22
Fri, Nov
1 New Articles

Why Migrate When You Can Modernize?

Development Tools
Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times

The Modernization Dilemma: Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production.

Editor's Note: This article is excerpted from the white paper, Why Migrate When You Can Modernize? available for download in the MC Press White Paper Center.

Your IBM i developers are approaching retirement and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. Young developers have not heard of the IBM i, RPG or COBOL; and they prefer languages they know.

If you’ve experienced one or more of these pain points, you may also be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.

 

It’s easy for organizations to point fingers at legacy platforms when systems have fallen out of favor. And IT is feeling the pressure. Executives and line-of-business (LOB) managers often suggest that IT simply jettison these legacy applications and platforms without knowing the impact it will have on the company.

How do you choose a new platform?

  • What’s the best plan for transitioning from the IBM i to a new platform?
  • How much will the transition cost and how long will it take?
  • Or is it better to modernize your IBM i applications

Learn how to think of these issues as opportunities rather than problems. In addition, discover the importance of allowing business requirements to drive the decisions. Modernization is a corporate responsibility. Assigning full responsibility for modernization projects to IT is a recipe for disaster.

Lastly, read how modernizing IBM i applications with optimized business workflows, integration with other technologies and new mobile and web user interfaces will enable IT – and the business – to experience time added value and much more.

Do Existing Systems Support Business Requirments?

Are your applications aligned with your corporate strategy? Successful companies harness their intellectual power, physical capabilities, resources (including IT assets), culture and business processes to support their corporate strategy to build and supply the products and services the company offers.

Companies require regular assessment of the capabilities inherent in their applications to retain a competitive advantage.

The essential question an assessment must answer is the extent to which an application supports today’s business requirements. Support means both current business requirements and potential requirements arising from changes in business operations and changes mandated by compliance and regulatory requirements. Keep in mind that all applications require flexibility to adapt to new innovation while supporting maintenance activities.

Regular application reviews can help to maintain applications so that they support constant change in business requirements. Without regular reviews, applications can become tired and inflexible. This impression, real or imagined, raises questions on the longevity of your legacy applications and platforms. A capability assessment will determine the practicality of migrating or modernizing these applications.

Why is IBM i Considered a Legacy Platform?

The chatter in articles and blogs suggests that the IBM i is not a viable information management platform. Analysts have been predicting its demise every year for the last two decades. There was a time when the chatter suggested the IBM AS/400 (a previous name of the IBM i) was not a viable option because it was not an open server. Why has the IBM i attracted so much comment? Maybe it’s a failure to understand the platform’s unique architecture or maybe the age is a concern.

Here are a few observations on attitudes towards the IBM i.

Age

The IBM i started out as the AS/400 in 1988, which is a long time in internet years. It’s had a few name changes since then, but its core essence of providing customers a platform with integrated operating system and database hasn’t changed. With the advent of cloud computing, servers have become somewhat of a commodity to developers because they are almost invisible to them – out of sight, out of mind.

Business Developers

There used to be a time when servers and software were the domain of a group of people known collectively as the Data Processing Department, Computer Department or Management Information Services, and the de facto programming language for IBM i was RPG.

Not so today. Business functions set aside budget for developing and operating applications on additional server platforms like Windows, Linux and Unix. Until recently, the most popular and modern development tools didn’t run on IBM i. Luckily those days are gone now that IBM companies can leverage a number of open-source offerings as well as some low-code development platforms to deliver the same types of applications found on other server platforms.

Cloud

Amazon and Microsoft spent the last decade pushing the cloud as the most effective place to operate applications. If the cloud seems attractive, the IBM i has many cloud offerings available through IBM and its partners – whether public, private or hybrid.

Development Tools

Despite the availability of some more modern, open-source development tools, the vast bulk of the programming code underpinning IBM i applications is still RPG (and to a lesser extent COBOL). RPG and COBOL are extremely low on the programming language ranking scales. They were formed in an age before the internet and appear incapable of supporting the fast-moving development required for modern applications.

Even though many open-source languages and frameworks are available for IBM i, many RPG/ COBOL developers struggle with learning these new technologies, so the uptick has been slow. Low-code development platforms can help because they shield developers from the underlying technologies, enabling them to build modern applications quickly without having to learn multiple skillsets.

Developers

People are the biggest burden to the corporate world. They are expensive, can be unreliable, resign at inconvenient times and get stuck in their ways as they grow old. The generation of young RPG and COBOL developers that grew up and evolved with the AS/400 / iSeries / IBM i are now in their twilight years and near retirement.

The biggest challenge IBM i shops face now is finding the next generation of staff to maintain the three decades of custom RPG and COBOL applications still in production today. Most young developers couldn’t spell RPG if you spotted them an R and a P. Very few colleges teach RPG or COBOL as part of their curriculum.

Some of the pressure to leave the IBM i derives from the difficulty acquiring skilled developers from a diminishing pool and the cost and time required to train young developers on IBM i; and that assumes young developers are available and willing to sign up.

Ignorance

Most business users are unaware of the business rules, intellectual property and customizations behind their “ugly green screen” application.

A leave-or-stay assessment based purely on the user interface of an application and its platform ignores the cost and effort required to replace the application, and the business value the application provides.

Perception

Legacy can be viewed as being positive or derogatory, depending on your perspective. A positive perspective views legacy as an item from the past providing tried and true value. In contrast, a derogatory perspective paints the item as worthless.

A common perception of the IBM i is a legacy platform unable to participate in the new world of web and mobile applications, REST services and the API economy.

Scapegoat

Legacy platforms, including IBM i, attract criticism as the root cause of technology tardiness and lack of responsiveness to changing business requirements. That’s a basis for business users wanting to replace the IBM i.

Companies need to remove emotion from the decision-making process by conducting a business-led, IT supported audit of the entire ecosystem, in order to understand the business benefits of a platform change.

Is the negative impression valid? Many criticize IBM’s marketing efforts in not expounding the advantages of the IBM i platform as it continues to add modern features to the platform. IBM i features include upgraded hardware, virtualization, Linux, open source programming languages (PHP and Python are examples) and low-code development tools, all while IBM i continues to run programs written years/decades ago.

Motivations to Migrate or Modernize

Dissatisfaction with a computing platform arises from frustrated business users and the opinions of C-suite executives. What factors motivate a desire to change the existing IT platform?

Want to learn more?  Download the complete white paper, Why Migrate When You Can Modernize? for free from the MC Press White Paper Center today.  Don't miss this important resource.

 

 

0 0

LANSA is a low-code, high-productivity software development platform for mobile, web, and desktop applications. Visual LANSA's unique low-code development platform, system integration, and digital transformation technologies reduce hand-coding, support multiple languages, and empower development teams to build applications up to 10 times faster. More than 8,000 organizations in 65 countries use LANSA's platform to develop, maintain, and integrate their business applications, ensuring a consistent look and feel with minimal coding. Customers include JPMorgan Chase, Kawasaki, TruGreen, Vistar, and Walt Disney, among others. LANSA is a division of Idera, Inc.

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: