23
Mon, Dec
1 New Articles
  1. You are here:  
  2. Home
  3. Programming
  4. Programming - Other
  5. Node.js for Enterprise IBM i Modernization

Node.js for Enterprise IBM i Modernization

Programming - Other
Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times

Five Reasons Why Node Is the Solution your Company Needs Right Now

Editor's note: This article introduces the updated white paper White Paper: Node.js for Enterprise IBM i Modernization, which is free to download from the MC White Paper Center.

Every business around the world uses legacy applications or code to some extent. Fortunately, for businesses on IBM i, these applications are typically very reliable and stable.

But in the age of slick mobile apps, cloud development, and an aging RPG developer pool, holding onto outdated application code and interfaces can hurt today’s businesses where it matters most: their bottom line. When your competition offers an application with a modern GUI, and your end users need tools that help them find and work with data faster, you know it’s time to make the change to modern applications.

So now, the perennial question businesses face when contemplating the modernization of their legacy systems is no longer “when?”, but “how?”

There is certainly no shortage of options when it comes to choosing a path to modernization. But two common approaches – re-writing the application code and migrating to a packaged application – can be riskier than sticking with the legacy applications. Knowing this, it’s no wonder why the path to modern applications is a long and bumpy one for so many businesses.

But there is some good news in the way of a development language called Node.js. You may have heard some buzz around it, as it’s currently in use at some of the world’s top businesses, including Walmart, PayPal, Uber, Netflix, and Google, to name a few. Profound Logic's solutions and services, including RPG-to-Node code transformation, make Node a perfect solution to address your current business challenges. Here are five reasons why we’ve adopted Node for legacy modernization and think you should, too!

Node.js is Enterprise

ReadySome businesses may balk at the idea of using Node for legacy modernization because of its “newness”. So first, some background. Node.js was first conceived in 2009 by developer Ryan Dahl. The open source language is based on JavaScript, and uses JavaScript’s NPM (Node Package Manager). NPM enables hundreds of thousands of developers to share and reuse packages of code – developers from companies like IBM, NASA, Uber, Google, Walmart, and PayPal, to name a few.

So, Node is no longer the “new kid” on the development block, and has a healthy and growing community of users. But how can it handle business applications? Some people would say that it’s not up to the task, in part because of a problem known as “Callback Hell” – aka callbacks within callbacks within callbacks, all of which are difficult to understand and maintain. Profound Logic’s framework for Node.js mitigates this problem for companies on IBM i by streamlining and Profound Logic Node.js for Enterprise IBM i Modernization 4 simplifying application code. This Node.js framework also enables top-down programming, which is a must for most business application development.

Node Packet Manager enables hundreds of thousands of developers to share and reuse packages of code – developers from companies like NASA, Google, Walmart, and PayPal

Other good news for businesses – Node is: blazing fast (it uses the V8 engine developed by Google); used for both client- and server-side programming; an excellent choice for real-time applications; and supported by IBM, which has heavily invested in Node. Ever heard of IBM Watson? Yep, you guessed it: IBM uses Node.js for Watson’s ‘Developer Cloud’ APIs.

Want to learn more? Download the free updated white paper White Paper: Node.js for Enterprise IBM i Modernization, which is free to download from the MC White Paper Center.

 

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: