What Do You Know About The Intricacies Of AS400 Modernization?

The key idea behind modernizing the legacy IBM AS400 application is so much more than the simple task of refactoring the old RPG and CLP codebase. The main part of this action is Database modernization. It pertains to reviewing the DDS based database and deciding on how to migrate to SQL and DDL, which happens to be the SQL equivalent of DDS source. SQL is more flexible than DDS, but it comes with a steeper learning curve. However, it is also easy to make a silly mistake and mess things up. It is important to run proper checks and measures for every step of AS400 modernization.

The details of data modernization

This one is the phase of reviewing the old DDS field types and deciding on ways to upgrade them, for instance, you can change dates stored as 7, 0p CYYMMDD or 5, 0p hundred Year to native DATE FORMAT type. In terms of performance implications, you will have to consider how views and indexes can present the information you need. Stored SQL Procedures are able to handle small recurring blocks of business logic in a really quick and simple way.

An overview of application modernization

This one is a bigger step than simply enriching old RPG3/RPG400 to RPG ILE and /FREE-FORMAT. Obviously, depending on your database decisions, the size of the code can range from simple refactoring to major rewrites if you are moving to a truly web-enabled model. Changing OPM (Original Program Model) code to an ILE (Integrated Language Environment) can include light code refactoring. This action merely upgrades old legacy code to use the new syntax, but the functions are still the same, to heavy refactoring that means a complete rewrite and often a different method of execution.

Consider Software Change Management and the way you are going to handle the code changes. Also, consider the way data layouts change and the way your programs handle them. Passing parameters that have altered type from good old fashioned alpha characters is often something that creates problems for the developers.

The questions to ask about interface modernization

Following are the questions you need to ask about interface modernization:

Is the IBM i application going to offer IBM i Database information, through web services, to an absolutely new web-based front end?

Is the IBM i application going to function with a screen scraped, over layer, web front end?

Is the IBM i application going to get enhanced to write directly to a web-based front end presented from the IBM i Integrated Web Server for iSeries maintenance.

The modernization of AS400 has brought with it many positive changes to the operating system, but make sure that you check every step and understand the functions clearly before using it.

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