Enterprise Generation Language
Enterprise Generation Language , or EGL , is a 4th generation programming language that was originally developed in the 1980s. IBM created EGL to help procedural programmers , especially those with RPG and COBOL experience, to help them understand the concepts and uses of object-oriented programming .
EGL is perhaps best known as a function within the IBM WebSphere Studio Enterprise Developer, which provides mainframe- oriented tools based on the Eclipse development environment .
Many companies face very high costs when it comes to maintaining their legacy systems (COBOL, RPG, Natural, etc.). Knowledge of one's own system, some of which has grown over decades, is also endangered by the loss of employees (pensions). Here it is possible to migrate the legacy systems into an EGL-based environment that is easier to maintain, from which it can then be transformed into a “modern” language ( Java , C ++ etc.). Maintenance takes place exclusively at EGL level, so that only a small amount of training measures are required.
According to the manufacturer, the costs of the migration and the necessary training are in a very small relationship to the maintenance costs of the systems.
EGL applications and services are written, tested, and debugged at the EGL source code level . When they are functionally tested to a satisfactory degree, they can be compiled in COBOL, Java or JavaScript code to support the use of business applications that can run in any of the following environments:
- Microsoft Windows , Linux , UNIX with JVM , for example in the environment of a Java EE servlet container (IBM WebSphere Application Server, Apache Tomcat , GlassFish )
- IBM System z : CICS Transaction Server, IMS , z / OS Batch, UNIX System Services, WebSphere Application Server, z / VSE , Linux
- IBM System i : IBM i5 / OS, IBM WebSphere Application Server
- Internet Explorer , Firefox , Safari - web browser for Ajax Rich Web applications
EGL
In December 2008, IBM introduced a new technology called EGL Rich UI to simplify the creation of rich Internet applications . This technology simplifies development by hiding the complexities of Ajax , JavaScript , Rest and SOAP from developers, allowing them to focus on the technologies needed for the business and not be distracted by the underlying technologies. Since the introduction of EGL Rich UI, JSF has not been maintained as the previously used interface technology and is still in the now outdated version JSF 1.2. Further integration of JSF and facelets in EGL will not take place, according to IBM, and all RFEs (Request for Enhancement) on this topic have meanwhile been rejected.
Open source
IBM announced in June 2010 that they would release the EGL code as open source . IBM opens the EGL language, the compiler , the generators for Java and JavaScript , and also the EGL tools . IBM hopes to expand the range of the language by opening it up as open source. EGL is to be further developed as an Eclipse project in cooperation with the Eclipse Foundation . Eclipse was chosen as the home for the EGL Open Source project because the EGL tools are already built on Eclipse and EGL interacts with other Eclipse technologies, namely with such as BIRT (Business Intelligence and Reporting Tools), web tools and data tools.
IBM Rational Business Developer
Rational Business Developer (RBD) is an integrated development environment and, at the same time, reference implementation for the EGL programming language, which "understands itself both as a language and as a development environment". Up to version 6, the Eclipse plug-in was developed as a defining component of EGL, which is based on the Eclipse platform , and distributed as part of the Rational Developer product range from IBM, including the " Rational Application Developer for WebSphere Software". From version 7 the product is marketed as an independent "Rational Business Developer".
The development environment was developed by the IBM Rational Software department , which provides Eclipse- based utilities for developing cross-platform applications and services that use the EGL programming language.
Companies use EGL and the Rational Business Developer to transfer business applications from older languages such as RPG or COBOL into EGL projects, which can then be translated into Java applications, for example.
The Rational Business Developer enables the development of browser-based applications, business services, applications with a graphical user interface , batch applications and reports that can read and modify data stored in the various relational databases and file systems that can be found on the supported target platforms are.
Individual evidence
- ↑ https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/community/forums/html/topic?id=77777777-0000-0000-0000-000014792762
- ↑ IBM EGL business language moves to open source ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Rational Business Developer product page at IBM (German)
- ↑ a b Consolidate legacy applications with IBM's Enterprise Generation Language EGL ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ MC Press: IBM Announces Rational Business Developer V8.0.1 (English)
literature
- IBM Rational Business Developer with EGL, ISBN 978-1-58347-066-4 . (English)