1. Advantages of EGL For I4GL Development
Informix User Forum Moving Forward With Informix
Advantages of EGL For I4GL Development
Jin Zhang
Software Development Manager, IBM
Atlanta, Georgia December 8-9, 2005

2. Agenda Business Problem, Solution Application Development With EGL
Console User Interface
EGL UI Development
EGL Report Handling
EGL Language And Data Model
EGL and SOA
Moving To The Web
Questions

3. The Informix Customer Dilemma
What to do with existing applications?
Continue to maintain = skills, tools, processes proliferation
Hard to reuse in new applications (Web Services)
Complexity: New application technology is inherently more complex
Many disjointed moving parts, more complex design
Need access to new platforms, data, connectivity
A more disciplined well managed approach to development is imperative
Skills: I4GL developers do not have the right skills to jump to the new application technology
Significant retraining, prohibitive costs

4. The Rational Solution What to do with existing applications?
Convert into EGL and breath new life into valuable code
Ready-made Java and J2EE, SOA integration
Can maintain using world class IDE
Consolidate all development activities on same single integrated workbench
Complexity: New applications are inherently more complex
Rational tools simplify development of modern applications
Support TUI, GUI, Web, Portals, many platforms, many databases, Messaging and Queuing, SOA etc
Rational platform optimized to design, develop, test and manage complex systems promoting use of software development best practices
Skills: I4GL developers do not have the right skills
EGL is easy to learn and can be mastered in a few weeks
No development paradigm shift required
Powerful , productive, and modern

5. What is Enterprise Generation Language (EGL)?
Procedural Language for Business-Oriented Application Development
Familiar to procedural language developers (SQL, COBOL, RPG, 4GL)
Simplified programming (high abstraction polymorphic verbs)
Data access, transaction, session handling, middleware interaction
Business problem focus rather than on complex software technologies
Hide the details of middleware and Java/J2EE
Easily create applications using EGL tools bypassing the Java/J2EE/OO learning curve
EGL code generates to Java code or COBOL
Debugger for EGL source
Integrated with Rational Software Development Platform
RWD, RAD, RSA, JSF, Eclipse etc

6. Why should one move to EGL?
Continued support of Informix 4GL type of development
Support for Informix IDS, DB2 and other databases
Support for Windows platforms
A single development environment:
supporting EGL, Java, COBOL and Web application development
to maintain and enhance existing TUI applications
The WebSphere tooling family includes (or will include) full support for mainframe COBOL development, Web site creation and maintenance, Web Application Development and now, character based application development. A single development environment for a company’s development effort is a very desirable thing.
Standard curses library will allow much better color support (more colors, bold, reverse video, etc).
Better locale and MBCS support as provided by OS vendors.

7. Why should one move to EGL?
Many legacy I4GL constructs can also be deployed as host (z and i-series) applications
Enhanced reporting capabilities
Future enhancements (Model driven development, GUI)
Mature, field-tested I4GL business logic can be used within new web applications
Standard “curses” library will allow much better color support in character applications

8. Application development with EGL
EGL Program
Similar to an I4GL file that has the MAIN function
Identifies the entry point to run the application
EGL Library/Service
Similar to any other I4GL module/file that provides other functions for use
The functions can be accessed by other libraries/programs
The functions can be explicitly called using the library identifiers as a prefix
EGL page handler
Logic that contains web page handling
Can use functions in other libraries for business logic

9. Application development with EGL
EGL Report Handler
File that contains reporting functions to be used as callbacks
EGL build descriptor
Sets up properties for generation
Database connections
User id/password
Project properties
Generates Java code based on the settings
EGL Resource Association
Attach a name to a resource
MQ/ File I/O etc

10. Console User Interface
The Console UI is a set of EGL language elements and runtime libraries that provide a “curses”-style interface for EGL users to develop applications
The Console UI was [primarily] developed to provide a migration path from Informix I4GL to EGL
Provisions are made in the language to support
Line mode (command line) interactions
Display statements (in various flavors….)
Windows
Menus
Forms
Implemented to use Java Swing and Unix curses

11. Console User Interface (cont…)
The Console UI operates (for the most part) on types and structures that have been created by EGL programmers
Console UI objects generate “events” which allows EGL programmers to control the runtime behavior based on user interaction
The Console UI runtime has been designed to
look the same as I4GL
behave the same as I4GL
Look-n-feel compatibility is crucial to the success of the I4GL to EGL migration effort
For c/i4gl programmers, this is a different model.
Note that the primary reason for ConsoleUI is to provide an I4GL to EGL migration path, hence the focus on look and feel compatibility.

12. EGL UI Development
EGL
Unix Curses
Console UI Library
Java Swing

13. EGL UI Development Some details…
Form layout using predefined Record type (ConsoleForm)
Window, Form, menu and prompt are predefined types
A single statement can interact with the different components
Statement attributes determine what action needs to be performed (input/display/construct etc)
Event handling to handle form, field and key events

14. I4GL to EGL syntax mapping
Windows, Menus, Prompts, and Forms have become types in EGL
The EGL statement “openUI” controls the behavior of menus, prompts, and forms
The openUI statement can catch “events” that can be thrown by any object it can open
After/before field, after/before row, on key, menu Action, etc…
I4GL prompt, construct, menu, input, and input array become various incarnations of openUI
In I4GL menus, prompts, input, etc.. .were *statements*. In EGL, these have become objects with the openUI statement controlling the behavior.
NOTE that OPENUI has its own two special events - before openUI and after openUI.

15. EGL Report Handling Capable of generating complex reports Uses Jasper
Works with a design document
Can be exported to different formats (PDF, HTML, XML)
EGL statements to interact with reports

16. Users view of EGL report runtime
Calls
Jasper Report Or Jasper Design template
EGL Report Library
Calls
Starts
Data passing
EGL Application
EGL Report Handler
Report handler can call methods and use resource of EGL application

17. Data Source in EGL for Jasper
Jasper Report
EGL Dynamic Array of Records
SQL statement
Connection
Database
EGL Report Library

18. EGL Report artifacts Optional Compilation
EGL report driving program, a.egl file
Jasper Report XML template, b.jrxml file
EGL report handler, c.egl file
Compilation
EGL report driving program, a.java file
EGL report driving program, b.jasper file
EGL report driving program, c.java file
EGL report driving program, c_lib.java file

19. EGL – Language Example Procedural Linear Traditional
EGL enables an extremely simplified approach to developing business logic and access to enterprise resources. Procedural familiar language constructs can be learned quickly and used for defining business rules.
EGL comes with a powerful data abstraction model that allows to define universal data validation and data attributes, which are always automatically applied for each use of the data in any application. The data abstraction model is such that a single simple statement in EGL replaces the need to code complex sets of data middleware programming stetements, both for relational databases as well as file systems. Similarly, message oriented middleware such as MQ Series can be interfaced using a similar data abstraction, reducing the need to learn messaging and queueing programming. If access to existing programs, wether local or residing on remote systems, is required, a simple EGL CALL protocol shields developers from the programming complexities of the required connectivity middleware.
The EGL specification is seamlessly integrated with the JSF web development RAD facilites, so that a full end-to-end web system can be fully implemented without the need to learn any Java programming.
It is clear that with EGL developers can become productive very quickly.

20. EGL Data Access Verbs “Record” abstracts access to: Relational data
SQL MQ
DL/I
XML
Serial
Indexed
Relative
EGL Record
* - future
Add
Get
Replace
Delete
Commit
“Record” abstracts access to:
Relational data
MQ messages
Indexed, Relative, Serial data
DL/I (v6.0)
Common verbs for data access/unit of work management
Add, Get, Replace, Delete, Commit
I/O errors handled in a common fashion - across disparate data types
Data format conversions handled automatically

21. EGL Business Logic Development : Create Page Handler and Service
Contain functions and data related to a .jsp
“On Page Load” function
Declare data structures that are available to “Page Designer”
Functions bound to command buttons
Should be mostly “Controller Logic”
Service
Multiple entry points
Put “Business Logic” in here for EGL Apps
Local or Remote Service Including Web Service Creation
Interfaces to Represent External Web Service Methods
Invoke server programs through a simple CALL statement From a Service
Contain “Black-Box” EGL functions
generally related in some way
Example: “Data Access Service”
SQL Record definition
All basic CRUD functions
SearchGoogle.egl
Call “GoogleSearch”
Service
SearchGoogle.jsp
GoogleSearch.egl

22. What Applications can be developed in EGL?
Internet (Web) applications – standalone, remote calls to legacy business logic …
Web Services – EGL Service, full Web Service, SOA
Create and Consume Web Services with Wizards
Database applications (CRUDs)
DB2, Oracle, VSAM, IMS, Informix, Cloudscape, sequential files…
Callable programs from traditional Java clients
Standalone batch and reporting applications
Standalone green-screen (TUI) applications
For i5oS, OS390, VSE, z/OS, Linux, AIX, Windows, Unix

23. Where can EGL Applications be Deployed?
program/library/service
Code Repository
zSeries
Windows/Linux
AIX, HP, Solaris
iSeries
WAS
Used In:
Native (Java)
RWD/RAD
Other App Servers
WAS
Language
Editors
Wizards
Tools
Debugger
Java Generation/RT
USS
Linux/z
CICS
WAS
COBOL Generation option
Batch
Native (Java)
IMS
DB2
IDS
Oracle
IMS/DLI
VSAM MQ
Native (COBOL)

24. EGL AND SOA

25. SOA Support In EGL Ability to create and consume web service artifacts
Simple and Intuitive Programming Model
Wizard Driven Development
Easy Testing of Generated WSDL Through Web Service Explorer

26. SOA Support In EGL Consuming External Web Services
Ability to Consume External WSDL Files to Create EGL Artifacts
All Necessary Interfaces Generated From the WSDL File
Communication Protocols Automatically Created In Service Binding Library (From WSDL)
Complex Types Automatically Created From WSDL File Content
Both EGL and External Web Service Creation Possible

27. SOA Support In EGL Creating Services With EGL
EGL web service has Access to All EGL Capabilities
WSDL file, and Necessary Classes Automatically Generated From Service
Menu Option on Right Click of Service Artifact Allows Creation of Service Binding Library (The Client)
EGL Generated Code Leverages Built In Web Service Support In Websphere Application Server

28. Moving To The Web

29. Rapid Development with JSF and EGL
User Interface
Control Logic
Business Logic
Enterprise Information Connection
Web Services
Business Process Integration
JSF RAD tools virtually eliminates
complex error prone manual coding
Point and click Web presentations
Control Logic and Navigation automation
Rich UI components
No-code input validation
Rapid development of Web applications is enabled by the fusion and synergy between a set of Java Server Faces JSF tools and EGL.
Java Server Faces is an emerging J2EE standard that defines a User Interface Component Model and a web application framework. The specification comes with a set of standard components (the typical standard widgets as you would expect to be able to create typical User Interfaces.. Buttons, text, entry fields etc) but also allows creation of additional components, and Websphere Studio delivers some powerful ones, called Faces Client Components, which enrich your applications with rich GUI like functionality with zero programming.
The framework manages the entire request/response cycle automatically, applying all event handling, validations, components state and navigation. The use of JSF can really simplify the job of web application developers, but as usual, if there are no tools, no matter how powerful the JSF specification and reference implementaiton are, writing JSF compliant applications can still be laborious and error prone: you would have to manually define JSP with tags referencing the JSF components that you want in each page, you would have to manually code the event definitions and associate event handlers, you would have to manually define the validation and the navigation sequence. WebSphere Studio comes with an extremely easy to use approach to doing all these thing using an intuitive integration of JSF constructs with the Java Server Pages visual builder. The JSF tools make the binding of data from JSF pages to EGL data access and logic absolutely a snap with virtually no manual coding.

30. Rapid Development with JSF and EGL
User Interface
Control Logic
Business Logic
Enterprise Information Connection
Web Services
Business Process Integration
EGL simplifies business logic and shields from
complexities of data access (Databases, Files,
Message Queues) and legacy integration
High level simple I/O verbs insulate from coding data access APIs
Procedural easy to learn language
Simple CALL interface to existing programs insulates from connectivity APIs
EGL enables an extremely simplified approach to developing business logic and access to enterprise resources. Procedural familiar language constructs can be learned quickly and used for defining business rules.
EGL comes with a powerful data abstraction model that allows to define universal data validation and data attributes, which are always automatically applied for each use of the data in any application. The data abstraction model is such that a single simple statement in EGL replaces the need to code complex sets of data middleware programming stetements, both for relational databases as well as file systems. Similarly, message oriented middleware such as MQ Series can be interfaced using a similar data abstraction, reducing the need to learn messaging and queueing programming. If access to existing programs, wether local or residing on remote systems, is required, a simple EGL CALL protocol shields developers from the programming complexities of the required connectivity middleware.
The EGL specification is seamlessly integrated with the JSF web development RAD facilites, so that a full end-to-end web system can be fully implemented without the need to learn any Java programming.
It is clear that with EGL developers can become productive very quickly.

31. Web Site Structure and Navigation
Web Site Development Tool for creating, managing, and building entire web sites
Useful for working with a collection of web pages which make up a website
Key Benefits:
Easily visualize (and manipulate) the structure of a web site
Maintain a consistent look and feel of a website
Generated Navigation Bar
Web Site Structure
Detail Page Information
D&D to apply page template. List of available page templates with navigation controls

32. Styles and Themes
CSS Source view editing features, including syntax highlighting, unlimited undo and redo, content assist, element selection, and pop-up menu options.
The Preview pane shows you how the currently defined styles are likely to look when viewed in a Web browser.
Style sheet gallery allows to select, preview and apply one of many pre-built CSS.
Ability to view, edit and add new styles to the style sheet.
Design and Apply Style Sheet for Consistent Look and Feel
Visual Design and Preview Capabilities
Support for W3C CSS Standards (CSS1, CSS2 and CSS Mobile Profile, WAP CSS 1.0)
Automatic design time update to pages in page designer
Visual and Source view synchronization
Import existing style sheets.

33. Page Templates and Fragments
Page Template Designer. Design, Preview, Synchronize changes.
Used to easily define a consistent layout/design for a set of pages
Changing a template will automatically update all pages using the template
Two types of content:
Content Area: Only area which can be modified by pages based off the template
Page Fragments: Includes part of a page from another page (not modifiable)
Page Designer is used to create page templates (*.jptl)
Ready to use sample page templates (50) for rapid prototyping.

34. Dynamic Page Design and Preview
Simplified Navigator hides the complexity of J2EE
Construct pages by dragging and dropping rich web components from a customizable Palette
Construct pages by dragging and dropping rich web components from a customizable Palette
The Data View lets you configure and drag and drop data to automatically create a data bound UI
Page templates separate out common page elements in a single template file
The Quick Edit View allows scripting of client or server side events in Java or Java Script.
Code assist writes the code for you!
Property views allow easy customization of the selected component
Web Application Development is Drag and Drop Simple!
Rapid UI Creation
Integrated with EGL Records
Instant binding of UI to Data
Quick Server/Client side event scripting (with Java Server Faces)

35. You can use this chart to show that the formal presentation is finished and to open up a Question and Answer session.

36. Advantages of EGL For I4GL Development
Informix User Forum Moving Forward With Informix
Advantages of EGL For I4GL Development
Jin Zhang
Atlanta, Georgia December 8-9, 2005