22
Sun, Dec
3 New Articles
  1. You are here:  
  2. Home
  3. MORE
  4. Commentary
  5. Analysis of News Events
  6. ASNA Charts a Course to Microsoft's .NET

ASNA Charts a Course to Microsoft's .NET

Analysis of News Events
Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times
As Microsoft's .NET component model finds its way into companies that use IBM's iSeries, there will be a growing need for tools that help developers integrate and work across both technology platforms. That's why ASNA, the developer of Visual RPG, is hard at work developing a .NET-compliant version of the product that could become generally available as early as this September.

As I discussed in my recent article about Microsoft's Visual Studio.NET (VS.NET) announcement, there's a strong probability that Windows-based .NET applications will eventually find their way into most iSeries shops. If you don't believe me, look around your own company at the Windows-based operating systems, middleware, and applications that you already support. Unless your company is committed to migrating off Windows, those systems (and the staff who supports them) will become vehicles for bringing .NET into your organization. That's not a bad thing as long as you have tools that can leverage both iSeries- and Windows-based information assets.

These are the kind of tools that ASNA has been developing since the mid-1990s. Its flagship product, ASNA Visual RPG (AVR), provides a Windows-based RPG development environment and compiler that lets developers create native Windows executables (both EXEs and DLLs) from existing RPG code. Those executables can access both DB2/400 and SQL Server databases residing on iSeries or Windows servers via ASNA's Acceler8DB. In addition, AVR can generate Web-based applications that run on Windows-based Web servers utilizing Microsoft's Active Server Pages (ASP) technology.

ASNA prides itself on offering a product that is familiar to RPG programmers, yet capable of creating executables that are fully compliant with Microsoft's Common Object Model (COM). As such, it's no surprise that ASNA is embracing .NET. What's equally important to know, however, is that Microsoft is actively supporting ASNA's effort to deliver a .NET-compatible version of AVR that ASNA will ship with VS.NET as a complete .NET development environment for RPG developers.

According to my sources inside ASNA, an alpha version of what it calls "AVR.NET" is already running in their development lab. Sometime this month, the company plans to deliver its first beta version to external test teams. While the first beta will offer the ability to generate Web-based .NET applications, future beta releases will include the ability to generate Windows-based .NET applications as well.

After a series of closed beta tests, ASNA hopes to offer a public beta of AVR.NET late this summer. If all goes well, this beta version will pave the way for the shipment of the official Release 1.0 "gold code" in the September time frame. By the way, if you're wondering what will happen to ASNA's existing AVR product, rest assured that the company will continue selling and supporting it. ASNA representatives are also indicating that the company could offer a "conversion module" that imports existing AVR code to the new tool suite. Initially, however, ASNA will focus on making AVR.NET a quality product for developing new applications versus converting existing ones.

With its familiar RPG-based development interface and integration with Microsoft's VS.NET, AVR.NET will likely become the easiest way for many iSeries programmers to learn about and leverage .NET technologies. The development environment will also simplify and rationalize the entire process of developing ASPs, as developers will only need AVR.NET and VS.NET to develop and integrate the numerous components of an ASP. Moreover, since AVR.NET will support Web services standards such as XML and SOAP, it will let companies explore the potential of Web services to integrate applications running on their own systems and those of their business partners.

If you want to learn more about AVR and ASNA's .NET strategy, check out ASNA's Web site for further information. Keep your eye on this Web site as well, as I'll be reporting in future issues on other vendors whose products can help you integrate your iSeries with various server and operating system platforms.

Lee Kroon is a Senior Industry Analyst for Andrews Consulting Group, a firm that helps mid-sized companies manage business transformation through technology. You can reach him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS

LATEST COMMENTS

Support MC Press Online

$

Book Reviews

Resource Center

  • SB Profound WC 5536 Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application. You can find Part 1 here. In Part 2 of our free Node.js Webinar Series, Brian May teaches you the different tooling options available for writing code, debugging, and using Git for version control. Brian will briefly discuss the different tools available, and demonstrate his preferred setup for Node development on IBM i or any platform. Attend this webinar to learn:

  • SB Profound WP 5539More than ever, there is a demand for IT to deliver innovation. Your IBM i has been an essential part of your business operations for years. However, your organization may struggle to maintain the current system and implement new projects. The thousands of customers we've worked with and surveyed state that expectations regarding the digital footprint and vision of the company are not aligned with the current IT environment.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT Generic IBM announced the E1080 servers using the latest Power10 processor in September 2021. The most powerful processor from IBM to date, Power10 is designed to handle the demands of doing business in today’s high-tech atmosphere, including running cloud applications, supporting big data, and managing AI workloads. But what does Power10 mean for your data center? In this recorded webinar, IBMers Dan Sundt and Dylan Boday join IBM Power Champion Tom Huntington for a discussion on why Power10 technology is the right strategic investment if you run IBM i, AIX, or Linux. In this action-packed hour, Tom will share trends from the IBM i and AIX user communities while Dan and Dylan dive into the tech specs for key hardware, including:

  • Magic MarkTRY the one package that solves all your document design and printing challenges on all your platforms. Produce bar code labels, electronic forms, ad hoc reports, and RFID tags – without programming! MarkMagic is the only document design and print solution that combines report writing, WYSIWYG label and forms design, and conditional printing in one integrated product. Make sure your data survives when catastrophe hits. Request your trial now!  Request Now.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericForms of ransomware has been around for over 30 years, and with more and more organizations suffering attacks each year, it continues to endure. What has made ransomware such a durable threat and what is the best way to combat it? In order to prevent ransomware, organizations must first understand how it works.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericIT security is a top priority for businesses around the world, but most IBM i pros don’t know where to begin—and most cybersecurity experts don’t know IBM i. In this session, Robin Tatam explores the business impact of lax IBM i security, the top vulnerabilities putting IBM i at risk, and the steps you can take to protect your organization. If you’re looking to avoid unexpected downtime or corrupted data, you don’t want to miss this session.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericCan you trust all of your users all of the time? A typical end user receives 16 malicious emails each month, but only 17 percent of these phishing campaigns are reported to IT. Once an attack is underway, most organizations won’t discover the breach until six months later. A staggering amount of damage can occur in that time. Despite these risks, 93 percent of organizations are leaving their IBM i systems vulnerable to cybercrime. In this on-demand webinar, IBM i security experts Robin Tatam and Sandi Moore will reveal:

  • FORTRA Disaster protection is vital to every business. Yet, it often consists of patched together procedures that are prone to error. From automatic backups to data encryption to media management, Robot automates the routine (yet often complex) tasks of iSeries backup and recovery, saving you time and money and making the process safer and more reliable. Automate your backups with the Robot Backup and Recovery Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAManaging messages on your IBM i can be more than a full-time job if you have to do it manually. Messages need a response and resources must be monitored—often over multiple systems and across platforms. How can you be sure you won’t miss important system events? Automate your message center with the Robot Message Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAThe thought of printing, distributing, and storing iSeries reports manually may reduce you to tears. Paper and labor costs associated with report generation can spiral out of control. Mountains of paper threaten to swamp your files. Robot automates report bursting, distribution, bundling, and archiving, and offers secure, selective online report viewing. Manage your reports with the Robot Report Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAFor over 30 years, Robot has been a leader in systems management for IBM i. With batch job creation and scheduling at its core, the Robot Job Scheduling Solution reduces the opportunity for human error and helps you maintain service levels, automating even the biggest, most complex runbooks. Manage your job schedule with the Robot Job Scheduling Solution. Key features include:

  • LANSA Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.

  • LANSAWhen it comes to creating your business applications, there are hundreds of coding platforms and programming languages to choose from. These options range from very complex traditional programming languages to Low-Code platforms where sometimes no traditional coding experience is needed. Download our whitepaper, The Power of Writing Code in a Low-Code Solution, and:

  • LANSASupply Chain is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. From raw materials for manufacturing to food supply chains, the journey from source to production to delivery to consumers is marred with inefficiencies, manual processes, shortages, recalls, counterfeits, and scandals. In this webinar, we discuss how:

  • The MC Resource Centers bring you the widest selection of white papers, trial software, and on-demand webcasts for you to choose from. >> Review the list of White Papers, Trial Software or On-Demand Webcast at the MC Press Resource Center. >> Add the items to yru Cart and complet he checkout process and submit

  • Profound Logic Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application.

  • SB Profound WC 5536Join us for this hour-long webcast that will explore:

  • Fortra IT managers hoping to find new IBM i talent are discovering that the pool of experienced RPG programmers and operators or administrators with intimate knowledge of the operating system and the applications that run on it is small. This begs the question: How will you manage the platform that supports such a big part of your business? This guide offers strategies and software suggestions to help you plan IT staffing and resources and smooth the transition after your AS/400 talent retires. Read on to learn: