Rational Developer for System i

The Rational Developer for System i tool provides an Eclipsed based Integrated Development Environment for traditional i5/OS development. It offers edit, compile and debug capabilities for RPG/COBOL/C/C++ as well a many capabilities previously found only in the WebSphere Development Studio Advanced Edition offering. Rational Developer for System i includes application diagram, screen designer technology preview phase 2, single sign-on functionality for Web applications, using enterprise identity mapping (EIM), an IBM i5OS program call Java Platform 2, Enterprise Edition Connector (J2C), and integration with IBM Rational ClearCase software for System i.

In first quarter 2008 a new software bundle called IBM Rational Developer on System i for SOA Construction will provide i5/OS developers with tools for Web development. This software bundle will include IBM Rational Business Developer and IBM Rational Developer for System i.

WebSphere Development Studio Client for System i, as well as the non-ILE System i compilers and Application Development ToolSet components in WebSphere Development Studio for System i are stabilized. That means IBM will no longer add any new enhancements to these components. Our future investment will focus on our strategic ILE compilers and IBM Rational application development tools. IBM recommends that customers use the ILE set of compilers. For workstation tools, IBM recommends that customers use the IBM Rational Developer for System i product or the Rational Developer on System i for SOA Construction.

Rational Developer V7.1 Features:

• APPLICATION DIAGRAM V7.1 ENHANCEMENTS:
  The functions in the Application Diagram were previously included in WebSphere Development Studio Client Advanced Edition for System i, are now included in IBM Rational Developer for System i. The V7.1 enhancements include:

  
  FUNCTIONAL ZOOM:
  The Application Diagram now graphically shows subroutines and subprocedures within their source member. The diagram initially opens up showing only source members, programs and service programs, along with any direct (copybooks and bindings) and indirect (procedure and program calls) relationships between them. Source members can now be expanded to see the lower level details. Expanding a source member shows the call graph for that source member within the graphical representation of the source member in the diagram.

  
  PROGRAM CALLS:
  The previous release of the application diagram only showed bound procedure and subroutine calls. In version 7.1 the Application Diagram is updated to also show program calls for ILE RPG, ILE COBOL, and CL source.

  
  CL SUPPORT:
  CL source members are now scanned and their information is added to the generated diagram.

• Other functions from WebSphere Development Studio Client Advanced Edition for System i that are now included in IBM Rational Developer for System i are:
  - i5/OS program call J2C connector
  - Single sign-on using EIM for Web applications
  - Screen designer technology preview phase 1
  - ClearCase and IBM Rational Developer for System i integration for System i

• i5/OS WEB SERVICES AND JAVA TOOLS V7.1 ENHANCEMENTS:
  The Program Call wizard now enables the generation of Program Call Markup Language (PCML) and direct program call Java beans. Direct program call Java beans use the ProgramCall class to invoke the System i program. PCML program call Java beans use the ProgramCallDocument class to invoke the System i program. Generated program call beans are more extensible. Communications between generated Program Call bean and i5/OS now supports SSL.

• i5/OS V6R1 SUPPORT: The level of Program Verifiers, Syntax Checkers, Content assist, Editor wizards and Outline view are updated to the i5/OS V6R1 host level.

• SCREEN DESIGNER TECHNOLOGY PREVIEW PHASE 2:
  In V7.1 screen designer technology preview phase 2 contains improved usability enhancements. It now reflects more closely to its intended appearance and function. The enhancements include:
  - Keyword specific property pages
  - The ability to specify keyword properties when adding a keyword
  - A toolbar button on the design page for configuring preferences
  - Partial preview page function, including indicator sets and field values
  - Convenient buttons to control screen size from both the design page and the preview page
  - Screen information that is now stored as XML comments within the display file
  - Performance enhancements
  - Defect fixes

• DEBUG SUPPORT:
  - Select and debug each RPG thread in the application, view and change variables, and pause a thread
  - View and modify RPG varying length variables
  - Show the data item information in COBOL ODO (OCCURS DEPENDING ON) properly and more easily
  - View and modify decimal floating points in ILE C

• FOOTPRINT REDUCTION:
  - Reduces the hard disk and main memory requirements for developer personal computer