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.

Your Digital Journey deserves a great story.

Build one with us.

Cookies Icon

These cookies are used to collect information about how you interact with this website and allow us to remember you. We use this information to improve and customize your browsing experience, as well as for analytics.

If you decline, your information won’t be tracked when you visit this website. A single cookie will be used in your browser to remember your preference.

Talk to us