Many companies struggle with modernization efforts, like cloud, web and mobile, because their code doesn’t easily adapt to the new challenges. It may be ‘brittle’ due to coding errors referred to as technical debt. The coding language may simply not have the capabilities you need. Or your developers aren’t trained on the massive numbers of languages, technologies, operating systems, etc., needed to create the new capabilities you seek. Perhaps your development framework is ‘old school’ and doesn’t provide what you need. There is a better way.
Architected rapid application development (ARAD) arose from object-oriented analysis and design tools. Frameworks based on ARAD use models, patterns and source artifacts to generate applications and enhancements which make development a great deal easier. You can readily build graphical user interfaces (GUIs), web pages and mobile apps with the right ARAD framework without having to know the complexities underneath such as Java, HTML5, CSS or other enablers. Architects can use existing templates or build their own, which can be easily shared with other programmers. These tools generate as much as 80% of native code, so building a new application is quicker and easier. It’s also less risky – ARAD code is much less likely to have reliability issues. Thus, the focus can be on designing and imagining rather than coding.
Many shops have already discovered the benefits and are rolling out new web and mobile applications quicker than ever before, delighting employees and customers alike. Two case studies are available on the CM First website. The first is Hapimag, a European provider of vacation planning tools. Web-based already, they sought to offer customers a mobile capability that fit the demands of their frequent travelers. The second success is United Heritage, an insurance company. They wanted to give their agents the ability to dynamically build options for customers wherever they met them, on any handheld device. Many people have discovered that using an ARAD makes all the difference, offering the must-have features they need quickly.
CA Plex is an ARAD framework that many people are using. With this environment, you can create, integrate and maintain business applications on various platforms. Applications could be developed in a Windows environment and then deployed in a .NET, Java or System i environment. One set of skills translates into a much wider range of capabilities with this framework. When you add in CM WebClient, developing web and mobile apps from legacy code is much quicker and easier. Existing staff is empowered to step up to this challenge, without a lot of retraining and education.
Many analysts believe that in the future, most development will be done this way. In an article in Computerworld, one quote compared ARAD tools to outsourcing internally, like having ‘Bangalore in a box.’ [1] Others value the quick ROI. Everyone notes the increased availability of the generated code.
But what if you run CA 2E and don’t have these capabilities? If this is the future you see for your company, CM First offers services to move your applications from CA 2E to CA Plex. Referred to as ‘future-proofing’ CA 2E, CM First can preserve your CA 2E model design, while moving your business logic to CA Plex. Once you’re on CA Plex, the learning curve is very brief; you will soon find yourselves meeting and beating project deadlines with quality code that gives your business the competitive edge they desire.
[1] Havenstein, Heather, Computerworld, 1/10/05, Fast-Moving Development: ARAD tools can cut costs
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