© Proximity 2014

The latest tools for

developing your systems

Dave Pickburn

Director

© Proximity 2014

Introduction

• The IBM i is a much more open platform than it was

• Its very suitable for developing fully functional browser based software

• Think Functions rather than Applications

• Can deliver mobile apps (very well)

• Can deliver responsive applications (as good as any other platform)

• And ….

© Proximity 2014

Introduction

• Data in existing DB2 applications (BPCS / LX etc.) is all available

• Existing logic can be re used including calls to RPG and CL programs

• Existing screens can be re worked and re developed

• Results can be delivered:

• Cloud based (e.g. our Stream application)

• As a Project on your site

• Using Own developers

• And…

© Proximity 2014

Introduction

• And with DBi (MySQL)

• Many PHP/MySQL applications are available on your IBM i

FREE !

And with a simple change table command – the data is accessible as DB2 database files

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Under the Covers

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Whatever you do…

If it’s delivered in a browser (and it should be)…

What you are serving out from the IBM i is:

That is interpreted and rendered by the browser as web pages

And having a Responsive

design is probably good

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What is responsive?

Optimising output for multiple devices

• Desktop

• Mobile

• Tablet

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Samples

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Options and Examples

• PHP Development

• Web Enabling

• Packaged Solutions

• CMS

• Ecommerce

• Utilities etc.

• And many more

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PHP Development

• PHP is great for web development

• A real programming language

• Fast to develop with

• Open source

• Widely used

• Strong PHP community

• Extensive resources and tools available

• Runs on IBM i

• Integrates and works well with existing applications

• SQL database access, RPG / COBOL / CL program calls

• No 3rd party hardware

• PHP Development

• Zend Studio

• WebSmart PHP

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Web Enabling

• Screen Scraping / Refacing / Web Enabling

• Several products available

• With Presto, much more than a screen scrape

• Works out of the box

• Full development options

• Complete access to custom HTML, CSS and Javascript

• Database access via SQL

No changes required to the application

Runs native on IBM i

Interactive jobs run in subsystems as normal

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Packaged Solutions

• Utilising existing Applications written in PHP and MySQL

• Delivered as part of Zend Server 6.3+

• Pre configured to quickly install

• Often with community editions

• Often with Themes available free or at a low cost

• Drupal – Content Management System (CMS)

• Magento – eCommerce

• WordPress – Blogging and CMS

• Joomla – CMS

• Mantis – Bug tracker

• Media-Wiki – Wiki

• SugarCRM - CRM

• And many more

© Proximity 2014

Summary• The IBM i is ready for modern development

• Think mainly Functions rather than Applications

• Can deliver mobile apps and responsive designs very well

• Existing DB2 applications such as BPCS and LX are accessible

• Existing screens can be re worked and re developed

• No new hardware

• Maximise the existing investment, evolve and deliver excellent results:

• Cost effectively

• With low risk

© Proximity 2014

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