Refactor mainframe applications faster with AI and managed services (MAM109)

Here is a detailed summary of the video transcript in markdown format, with the key takeaways broken down into sections for better readability:

Blue Edge: An End-to-End Mainframe Modernization Process

Positioning Blue Edge

• Mainframe applications can be assessed and categorized into those eligible for retirement, migration to another infrastructure, replacement with a market product, or remaining business-critical applications that deserve to be implemented in a more modern technology.
• Blue Edge is an end-to-end comprehensive process, not just a tool, that focuses on the efficiency of the transformation process in terms of automation and accuracy.

Trans America's Mainframe Modernization Journey

1. Motivation:

   • Business agility: Reduce development and testing cycles for new features and regulatory requirements.
   • Operational efficiency: Reduce Mainframe complexity.
   • Scalability: Ensure systems can scale to meet business growth goals.
   • Risk reduction: Mitigate the risk of losing Mainframe expertise.

2. Initial Approach and Challenges:

   • Attempted a manual rewrite of a small portion of the workload, which took 8 months and was not scalable for the rest of the applications.
   • Discovered the need for an automated, comprehensive solution.

3. Blue Edge Adoption:

   • Performed a calibration exercise to understand the inputs, outputs, and automation potential of the Blue Edge process.
   • Migrated 90% of the Mainframe workload to the cloud in 14 months, leveraging Blue Edge's automated code transformation and comprehensive process.

4. Technology Stack:

   • Replaced Cobol with Java, Mainframe batch with Java batch, and db2 on z/OS with db2 on Linux.
   • Implemented fully automated deployment pipelines and a comprehensive test suite of 7,000 cases.

5. Outcomes:

   • 30% faster nightly batch processing.
   • Simplified architecture, enhanced security, and improved resiliency.
   • Transition from a fixed-cost Mainframe to a variable-cost cloud-based model.

Gen Features for Efficiency Improvements

1. Artifact Categorization:

   • Automatically identifies and categorizes different types of artifacts in the legacy codebase.
   • Provides a summary of program functionality to aid in root cause analysis.

2. Project Management Automation:

   • "Do it for me" feature that automatically captures and schedules tasks and team member vacations from meeting notes.
   • Project activity summaries to help team members catch up on activities during their absence.

3. Language Translation:

   • Automatically translates comments in source code from foreign languages to English.
   • Supports queries in natural language that are automatically converted to the tool's query language.

4. Transformation Enhancements:

   • Automatically generates explanations of legacy source code functionality.
   • Previews legacy screens without running the application.
   • Handles transformation of artifacts not supported by the Blue Edge engine.

5. Test Automation:

   • Capture and Replay feature to record user interactions and generate automated test scripts.
   • Automatically generates additional test cases based on the analysis of screen options and functionality.

Conclusion

• The Gen features demonstrate how the Blue Edge process can be further enhanced to improve the efficiency and experience of the Mainframe modernization journey.
• Additional resources and related Mainframe modernization sessions are provided for further information.