Innovation and the Next Generation of COBOL Applications
Alwyn Royall | Solutions Consulting
Scot Nielsen | Product Manager
Application modernization encompasses many needs
DATAWeb Services
Web services and COBOL
Mature software architecture, supported by diverse software tooling
Easily integrate with other programming languages/systems
Add mobile services to your application
Build your ‘API Economy’
“Web Services offers a rapid approach to extending COBOL application logic to new use cases”
Web Services are stateless
Web Services using Managed Code
C#/VB/Java/COBOL
Web Services using Micro Focus SOA
Define web service using Interface Mapping Toolkit Web Services hosted
within Micro Focus Enterprise Server
Deploy
COBOL program provides web
service functionality
Design
COBOLProgram
COBOLProgramCOBOL
Program
CICS IMS
JCL PL/I
The Demo AppA car allowance mileage log
The Trip Log Application
Purpose:• Collate my business mileage
claims• Calculate my tax rate based on
total mileage claimed• Helps me become ‘tax efficient’
How it works:• Trips entered using
postcode • Rate tables held internally• Distances held on look up
ISAM file• Classic green-screen app in
need of a facelift
Wrapping up
• Web Services• an industry standard approach to extending application value
- well suited to COBOL apps• Inherently a stateless architecture - but REST helps• Multiple web service frameworks to choose from - JVM, .NET
or Micro Focus SOA and the IMTK• We created a COBOL Web Service, Javascript, .NET client,
Android and WPF demos
• What existing application logic can you offer to your clients?
#MFSummit
