IBM United States
Software Announcement 202-126
June 4, 2002

IBM WebSphere Development Studio for IBM eServer iSeries V5R1 Refreshed With New WebSphere Studio Workstation Tools

 ENUS202-126.PDF (50KB)


At a Glance

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New WebSphere Studio workstation tools include:

  • WebSphere Studio Site Developer Advanced V4.0.3, Plus
    • iSeries-specific enhancements for Java development
    • iSeries-specific enhancements for Web development
    • IBM WebFacing Tool for Web-enabling 5250 applications
    • Integrated workstation-based iSeries development tools include Remote System Explorer/Remote System Framework and JLpex editor
    • Web Services tools
    • Database tools
    • XML development tools
  • CODE — Classic version
  • VisualAge® RPG — Classic version
  • Distributed Debugger — Classic version

The following host tools remain at the current V5R1 level.

  • ILE RPG
  • ILE COBOL
  • ILE C
  • ILE C++
  • Application Development ToolSet

For ordering, contact:

Your IBM representative, an IBM Business Partner, or IBM Americas Call Centers at 800-IBM-CALL (Reference: AE001).

Overview

WebSphere® Development Studio for iSeries V5R1 is refreshed. This refresh updates the workstation development tools from WebSphere Development Tools for iSeries V5R1 to WebSphere Development Studio Client for iSeries V4 (Development Studio Client).

Development Studio Client integrates the key iSeries workstation development tools to IBM's Eclipse-based Integrated Development Environment (IDE), WebSphere Studio Workbench.

This new IDE provides the infrastructure to integrate IBM and non-IBM development tools and facilitate their near seamless interoperation.

The introduction of WebSphere Studio Workbench and the WebSphere Studio family of products is a significant advancement in AD tools.

Key features of WebSphere Development Studio for iSeries:

  • Consolidates all the key AD tools for traditional host and e-business development into one attractively priced iSeries product.
  • Delivers IBM award winning Java™ and Web development tools with enhanced functions targeted specifically to increase iSeries development productivity.
  • Introduces the IBM WebFacing Tool, which can be used to quickly, easily and cost effectively move a 5250 application to a browser interface.
  • You can now order all the host and workstation components with only one iSeries product number (5722-WDS). This is a no-charge upgrade for iSeries customers of the AD tools who have a software subscription.

For existing WebSphere Development Studio for iSeries customers with software subscriptions, this refresh is a no-charge upgrade. See the Ordering Information section for instructions for ordering.

For WebSphere Development Studio Client for iSeries V4 information, refer to Software Announcement 202-126 , dated June 4, 2002 (WebSphere Development Studio Client for iSeries V4).

Key Prerequisites

Refer to the Reference Information section.

Planned Availability Date

July 5, 2002

There are no changes to the host components. The new workstation product, WebSphere Development Studio Client for iSeries, V4, is available on July 5, 2002.

Description

WebSphere Development Studio for iSeries V5R1 is tier-priced. In this refresh, only the workstation tools are refreshed. The host tools remain at their current V5R1 level. The new workstation tools, WebSphere Development Studio Client V4, is the next generation of WebSphere Development Tools for iSeries V5R1. The WebSphere Development Tools for iSeries program name is changed to WebSphere Development Studio Client for iSeries for two reasons:

  • To reinforce the connection to the iSeries host product, WebSphere Development Studio for iSeries
  • To signal the introduction of the WebSphere Studio Workbench (known as Eclipse in the Open Source version) and the WebSphere Studio family of products

WebSphere Studio Workbench

WebSphere Studio Workbench is a standards-based, cross-platform Integrated Development Environment (IDE). The Workbench infrastructure facilitates the seamless integration of all development tools, IBM and non-IBM. Tool providers can focus on delivering additional function instead of being concerned about the underlying infrastructure and integration with other tools. Products that are coded to the standards of the WebSphere Studio Workbench will work together.

WebSphere Studio Site Developer Advanced

WebSphere Studio Site Developer Advanced is one of IBM's new development environments. This set of tools merges Java and Web development tools — VisualAge for Java and WebSphere Studio. As new development roles evolve, developers are required to learn multiple tools with unique user interfaces, unique access methods, and unique extensions. The introduction of IBM's new tools provides a consistent user interface, a consistent set of access methods, and a comprehensive set of extensions.

IBM delivers development tools based on the WebSphere Studio Workbench. Development Studio Client is one of these suites of tools. Many iSeries unique enhancements are included in Development Studio Client.

Development partners in the iSeries Tools Network program are invited to integrate their tools to this new IDE. All the components of the new IDE will share the same look and feel. As a result, transition between the tools will capitalize on learned skills and techniques. All functions added to the base IDE by IBM or non-IBM tools will conform to the same standards. This helps to preserve the investment made by developers in learning these components.

Web Services

To support Web Services, IBM delivers tools to create distributed Internet based applications that are the fundamental building blocks for dynamic e-business. In Development Studio Client, Web Services tools are provided to enable the creation of Web Services components from existing iSeries programs. Wizards can be used to:

  • Create a Java Bean by "wrappering" an iSeries program
    and
  • Generate a Web Service from this Java Bean

This is an extremely easy and cost-effective method of leveraging and extending iSeries programs into Web Services. These Web services can then be sold over the Web or shared over the network between businesses.

IBM WebFacing Tool

The IBM WebFacing Tool creates a Web interface to an existing 5250 application in a development time conversion process. The conversion process typically requires little or no change to the existing iSeries program. The resulting application continues to support a green screen and will also support the Web interface. The tool creates standard JavaServer Pages (JSPs), Java beans, and servlets, based on the display file Database Description Specifications (DDS). These JSPs, Java beans and servlets should run in any application server that supports these Java components. The conversion process is simple and easy. A typical business application with one hundred screens can be converted and published to the application server for test in just a few hours.

The IBM WebFacing Tool is substantially enhanced in this release. Some of the key enhancements are:

  • More DDS keywords support
  • WebSphere Application Server V4.0 support
  • Full national language support
  • Improved authentication
  • Integration to WebSphere Studio Workbench
  • Full support of the WebSphere Application Server Test environment

The goal of the IBM WebFacing Tool is to help iSeries development shops Web-enable applications to participate in the world of e-business. The IBM WebFacing Tool has generated Web interfaces for complex and sophisticated e-business applications.

CODE

In this release, the CODE functions of editing, syntax checking, and program verification of RPG and COBOL programs are integrated into WebSphere Studio Site Developer Advanced. Over the next several releases additional CODE functions will migrate to Workbench, making the CODE capabilities another set of Web tools iSeries extensions to WebSphere Studio Site Developer Advanced. Developers can move from host development to Java and Web development in a couple of clicks of the mouse, using the same IDE.

VisualAge RPG

The classic version of VisualAge RPG is shipped with Development Studio Client.

Product Positioning

WebSphere Development Studio for iSeries V5R1 is a tier-priced, iSeries product (WDS). WDS consists of the host application development (AD) tools: ILE RPG, ILE COBOL, ILE C, ILE C++ and Application Development ToolSet (ADTS). WDS also provides entitlement to the new workstation components, WebSphere Development Studio Client for iSeries (Development Studio Client). In most shops, Development Studio Client is delivered in this manner.

The workstation tools are packaged into Development Studio Client for two reasons:

  1. To provide access to these tools for consultant and analysts who may not have their own iSeries system
  2. To provide a convenient method to keep the iSeries AD products current

As new enhancements are made to the Eclipse-based workstation products, these enhancements will be integrated into a new release of Development Studio Client.

Development Studio Client includes tools for:

  • Web and Java development
    • Site Developer Advanced plus iSeries plug-ins
  • Traditional iSeries host application development
    • CODE
  • Client/server development
    • VisualAge RPG
  • Web-enabling 5250 applications
    • IBM WebFacing Tool

Web and Java Development

Development Studio Client is based on WebSphere Studio Site Developer Advanced. Site Developer Advanced is a hybrid based on the merging of capabilities from VisualAge for Java, Professional Edition, and WebSphere Studio, Standard Edition and integration with the new WebSphere Studio Workbench. Site Developer Advanced provides a comprehensive set of tools for Web and Java development. iSeries-specific enhancements are added to these Web and Java developments tools as part of Development Studio Client. These enhancements make it easier to develop Web and Java applications for the iSeries server.

Development Studio Client satisfies the needs of most iSeries developers. However, the product does not provide support for applications requiring the use of EJBs or J2EE. For these functions, iSeries developers need to use WebSphere Studio Application Developer.

Host Development

ADTS is the traditional method for developing and maintaining Server side iSeries applications. CODE is the follow-on to ADTS. It is a Windows®-based workstation tool that offers many productivity advantages over ADTS. CODE can give developers a 15% to 30% productivity boost over using ADTS due to edit process improvements associated with the program verifier and error list window, the multilanguage, multiplatform debugger, the "What You See Is What You Get" DDS designer, and the context-sensitive help.

Client/Server Development with VisualAge RPG

VisualAge RPG allows developers to create client, client/server or applet based e-business applications with a rich, event-driven GUI using RPG. Effective intranet applications can be created with VisualAge RPG under the following conditions:

  • The client is kept as thin as possible by keeping most of the business logic on the server.
  • A high-speed intranet connection is used.

Web-Enabling Applications — IBM WebFacing Tool Versus 5250 Intercept Products

The IBM WebFacing Tool offers significant advantages over the 5250 intercept tools in terms of standards, costs, and extendibility.

Standards

The IBM WebFacing Tool creates a Web interface to an existing 5250 application by generating standard Java components: Java ServerPages (JSPs), Java Beans, and servlets. The Web interface is created in a development-time conversion step. The data created by the 5250 application is passed to Java beans and then to the JSPs at runtime. The WebSphere Application Server then ships the HTML to the browser. The Java components can be customized or extended, and executed in any application server supporting the Java standards. Typically, 5250 intercept products interpret/decompose the 5250 datastream to create the Web interface, and are tied to a proprietary, chargeable runtime environment. Customization of the Web enabled application can be accomplished using WebSphere Development Studio Client tools.

Costs

There are no additional tooling or runtime charges associated with a Web-enabled application. The IBM WebFacing Tool creates standard Java components that should run in any application server. Many 5250 intercept tools have both a development time tool charge and a runtime/usage charge. An application is Web-enabled using the IBM WebFacing Tool can support both a 5250 and Web interface concurrently.

Extendibility

The IBM WebFacing Tool creates standard Java components, JSPs, servlets, and Java beans, that can be leveraged and extended with standard Java tooling. Using the IBM WebFacing Tool is often the first step in leveraging 5250 applications and extending them to an e-business environment. With intercept tools, a base e-business/Web application is not created. The e-business interfaces are generated at run-time. This makes it difficult to customize the user interfaces.

When would the user use a 5250 intercept product rather than the IBM WebFacing Tool?

A 5250 intercept tool should be chosen if the workstation DDS source code (required by the IBM WebFacing Tool) is unavailable. If the DDS source code has used DDS keywords that were not supported by the IBM WebFacing Tool, then an intercept tool might prove a better choice.

Statement of Direction

Application Development Manager and Application Dictionary Services

There are two priced features in WebSphere Development Studio for iSeries, Application Development Manager (ADM) and Application Dictionary Services (ADS). IBM plans to discontinue marketing these features in the next release after OS/400® V5R2.

For more information, see the white paper "A Case for Source Control Management" at

Open Class™ Library

IBM intends for OS/400 V5R2 to be the final release to ship the Open Class Library which is part of WebSphere Development Studio for iSeries and OS/400®. Documentation to assist in migrating from IBM Open Class to the C++ Standard Library can be found at

Statement of Direction information represents IBM's current intent and is subject to change or withdrawal.

Reference Information

Software Announcement 202-127 , dated June 4, 2002 (WebSphere Development Studio Client for iSeries, V4)

Software Announcement 201-115 , dated April 23, 2001 (WebSphere Development Studio for iSeries, V5R1)

Trademarks

 
iSeries is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.
 
The e-business logo and Open Class are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States or other countries or both.
 
WebSphere, VisualAge, Integrated Language Environment, and OS/400 are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States or other countries or both.
 
Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
 
Java is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc.
 
Other company, product, and service names may be trademarks or service marks of others.

Customer Financing

IBM Global Financing offers attractive financing to credit-qualified commercial and government customers and Business Partners in more than 40 countries. IBM Global Financing is provided by the IBM Credit Corporation in the United States. Offerings, rates, terms, and availability may vary by country. Contact your local IBM Global Financing organization. Country organizations are listed on the Web at:

Terms and Conditions

Beginning with orders shipped after July 5, 2002, customers will receive the new workstation product, WebSphere® Development Studio Client for IBM eServer iSeries V4. WebSphere Development Studio for iSeries customers may install the WebSphere Development Studio Client for iSeries workstation product for developing iSeries applications onto an unlimited number of workstations that are connected to the iSeries server to which this Program is licensed, without paying additional license fee.

Ordering Information

New WebSphere Development Studio for iSeries (5722-WDS) orders will ship the new Workstation tools, WebSphere Development Studio Client for iSeries V4, effective on July 5, 2002.

To order WebSphere Development Studio Client for iSeries V4 for existing 5722-WDS customers who have a V5 license, use the following no-charge feature number: 

5722-WDS            Refresh feature number 2655*
*
Only 5722-WDS customers can order this feature code to get the new workstation tools.

Prices

Contact your IBM representative for pricing information for this. announcement.

Order Now

 Use Priority/Reference Code: AE001
 
 Phone:     800-IBM-CALL
 Fax:       800-2IBM-FAX
 Internet:  ibm_direct@vnet.ibm.com
 Mail:      IBM Atlanta Sales Center
            Dept. AE001
            P.O. Box 2690
            Atlanta, GA  30301-2690

You can also contact your local IBM Business Partner or IBM representative. To identify them, call 800-IBM-4YOU.

Note: Shipments will begin after the planned availability date.

Trademarks

 
iSeries is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.
 
The e-business logo is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States or other countries or both.
 
WebSphere is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States or other countries or both.
 
Other company, product, and service names may be trademarks or service marks of others.