SoftLanding Europe iSeries Web Development with WebSmart

IBM selects WebSmart for the Better Tools and Better Portability categories -- giving iSeries users more reasons to choose WebSmart for Strategic Web Development

Chicago, IL . January 18, 2005 - Unfold the new edition of IBM’s iSeries Developer Roadmap and you will see that IBM has added one important path to follow: BCD’s WebSmart. IBM has found what nearly one thousand iSeries organizations have already discovered -- WebSmart is a quality Web Application Development Tool. WebSmart is BCD’s iSeries - i5, and multi-platform Web development and deployment tool that lets developers create new web apps, and extend existing RPG apps to the web. Now utilizing WebSmart’s RDW - RPG and DDS to Web Conversion tool, users can also convert existing programs or logic to the web. WebSmart has earned a reputation for being an easy-to-use and affordable alternative to other products including WebSphere.

The iSeries Developer Roadmap categorizes qualified and approved solutions from IBM and ISV’s into five categories. These categories are: Better Tools, Better User Interface, Better Architecture, Better Portability and Better Scalability. WebSmart is included under Better Tools, and Better Portability. IBM allows a tool to be listed in no more than two category listings. Eric Figura, BCD’s Sales Director, said "BCD is pleased that IBM has seen the value of WebSmart and has added it to the Better Tools and Better Portability categories of the Roadmap. If not for the two category limit, I believe WebSmart would also be listed in Better Architecture as well. WebSmart’s addition to the Roadmap should give iSeries - i5 shops even more confidence to see for themselves the many advantages WebSmart and BCD have to offer".

Better Tools

The ‘Better Tools’ category addresses modernization, which is a key tenet of the Roadmap. Industry analysts say that most development on the iSeries still revolves around green-screen applications, and tools such as Programming Development Manager, Source Entry Utility, and Screen Design Aid. Updating applications to encompass web functionality requires the use of new tools other than PDM, SEU, and SDA: tools that help RPG developers expand their skills to create new or extend existing apps for the web. WebSmart personifies the notion of ‘Better Tools’, and offers templates, wizards, and other time saving conveniences to streamline the development of browser-based applications. Web applications that are developed with WebSmart are often completed in minutes, hours and days, not many months, as is the case with some other methods.

Better Portability

‘Better Portability’ involves moving the development of business logic from traditional languages to Java. WebSmart’s Interactive Development Environment (IDE) produces common executables in either Java or ILE RPG/CGI. With a single development effort, applications can be deployed on iSeries, Windows, Linux or UNIX machines. WebSmart developed applications run on all mainstream servers including standard HTTP, HTTP powered by Apache, Tomcat and WebSphere. WebSphere server is not needed at all to run WebSmart created applications. As organizations grow and shift, ‘Better Portability’ plays a big role and WebSmart developed applications can adapt.

In talking about WebSmart and the roadmap, Industry Expert, Doug Fulmer IBM WW Sales Exec, iSeries e-business Infrastructure said the following during The Challenges of Web Development in the 21st Century on the iSeries Webcast held during the RPG and Beyond Web Conference.

"WebSmart overlays the central part of the [iSeries Developers] roadmap which, quite frankly, 75-80% of our install base is exactly at that point in the roadmap".

Figura said, "We are pleased IBM has recognized WebSmart as a member of the iSeries Developers Roadmap. Actions like this can only help strengthen the platform by letting iSeries – i5 users know that there are other choices to consider that have become very successful. Anything you want to accomplish on the web you can with an iSeries – i5 and WebSmart".

For More Information ...

Visit the WebSmart pages on BCD’s Website developer site or contact us to arrange an evaluation, demonstration, or to discuss your exact requirements in more detail.