[349] in comp.os.os2.announce archive
NEW OS/2 DEVELOPMENT TOOL: IBM's VisualAge for COBOL
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (tsipple@vnet.IBM.COM)
Fri Nov 10 07:18:29 1995
To: os2ann.DISCUSS@bloom-picayune.MIT.EDU
Date: Wed, 8 Nov 1995 19:46:35 GMT
From: tsipple@vnet.IBM.COM
Reply-To: tsipple@vnet.IBM.COM
Submitted by: Timothy F. Sipples (tsipple@vnet.ibm.com)
Source: Timothy F. Sipples (tsipple@vnet.ibm.com)
Date received: 1995 November 8
Date posted: 1995 November 8
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IBM DELIVERS OBJECT-ORIENTED COBOL ACROSS MULTIPLE PLATFORMS
World's Most Widely Used Programming Language Moves Into
The Future With Object-Oriented Extensions and
Visual Development Environment
SOMERS, N.Y., Oct. 31, 1995 . . . COBOL developers can now
take advantage of object-oriented technology with IBM's delivery
of VisualAge for COBOL for OS/2*, COBOL Set for AIX*, and COBOL
for MVS*. The availability of COBOL with object-oriented
extensions allows programmers to continue to use a powerful,
popular programming language, create advanced client/server
applications on the desktop, and deploy objects across various
platforms and applications.
The first object-oriented COBOL products to support IBM's
System Object Model (SOM)* include a new Direct-to-SOM* feature
that makes it easier to create SOM objects. SOM enables reuse,
modification, and customization of object classes within and
among different language compilers. Developers can now create
SOM objects from within the COBOL environment. These objects can
be combined with objects that have been built using other
SOM-enabled languages.
"COBOL production applications comprise tens of billions of
lines of code, running the majority of the world's mission-
critical applications," said Evan Quinn, analyst, IDC. "Most
companies with large investments in COBOL are anxious to update
to state-of-the-art distributed client/server applications,
but are apprehensive about the cost of reprogramming. IBM's
object-oriented COBOL allows organizations to gradually
transition to the state-of-the-art without incurring overwhelming
costs."
These new COBOL products use a natural extension of the
COBOL language that allows programmers to utilize current
procedural COBOL while evolving into the new world of
object-oriented technology. IBM provides these identical COBOL
extensions on OS/2, AIX and MVS and plans to support other
environments, including 32-bit Windows**.
VisualAge for COBOL for OS/2 and COBOL Set for AIX contain a
new data access feature. Through local and remote access to
VSAM* and Database 2 (DB2)*, programmers can create applications
locally for the desktop, which can transparently access data
either locally or from the host.
IBM VisualAge for COBOL for OS/2
IBM VisualAge for COBOL for OS/2, the newest member of IBM's
award-winning VisualAge family of products, combines a visual
development environment with robust, professional development
tools. This powerful combination helps developers create
graphical user interfaces (GUIs) in hours rather than days.
Powerful data and transaction assistant functions are
included in VisualAge for COBOL for OS/2. The data assistant
feature provides a visual representation of the database that
allows programmers to quickly and accurately construct SQL
statements. The transaction assistant function improves the
efficiency of developers using CICS*, IBM's powerful and
versatile online transaction processing software, by automating
much of the interface coding. In addition, many other
communications software products and protocols are included, such
as IBM's MQSeries* and TCP/IP -- supporting a wide variety of
application types from very high volume transactions to longer
running events that may span hours or days.
Canada Trust, one of Canada's largest financial
institutions, with 410 branch locations, 860 automated banking
machines, and $37 billion in deposits, is among a number of early
experience customers using VisualAge for COBOL for OS/2. "We
have a development staff of greater than 250 programmers who
possess COBOL skills," said Kevin J. Cummings, senior technical
services analyst, Canada Trust. "For developers familiar with
the OS/2 platform, the learning curve experienced with the move
to VisualAge for COBOL was brisk. I fully expect IBM VisualAge
for COBOL to be a key programming direction for Canada
Trust's future."
IBM COBOL for MVS
A new release of IBM COBOL for MVS revitalizes
mission-critical COBOL applications by adding object-oriented
extensions. The powerful MVS COBOL language, which has been
ported to OS/2 and AIX, provides programmers with the same
development capabilities across platforms. Developers can create
object-oriented programs on the workstation and easily move these
programs to the host environment for execution. The availability
of object-oriented technology on MVS leverages existing
investments in code and skills as current applications can be
easily extended to include objects -- increasing quality and
productivity through code reuse.
"IBM's new object-oriented COBOL products allow the world's
three million COBOL programmers to create objects in a language
they already know," said Tim Negris, vice president, marketing,
IBM Software Solutions. "With little or no retraining,
developers can migrate to an object-oriented environment and
immediately receive the associated benefits, such as greater
design and organization of previously developed software. In
addition, the visual programming environment enhances programmer
productivity as developers can visually connect parts. This
robust combination provides programmers with a powerful tool to
respond to today's changing business dynamics."
IBM COBOL Set for AIX
IBM COBOL Set for AIX provides the COBOL programmer with a
set of high-productivity, AIX-based development tools for
creating client/server, line-of-business COBOL applications.
The product is designed to exploit the capabilities of AIX.
For example, the compiler and productivity tools are integrated
with the Common Desktop Environment, providing developers with
the standard user interface in AIX Version 4.1.
Included in COBOL Set for AIX are new, powerful features,
such as a context sensitive editor and a graphical debugger. The
common editor, featured across COBOL for OS/2 and COBOL Set for
AIX, as well as on IBM's PL/I*, C/C++* and COBOL languages,
reduces the learning curve for those customers working in a
multi-language environment. The graphical debugger visually
highlights errors so source code can be corrected quickly.
A New Standard
COBOL standards provide the promise of consistency. The
current emerging COBOL standard, due to be approved in 1997,
contains object-oriented extensions to the language that allow an
evolution into a more productive programming environment --
offering users a high degree of reliability and portability.
IBM's new object-oriented COBOL products adhere to a
proposed revision of the COBOL standard, which includes object-
oriented extensions. The draft standard is being developed
jointly by the International Organization for Standardization
(ISO) and accredited standards committees. Target date for
completion of the proposed standard is 1997.
Pricing, Availability and Special Upgrade Offering
IBM COBOL Set for AIX and IBM COBOL for MVS are available
now. IBM VisualAge for COBOL for OS/2 will be generally
available on 11/3/95.
IBM VisualAge for COBOL for OS/2 and IBM COBOL Set for AIX
are priced at $895 per user (US only). These products can be
purchased at a special introductory price of $537, valid through
March 28, 1996. To place an order, please call IBM Direct at
1-800-IBM-CALL, Department SM019. This offer is also available
through local IBM authorized dealers. Dealer prices may vary.
IBM COBOL for MVS pricing is based on processor size.
Current IBM COBOL for MVS customers are eligible to receive the
new object-oriented enhancements at no additional charge.
For more information on IBM's family of COBOL products,
please call 1-800-IBM-3333, Extension (STAR703). For information
via the Internet, the IBM COBOL Family home page can be found at
http://www.software.ibm.com (search on keyword "GoCOBOL").
IBM, the world's largest software provider, creates,
develops and manufactures the industry's most advanced
information technologies, including computer systems, software,
networking systems, storage devices and microelectronics. IBM's
Software Solutions Division provides data management, application
development and workgroup solutions for mission-critical
applications on PCs, workstations, LANs and host systems.
* Indicates trademark or registered trademark of
International Business Machines Corporation.
** Products or companies mentioned are trademarks
or registered trademarks of their respective holder.
