Enterprise organisations are under increasing pressure to modernise their applications and take them beyond the scope and capabilities of their existing tools.
It is easy to see though, why there may be a reluctance to move ahead with modernisation projects: The expense and disruption of implementing new systems, the fear of discarding decades of investment in existing code, combined with the fact that legacy systems like CA 2E are rich, powerful and successful systems in their own right.
By converting your existing CA 2E (Synon) Code to Java with a solution like Fresche’s X-2E, you’re able to efficiently make use of current resources and take advantage of existing code, while modernising to a powerful and stable solution which is able to support your business.
How to convert CA 2E (Synon) Code to Java on IBM i with Fresche X-2E
Direct conversion from one language syntax to another does not a legacy programme modernisation make.
Though it sounds like a simple answer to the question of modernising your CA2E Synon code, there is a process you have to follow if you want to have a successful migration to Java. With the use of Fresche’s tools, you are able to automate the conversion of existing data and program objects into a fully relational database and Java objects.
By tuning the tools you use to fit your existing code, you can maximise the effectiveness of an automated system to convert the legacy patterns and practices set up by the original authors of the application. This is done in an iterative manner, by repeatedly running the code through a converter, and verifying the output for pattern-based optimisation opportunities
Fresche includes four key steps in their conversion process:
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Understand & extract legacy artefacts using X-2E analysis
The first step you’ll want to take is to use X-2E Analysis to extract and analyse your existing CA 2E code. Using X-2E Analysis, you are able to get a rich understanding of your legacy applications. In this way, you will have an excellent base for efficient and effective design recovery, system documentation and analysis, and forward-engineering.
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Transform & migrate the database
Fresche’s database modernisation solution is built on the X-2E Analysis product platform. By leveraging the data model produced by X-2E Analysis in the first phase, you are able to confidently migrate the database. The solution is highly configurable and handles the unique problems presented by IBM i DDS and DDL databases.
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Transform into the knowledge discovery metamodel (KDM)
The KDM ensures interoperability between tools, for maintenance, evolution, assessment and modernisation purposes. The metamodel can be viewed as an ontology for describing the
key aspects of knowledge related to the various facets of an enterprise application. -
Generate the code using X-2E modernise
Once the KDM representation of the system has reached the desired state, you can generate the target application source code. After repeating the cycle of KDM to code generation throughout the early stages of your modernisation project in a “tool tuning” stage, the resulting Java source code may still require some manual tweaking by the Fresche modernisation specialists to get the perfect result.
By using Fresche X-2E to Convert Synon Code to Java, you can preserve your systems whilst modernising your code to suit today’s business demands. Learn more and download the whitepaper here.
Posted by Paul on 28th November 2019.