Silver Award:
Business Computer Design International's WebSmart Version 5.0
For Business Computer Design International's WebSmart 5.0, the race for the gold was a close one. Having been edged out of the top position, it wasn't because it lacked innovating features. In fact, this release boasts more than 25 new features.
One of its most impressive new features is a RPG to Web conversion component that automatically converts ILE RPG code and display file DDS to PML, HTML and JavaScript. PML is WebSmart's programming language that generates ILE RPG, ILE RPG free-format, and Java servlets, in conjunction with HTML. With this feature, it is now possible to migrate legacy business applications from green screen to Web applications and allow you to work with the converted code in the WebSmart IDE where your application development can continue in a managed environment.
The judges also took note of WebSmart's new Client-Side Code Generation feature, which lets developers write programs and generate source code on a PC in WebSmart's IDE. This source can then be compiled on the iSeries. Previously, the source was generated on the iSeries. The Client-Side Code Generation greatly reduces development workload on the iSeries.
Other added features include the following:
- Support for both record-level I/O and SQL operations
- Vertical view of HTML segments
- Improved PML funcationality, change management
WebSmart also received high marks for its functionality. As one judge said, "It's an easy-to-use tool that insulates developers from the complexity of Web application development."