BluePhoenix Announces New LanguageMigrator Code Conversion Tool for PowerBuilder to Java
New Tool Helps Migrate From Legacy PowerBuilder Applications to Modern Java Solutions
BluePhoenix Solutions (Nasdaq:BPHX), the leader in Enterprise IT Modernization, has announced the release of its newest automated code generator for Fourth Generation programming languages (4GL). BluePhoenix™ LanguageMigrator for PowerBuilder is the firm's fifth 4GL language supported by its automated code generator developed for converting both mainframe and client server applications away from old 4GL languages and proprietary development environments. LanguageMigrator for PowerBuilder helps companies migrate from legacy PowerBuilder applications to a modern Java solution.
The announcement further establishes BluePhoenix as a leader in 4GL migration with capabilities in five legacy 4GL languages: Natural, ADSO, Mantis, COOL:Gen, and now PowerBuilder. The company made its announcement at the Gartner Symposium/ITxpo, running Oct. 31 through Nov. 4 at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes. BluePhoenix is now accepting proof of concept assignments for PowerBuilder migrations.
"Providing up-to-date Web-based information is an absolute requirement today," said Ted Venema, senior vice president of product management for BluePhoenix, "but thousands of companies are trapped by these old mainframe and client server 4GL environments. With LanguageMigrator, we can perform automated, cost-effective migrations while minimizing downtime, retaining the content of the original code, and providing a potential career path for current programmers by learning and maintaining the new Java applications. These are huge factors in deciding to migrate away from PowerBuilder or any of these legacy languages."
According to BluePhoenix, the factors driving firms to consider the change away from 4GL languages are threefold: licensing cost, fewer programmers with the right skills, and the need to downsize and consolidate the IT platform to take advantage of new Web-based technologies. Industry research firm Gartner has said that while PowerBuilder applications continue to decline, it expects Java to remain one of the fastest-growing languages with 2.5 million professional Java developers worldwide by 2006, up from just 1.5 million in 2002. (Leading Programming Languages for IT Portfolio Planning, J. Feiman, M. Driver, 27 Sept. 2002).
"Companies are paying as much as 20 percent in license fees every year just to maintain the 4GL software and keep it current," Venema said. "despite the fact that many have already decided against any further upgrades. There's really very little future in these old legacy languages. Some are 20 or 30 years old and the growing problem now is finding and keeping programmers with the skills to keep the software running."
LanguageMigrator for PowerBuilder is designed to provide an end-to-end solution from analyzing the source code and identifying external resources used to combine source migration with third party routines creating a target application ready for acceptance tests. The converted code is supplied with a Java open source library to implement PowerBuilder specific system functions using 100% Java code, thus speeding the adoption of Java and accelerating the development of future Java applications.
LanguageMigrator for PowerBuilder, scheduled for a May 2005 release, supports all versions of PowerBuilder up through PowerBuilder 10. Target environments include Microsoft Windows 2000, ME, and XP as well as UNIX, and LINUX. Supported databases include Microsoft SQL Server, UDB, Sybase, and Oracle. The target Java version is J2EE 1.5.
Source: press release
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