Re: Thinking out loud about a new RPG web framework -- WEB400

While IceBreak is not open source, I must say that I am a all behind it. I am a consultant in the Toronto area and was hired to look at different products to create a web front end to the AS400. I had looked at products like CGIDEV2, Websmart, WebFacing and IceBreak. I did performance testing and found that IceBreak out performed the other products but as much as 10 times. If you want all of the bells & whistles WebSmart from BCD has them, but my client was looking for a webfront end to the 5250 apps. I would think that WebSmart would be better suited for somebody looking for not only a 5250 front-end but also a BI reporting product. My client had RPG skills that could be leveraged and IceBreak is a combination of RPG, HTML and Javascript so IceBreak fit well with their needs.

From my findings I would rate the IceBreak on the top of the list with CGIDEV2 on the bottom. I say this because I was looking not only at performance but easy of use, and of course price. Even though CGIDEV2 is free it lacked performance and ease of use (but it sounds like this is what you are looking for).

I am not working for a distributor of IceBreak. I am an independent consultant that has my clients best interest in mind. Since starting work with Icebreak I have gone to some of my other clients and suggested that they also look into the Icebreak product.

Jim

----- Original Message ----
From: Aaron Bartell <aaronbartell@xxxxxxxxx>
To: Web Enabling the AS400 / iSeries <web400@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, June 9, 2008 8:38:57 AM
Subject: Re: [WEB400] Thinking out loud about a new RPG web framework

I hope this helps you find what you are looking for

Not really, because as you noted it isn't open source. I won't disagree
with how easy it is and what not, because I am sure it is great and will
meet the needs of those wishing to pay for a product (though I haven't used
it). I am looking to participate in the creation of a free and open source
solution because there is a cross section of iSeries shops that are
definitely open to adopting such a solution.

Thanks for relaying your response, and now that we know of IceBreak's
capabilities (three times over from three different resellers) we can be
assured it doesn't need to grace this thread again because we are now
properly informed. If on the other hand you have a feature you think we
should have in this framework that IceBreak has, then by all means please
recommend it, but keep the sales pitch to a minimum.

Thanks Syd,
Aaron Bartell
http://mowyourlawn.com

On Mon, Jun 9, 2008 at 5:31 AM, Dr. Syd Nicholson <sydnic@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Aaron

I use a product that provides what you are looking for. Unfortunately, as
far as your requirements are concerned, this product is not open source.
However, it is inexpensive, fast and very functional and the developers are
very approachable and open to new ideas.

I always use RPG to create fast and efficient web pages. In its simplest
form, all that is required is to remove the EXFMT for the green screen
output and replace this with HTML.

This product is called IceBreak (see www.icebreak.org) and runs in its own
subsystem on the System I. Programmers can use RPG, Cobol, and C++ to
create
browser based applications. IceBreak provides the web server, so no other
web services (eg. Apache/Tomcat) are required.

Quite complicated programs can be created, and, by using JavaScript
generated on the server very sophisticated and dynamic web pages generated.
Currently, I am putting the finishing touches to a HA application for the
IFS, written entirely in RPG on the server and controlled and configured by
a browser interface. In this HA product the system to system communications
is managed by IceBreak using XML.

I have tried many of the other "RPG to web" offerings available in the
market place and finally settled on IceBreak. In my opinion, it is the
fastest, most flexible, least complicated and most efficient product
available.

I hope this helps you find what you are looking for

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