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

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

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

  32. EGLGUI App(RSDP 7.0) EclipseRCP Plugin(RSDP 7.0) e.g. LotusWorkplace Informix4GL App Batch-/CharacterbasedEGL App Web (JSF)EGL App EGL basedPortlet(EGL.Next) WebSphere Application Server e.g. WebSphere Portal Server From 4GL to EGL and beyond...

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

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

  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, bi-directional including 7-bit locale conversion to Unicode

  36. eSmartSoft conversion process Movie Time

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

  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!

  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 http://www.jsayles.com/ibm • Join the development-tools forum on IIUG web site • Get started with a few examples

  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: http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/rational/products/egl http://tinyurl.com/lz6l9

  43. I02 4GL to EGL – Hype or Reality Jean Georges Perrin IIUG jgp@iiug.org jgp@jgp.net

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