A Graphical Integrated Development Environment for ALCS

Product Updates & Air New Zealand User ExperienceALCS Users Group

December 2-4, Lisbon, Portugal

About TPF Software

• Started company to create better test tools for TPF

• 20+ years experience creating tools for mainframe programmers

• Current clients include…– American Express, Marriott Hotels, Worldspan, JAL, ANA,

others

• Now includes tools for ALCS and ALCS customers– IDEA – IDE for ALCS– Air New Zealand

IDEA Suite Applications

IDEA Suite Architecture

• zIDE– Edit and Presentation on Windows Client– Compile/Submit/Library on zOS Server

• ALCS/GI– Presentation on Windows Client– Execution on ALCS Server

• Resolution/KB– Browser based knowledge base to track and

resolve issues

IDEA – Product Timeline• Product developed based on input from Rob

Broere – AUG Chairman at a TUG• TPF Software Collaborated with IBM ALCS Lab

closely and developed IDEA• Launched IDEA Suite at the AUG in 2006• Air New Zealand was our Beta and Launch

Customer– They will follow with – “Customer Experiences”

• Emirates has a Trial Version Installed in Dubai – Is currently customizing the Software– Emirates seems pleased and we are– Waiting for Rob Broere to sign-off

Demo

• Quick demo on zIDE and ALCS/GI

Product Updates

• 3270 Support Included for ALCS/GI– One of the terminal for ALCS/GI can be

defined as 3270 type– Allows to trace 3270-type application entries– Normal trace options like Macro trace,

Instruction trace can be done– Advanced features like SV trace can also be

used

Product Updates

• Search Feature (TSO 3.14) Included for z/IDE– Right click on any of DSN in the file view to do

the search– Search is done in the MVS– Results displayed in the output tab of zIDE– Double click on the result line to open the file

and go to the matching line

Product Updates• Library View Integration - Example

– The sample Library view allows Browse / Edit of programs and macros

• File list is displayed based on the type of request

– Data set names will be transparent to users– This can be further enhanced

• Restrict access level (Read-only/Read-write) to different libraries

• Restrict Edit to the members of a library owned by the user

• Allow the use of Private libraries for programs / macros

– Customized library view for Emirates (TALM)

Product Updates

• Support for C/C++ Edit, Compile, Build and Debug at Source Level– Working with ALCS Lab to enable this feature– ALCS Lab currently working on supporting

Instruction trace for C/C++– Waiting for the ALCS Lab to give us feedback

• Held meeting with the ALCS Lab• Provided requirements to them

– Instruction Trace (ZTRAC) to work– Link Map for C/C++

Product Updates• Other updates

– Macro Trace Block Display Support– System Core update protection– Version support for load modules

• Can add a Suffix to Load Module Names (Programmer Initials for example)

– Usage Information for ALCS/GI– DF/Explorer Integration to ALCS/GI

• Major user wish list items– C/C++ Support for Edit/Debug– DBCS for Editor & Terminal Display

(Taiwanese Customers)

Customer Feedback Richard Gill – Air New Zealand

CARINA System – IDEA usage

• ANZ is using IDEA since 2006– Use z/IDE for Editing (Upgraded to ZREX Server)– ALCS/GI for debugging– 30+% productivity from using the tools

• Ex. Previously (2007) we implemented 1600 programs• In. 2008 we have already implemented 1946 + 400 (in QA)• All this with just 11 programmers

– These are real numbers– Early resistance from old timers, but juniors - cannot live without it

• Best Features– Source View– Panel Overlay – XCOR or XFIL with DSECT overlay– Message Capture / Run Facility– Visual Log – to document and pass issues when errors encountered

• Productivity Benefits– Programmers CANNOT live without SOURCE Level Trace

• Wish lists– C/C++ Support– Regression Test Facility

• We also use Programming Services from TPF Software since 2006– We are happy with the Quality and Cost– We are moving part Offshore starting December

Questions

In Closing

• We are looking for More Customers• We cannot sustain without the support and backing of the

ALCS users• The Costs not to use new tools - GUI interfaces means

– Customers not taking advantage of new Technology– Customers are less productive– Applications have less features– Finally, greater chance of moving to a GDS

• We are committed to the product suite– We are ready to build new features– And New Products and Features

• We would like to see you get the levels of productivity being realized by Air New Zealand

Thank You!

• More Information:– Thiru Thirupuvanam – thiru@tpfsoftware.com– 1-919-676-5501

• Web site:– www.tpfsoftware.com