A wise man once said " only an idiot would junk a working application". The fact is there is a high failure rate converting mainframe applications. Even simple (in theory) conversions like moving to SAP fail to meet the project targets, usually going over budget. Migrations are another story. If you can just move the code and use copycat middleware it's a lot simpler.
Peter is spot on. If you're lucky enough to have an application designed with separation of concerns the world is your oyster. You could put a web services REST API layer in place and the clients could be written in any language running in any environment, browser, mobile app etc. On 07/01/2014, at 6:56 AM, Mitch <[email protected]> wrote: > Peter (et al): > > I have only one comment in regards to your thoughts (below). when you say > projects to move off the mainframe have a high rate of failure, it depends on > how it is done. One of the vendors I work with has superior success rates in > regards to conversion/migration from a mainframe to an LUW environment. > > Regards, > > Mitch > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Farley, Peter x23353 <[email protected]> > To: IBM-MAIN <[email protected]> > Sent: Mon, Jan 6, 2014 2:51 pm > Subject: Re: Innovating an old IMS 3270-based application > > > As usual, it depends on how far forward the original "monster application' > esigners looked (or not...). If the core business logic is separated from > the > presentation layer" (i.e., if the business logic is well separated from the > 270 screen processing logic), it might be possible to directly re-engineer it > ith an HTML layer in place of the 3270 layer. > If the screen-handling and the business logic are tightly woven together, not > so > asy at all. > I have no experience at all with IMS applications, much less with interfacing > hem to web browsers, but if the "business function" is well separated from > the > user interaction" parts, it should be possible. > Such projects are never easy, though. Sometimes, unfortunately, the best > ecision (financially and time-wise) is to start over from scratch. For a > staff > ith limited z/OS skills, that could result in a project to move completely > off > f z/OS. Those kinds of projects have a very high rate of failure. > One other possibility is the use of one of the several "3270-to-browser" > onversion products I think are out there, which (if I understand the > functions > rovided) take your 3270 screen inputs and outputs and convert them back and > orth in a web browser. Not pretty, and almost certainly affects round-trip > ime from "enter" to results screen, but supposedly quite functional. > All I can say is good luck. You're going to need it. > Peter > -----Original Message----- > rom: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[email protected]] On > Behalf > f Sanya Off > ent: Monday, January 06, 2014 4:56 PM > o: [email protected] > ubject: Innovating an old IMS 3270-based application > Folks, > I wonder if some of you may share the experience and opinions with regards > o approaching a grand task of making an old IMS-based monster application > ore friendlier to users and developers: > - users want web-based access; > - developers are limited in their skills (particularly, z/OS skills) > Specifically, I think of using MQ to intercept/separate 3270-bound flow... > ny advice? > I'd be grateful... > A.I. > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > or IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, > end email to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN > This message and any attachments are intended only for the use of the > addressee > nd may contain information that is privileged and confidential. If the reader > f the message is not the intended recipient or an authorized representative > of > he intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination of this > ommunication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication > in > rror, please notify us immediately by e-mail and delete the message and any > ttachments from your system. > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > or IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, > end email to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, > send email to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
