Hey Eric,
I am the product manager for EGL and wanted to add to what Joe and Jon
posted earlier ...
First off - many organizations are also struggling to define a
comprehensive strategic plan. As you probably know, the process for
defining this plan involves a number of critical choices (e.g. where your
business data will reside, how you plan to control access to the data in
terms of security and transactional integrity control, how users will
access the data, where the business logic and your "business services" will
be hosted, whether or not you need business process automation, whether or
not to use a portal engine, how to integrate your "collaboration" strategy
with your enterprise services, etc). This analysis may lead to selecting
various platforms and runtimes, and this choice typically dictates what
languages can be used. EGL is designed to allow for the simplified creation
of Web and SOA solutions, but EGL is not tied to a specific platform or
architecture. The very nature of cross platform, loosely coupled
applications that is now emerging is fueling the need for a programming
approach that transcends the platform and middleware: IBM is confident that
this will fuel significant growth of EGL adoption.
The list of EGL adopters is growing. We recently posted 30 of their success
stories to the EGL Cafe -
http://www-949.ibm.com/software/rational/cafe/docs/DOC-2701. As with any
new language or technology, adoption does not happen overnight, regardless
of how strong the technology is. I understand EGL is in its early stages
where making a commitment is not easy (and so I understand the concern),
but momentum is growing. We recommend that you and others should spend the
time to evaluate, use it, and give it a fair chance to prove itself and
grow in your organization. If you would like, we're happy to participate in
this evaluation. As a Java and Web programmer, I see the value of EGL,
especially in the areas of services and database access. Once people see
these capabilities, you will see much greater adoption. Awareness (not
capability) is really the issue right now - IBM and the loyal EGL adopters
need to do a better job of spreading the word - and we will.
IBM is firmly behind EGL, and sees it as a critical component of
modernization for IBM i (and System z). You may have noticed that EGL is
now an integral part of Rational's flagship tools for IBM i and System z
(Rational Developer for i for SOA Construction and Rational Developer for
z). EGL is also the centerpiece of two new migration offerings we've
delivered for ISVs and customers interested in modernizing key parts of
their legacy infrastructure. These deliveries should signal both IBM i and
System z shops that EGL is a strategic way forward for those looking to
modernize. An aside, by modernize I do not mean "rip and replace", but a
more controlled modernization perhaps beginning with a modern user
interface accessing current back end processing; then evaluating success
and moving forward to build new applications from scratch and/or more fully
migrating existing applications.
IBM is promoting a thoughtful, controlled path to modernization through
extensibility. For example, if you already have an RPG program, COBOL
program, or a Java class that has a capability you need - simply call it
(as a service) from your EGL User Interface or other code. This enables
new applications and services to be built leveraging existing, proven
logic. EGL Rich UI, which simplifies creation of rich, Web 2.0 style
applications, supports integration of third-party widget libraries (such as
the popular Dojo toolkit) - this means you are not locked into only the
widgets provided by IBM. We anticipate the community to start building new
widgets and sharing them with others.
Regardless of the technology you choose, moving towards service-oriented
architecture and richer user interfaces is essential. As we all know,
technology will change (especially user interface technology), but the
fundamentals (providing the ability to consume and manipulate increasingly
large amounts of information, calling a program from another program,
accessing relational data easily, etc.) won't change. Building services now
gives you flexibility to build new rich interfaces today and in the future.
IBM understands the value of services, which is why service support is
built into the EGL language. This enables you to easily create new
services (that can call existing programs or access existing data) or
consume existing services. Once you have constructed a set of services, you
can consume them in any front-end technology that consumes SOAP or REST
services. Of course, we recommend you build your user interfaces in EGL
(since this gives you to a complete end-to-end solution in a single
language), but you can certainly use other technologies as well. The new
EGL Rich UI technology simplifies the creation of new Web 2.0 rich internet
applications - Web 2.0 is completely built on a service based
infrastructure.
Finally we believe that EGL will let you do more, more easily, in less time
than the myriad of other platform-specific technology choices available
today.
We are very interested in helping you promote the use of EGL and to see you
succeed. Please feel free to send me a note directly (smythew@xxxxxxxxxx)
so we can talk more about how we can accomplish that (and please include
links to the outdated tutorials!). If you have not checked out the EGL
Cafe, you should spend a few minutes looking around -
http://www-949.ibm.com/software/rational/cafe/community/egl
Will Smythe
Product Line Manager
Host Integration, HATS, Rational Business Developer, and EGL
IBM Rational Software, RTP, NC
919.254.8771
smythew@xxxxxxxxxx
Visit the EGL Cafe -
http://www.ibm.com/rational/eglcafe
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|Joe Pluta <joepluta@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> |
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|EGL on and around the IBM i <egl-i@xxxxxxxxxxxx> |
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|12/29/2008 06:02 PM |
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|Re: [EGL-i] Targeting "enterprise architecture" |
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DeLong, Eric wrote:
Nope, not really....
IMO, there's not much adoption of EGL (it seems), so opinions are
scarce.
Eric, I know I'm pretty much the evangelizer for EGL here on the lists,
so I thought I'd get you a real response from IBM. Jon Sayles is
absolutely the guy you should know if you're learning EGL - he is the
keeper of documentation and tutorials as well as the man in charge of
IBM's distance learning for EGL. Here is his response (take careful
note of the EGL adoption stories - over 30 case studies already in place
with lots more coming):
Hi Eric. My name is Jon Sayles, and I teach a lot of EGL Distance
Learning classes. I thought I'd answer a couple of your questions, so
here goes:
1st - I'm sorry that you've been struggling with EGL adoption @
SallyBeauty. And thanks very much, for your attempts.
2nd - In terms of learning EGL, you're familiar with the EGL Cafe?
http://www-949.ibm.com/software/rational/cafe/community/egl
- in this forum you can:
* Learn EGL -
http://www-949.ibm.com/software/rational/cafe/docs/DOC-2412
* Post Questions and get answers -
http://www-949.ibm.com/software/rational/cafe/community/egl?view=discussions
* Learn about EGL events - including the EGL / IBM i Online User
Group - where you can network
* Read about EGL user adoption stories -
http://www-949.ibm.com/software/rational/cafe/docs/DOC-2701
3rd - I'd be happy to coordinate a call with the EGL Enterprise
Modernization manager (Stefano Sergi) and you + designees - to discuss
any strategic concerns you may have regarding EGL and IBM
In terms of IBM i and EGL? Over the last two years I've (personally)
had ~1,200 new EGL developers go through my distance learning classes.
Of these individuals, in excess of 70% have been RPG/System i
developers. Many of whom are now in the above list of EGL user adoption
stories (not to put too fine a point on it).
I'm part of a team @ IBM who is responsible for helping shops get off
the ground with EGL. So - feel free to contact me, jsayles@xxxxxxxxxx
- if there's anything I've not thought of in the above note that would
be of use to you, or SallyBeauty - in helping you learn about or use EGL.
And I hope to see you in a 2009 EGL Distance Learning class (they're
free - don't be a stranger).
Regards,
Jon Sayles
EGL Application Developer/IBM
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