Moderator: Welcome to our Live Q&A session with Jim Mason, president of Cape Cod Bay Systems (www.ccbsnet.com). Jim helps companies build Web and client/server business applications in Java, Smalltalk and Domino for the iSeries 400. We are fortunate to also have David Slater, Worldwide AS/400 Application Development Market Manager at IBM Canada, here with us. Although Jim will be typing all the answers, replies to today's questions will be from both him and Dave. And the first question is ...

rma32994: How is WebSphere(R) Development Tools for AS/400 packaged?

Jim Mason / Dave Slater: Phase 1, which was generally available on October 20, 2000, is sold as a workstation package at a price of $300 US per workstation. It includes VisualAgeTM for Java, Professional Edition, WebSphere Studio, Professional Edition, CODE/400, and VisualAge RPG. The base for all four components of the current version of WebSphere Development Tools for AS/400 has been in use for a while. The newest of the four is WebSphere Studio, which has been out for more than 18 months. However, WebSphere Development Tools for AS/400 includes the latest levels of WebSphere Studio and VisualAge for Java, Version 3.5 of each of these tools. CODE/400 and VisualAge RPG are the same levels that were shipped with V4R5 of AS/400(R). In addition, IBM has added special AS/400 Affinity enhancements to WebSphere Studio to make Web development and deployment easier on AS/400. Also, the Enterprise Toolkit for AS/400 has been packaged with VisualAge for Java to provide easy access to AS/400 data, applications, and system functions. In Phase 2, due out in the second quarter of 2001, IBM will package all the workstation tools (including the new WebFacing Tool) and the host RPG, COBOL, and C/C++ compilers and Application Development ToolSet (SEU, PDM, SDA, etc.) into a server-based PID, with unlimited workstation licenses per server. It will be a no-charge upgrade to customers on software subscription for RPG and ADTS.

bvigil854857: How are people using WebSphere Development Tools for AS/400 today?

Jim Mason / Dave Slater : Many AS/400 companies have started building Java servlets using VisualAge and WebSphere Studio. In some cases, these companies have limited Java skills, but the visual builder tools from IBM have made it possible to build useful Web applications that link to AS/400 data and RPG applications. Tools for basic migration include the WebFacing Tool for adding a new HTML servlet interface to existing 5250 applications, and WebSphere Studio for creating new HTML servlet interfaces to access existing data and AS/400 applications. IBM Host On-Demand can be used to deliver existing 5250 applications immediately to Web browsers as is. (Host On-Demand is NOT part of WebSphere Development Tools for AS/400, but a separate IBM product.) Tools for enhancing basic Web applications and building new ones include:

• WebSphere Studio -- customized HTML and applets
• VisualAge for Java -- for visually building Java application components for use in Web apps
• CODE/400 -- for online editing, debugging of host RPG, COBOL, C/C++, and Java code
• VisualAge RPG -- for creating client applications in RPG that can generate Java applications or applets

mdavidson642880: What are the best tools for building such Web applications?

Jim Mason / Dave Slater: The basic migration tools get you there quickly. The other tools create more efficient, powerful applications focused on component reuse using full object-oriented design models. Start with the basics and then enhance with the advanced tools. Some companies are doing all this successfully in-house. Others are getting help from third-party service firms to deliver the initial applications and then doing a skills transfer. It depends on your resources and strategy.

gking831210: I am the Development Manager for a very senior group of RPG programmers. I am looking for someone who has made the transition to Java. What curriculum was followed? How did you teach object-oriented design to existing staff members?

Jim Mason / Dave Slater: There are two options. You can take an OO design course (five days) or a Java for RPG programmers course (five days). The first is more design focused, the second more practical for application development given an RPG background. There will be an education road map on the WDT/400 Web site soon.

vswitzer623330: Is WebSphere Studio the tool to be used for designing Web pages?

Jim Mason / Dave Slater: Correct. It is an easy tool to use, and with the AS/400 Affinity enhancements, is the easiest way to access AS/400 data and applications.

dhoover569549: I am new to WebSphere but have written Java applications and servlets. Where is a good place to start?

Jim Mason / Dave Slater: The combined WebSphere Studio and WebSphere Application Server course is the best place to start. This is a one-week class. There will be an AS/400 version of this course available in the first quarter of 2001.

musman828654: How can you describe WebSphere to someone who has not heard of it?

Jim Mason / Dave Slater: WebSphere Application Server is a Web operating system for e-business application execution that operates across multiple server platforms.

dtart821910: If we are using other Web development tools, where does WebSphere Development Tools for AS/400 fit?

Jim Mason / Dave Slater: If you have already made the investment in other tools and the solution works, you may not need to change. Most other tools solve a single type of problem. Full-blown integrated Web solutions have other application needs that will be served well with WebSphere Development Tools for AS/400. WDT/400 is a complete suite of host and workstation tools that address all of your application development requirements.

mhope24575: What are the AS/400 affinity wizards?

Jim Mason / Dave Slater: They are Java-based features that have been added to some of the WebSphere Development Tools for AS/400 products. They visually automate development and deployment to make it easier and faster to build AS/400 Web applications. You can generate the Java code that accesses AS/400 data and applications without any Java programming skills.

vswitzer623330: Is there any training available for WebSphere Development Tools for AS/400?

Jim Mason / Dave Slater: Education courses for all WebSphere Development Tools for AS/400 components are being completed now. Business partners are currently being trained. More information will be available at the WDT/400 site soon.

jim.rothwell834599: What is the best source of information on setting up and configuring the WebSphere server?

Jim Mason / Dave Slater: There is a WebSphere Redbook for version 3.0. Also, the current documentation for WebSphere Version 3.5 is good. The education courses that were previously mentioned also cover these subjects well.

jim.rothwell834599: Follow-up to my previous question -- are there some known gotcha's on WAS configuration that you can identify and help with?

Jim Mason: Follow the README file to get a simple default application server running so you can use the administrative console for configuration.

markh660328: What do we have to do to get WebSphere Development Tools? We already have ADTS and Software maintenance.

Jim Mason / Dave Slater: Buy 5769-CL3 at $300 US per workstation. This price is discounted approximately 85% off the fair market price for the components included in the workstation package. IBM discounted this package so significantly to ensure that the market didn�t wait for the availability of the strategic AS/400 PID to start their e-business development efforts. In the second quarter of 2001, customers who have ADTS and RPG and software subscription will be able to upgrade to the new PID for no additional charge. The strategic AS/400 tools package includes all of the host and workstation development tools, with unlimited workstation licenses per server.

cketcher442352: What's the best way to learn WebSphere Development Tools for AS/400?

Jim Mason / Dave Slater: The correct education road map depends on your application goals:

• designing new Web applications that access AS/400 data and applications
• migrating existing 5250 applications to the Web GUI applications

tom819535: What is the earliest release level that WebSphere will work on?

Jim Mason / Dave Slater: WebSphere Application Server, Standard Edition was first shipped as a no-charge feature of OS/400(R), V4R2. However, you will see significantly better performance on hardware and software, and on function, with the current release level, which is V4R5 (WebSphere Application Server, Version 3.5).

gking831210: Management saw a LANSA presentation. D.H. Andrews shows a learning curve comparison for LANSA that is dramatically shorter. Do you have a comparison position paper that addresses LANSA? Why is your method better or worse?

Jim Mason / Dave Slater: WebSphere Development Tools is a package of e-business development tools to meet all your e-business application scenarios. At the simple end, you can very rapidly convert 5250 applications to Web GUI applications using the WebFacing Tool with very little training. At the high end, you can build very sophisticated, efficient OO applications for the Web with VisualAge for Java. This can require a substantial investment in OO design and Java education.

ecb21781: We are using a native Domino Web server. What is the best way to integrate Domino and WebSphere in this regard?

Jim Mason / Dave Slater: Domino can now be easily configured to let WebSphere Application Server handle all servlet requests. Stay tuned for more integration between Domino and WebSphere in future releases.

Doug_Fuller37168: I decided to use IIS and Visual Basic WEB classes with ADO connections to my AS/400 instead of using WebSphere. I did this to give my developers more experience in mainstream development tools. I've been happy with the response of the speed, so I'm curious: In your opinion, what you think I've given up by going this route and not using WebSphere?

Jim Mason / Dave Slater: Your solution clearly works. On the other hand, most AS/400 customers do not want to have to learn Visual Basic just to provide Web access to their applications and data. WebSphere Development Tools for AS/400 has tools that are easy to use for rapid Web enablement. WebSphere is based on open Java standards and is an excellent long-term investment for Web application development. WebSphere Development Tools for AS/400 builds standard Java application components.

hrhsoleil689670: Where can we get training for WebSphere Development Tools for AS/400?

Jim Mason / Dave Slater: The products come with documentation, of course. In addition, some, such as VisualAge for Java, have good built-in tutorials. IBM will be providing an education road map for the various tools in WebSphere Development Tools for AS/400 as well as a list of qualified,approved education providers. This information will be listed under the education tab at our WDT/400 Web site: http://www.ibm.com/software/ad/wdt400

ehurley981238: What about classroom training for WDT/400?

Jim Mason / Dave Slater: There will also be hands-on classes offered by IBM and IBM training providers such as Cape Cod Bay Systems. These are usually classes that combine lectures with hands-on exercises building applications using the tools. The current list of WebSphere Development Tools for AS/400 courses available from Cape Cod Bay Systems is listed at: www.ebt-now.com

silvat25563: How does WebSphere compare with JBuilder?

Jim Mason: WebSphere Development Tools for AS/400 is an entire toolbox for e-business development. JBuilder should be compared to VisualAge for Java. Personally, I find VisualAge for Java to be more productive. VisualAge for Java has been rated the top Java IDE by Java Developer Journal for three years.

Dave Slater: D.H. Andrews Group described VisualAge for Java as the best Java development tool for creating AS/400 applications.

mfairbairn234928: What advantages does running WebSphere have, as opposed to a Net.Data or RPG IV solution?

Jim Mason / Dave Slater: WebSphere Application Server is a mainstream, Java standards-based architecture for running Web applications efficiently that manages HTTP clients and database connections efficiently.

crower: What books or documentation would you recommend?

Jim Mason / Dave Slater: WebSphere Development Tools for AS/400 is a tool suite. Different documentation is available for each tool. Each has sample applications and instructions on how to build those samples. In addition, there are many books on Java and VisualAge for Java. See the IBM sites for more. Also check www.redbooks.ibm.com for many books on how to use these tools.

jasher234285: Will this be the preferred method of development in the near future for AS/400 connectivity to Web, WAP, or are there other products in the wings that we need to be aware of?

Jim Mason / Dave Slater: WebSphere Development Tools for AS/400 will become the de facto standard tool set for developing e-business applications for AS/400 and iSeries. The next releases will have even higher-level integration.

kevin.monahan863886: What is the best and fastest way to get started?

Jim Mason / Dave Slater: It is easier to create Web applications that access AS/400 data and applications with WebSphere Studio for AS/400 than any other Web development tool. The WebFacing Tool will allow you to convert most 5250 business applications to Web GUI applications in a couple of hours. The WebFacing Tool creates standard Java artifacts that can be customized and enhanced with WebSphere Studio and VisualAge for Java.

glnorton778986: So where do we start with the WebSphere set of tools? Are there one or two IBM Redbooks that describe the different products and pieces, and how they fit together? We need to start with a concise overview.

Jim Mason: I have a presentation that focuses on Web application scenarios and how to apply the WDT/400 tools to meet those application requirements. It is posted at www.ebt-now.com and I will include a copy of it with this chat transcript.

Yow.Barry157973: VisualAge was a little scary to us as newcomers to Java. Does WebSphere help with this?

Jim Mason / Dave Slater: WebSphere Development Tools for AS/400 provides multiple tools for Web development. WebSphere Studio with Affinity enhancements allows the visual development of Web applications which access AS/400 data and applications and the easy deployment to AS/400 servers. VisualAge for Java is a higher-end tool, offering greater productivity. It is easier to use and learn than previous releases with more templates and wizards. It does require more skill and training than some of the other WDT/400 tools.

jsapp630223: How do you access WebSphere Development Tools for AS/400? Is there a menu set or command?

Jim Mason / Dave Slater: WebSphere Development Tools for AS/400 is a set of workstation tools. In Windows, open Start Program and select the tool you want to use under the WDT/400 category.

sfogarty147584: How do people make decisions on which tools to use?

Jim Mason: You need to correctly evaluate your unique situation and set business and technical criteria for both run-time and development tools. That's not an easy task for most AS/400 shops. These are factors to consider:

• What are my immediate application priorities for the Web?
• Who is the user audience for these applications?

markh660328: Where can we find an example of building a Web application using these tools? Say, a JSP retrieving data from DB2(R) UDB for AS/400 and calling RPG Service Programs.

Jim Mason: The education course for WebSphere Studio for AS/400 demonstrates this scenario quite well. You use the visual builder and templates and wizards to generate the Java code that accesses the RPG service programs and AS/400 data. I took the course, and it is easy for almost any RPG developer.

lwarren495901: My COBOL software uses ACCEPT/DISPLAY statements for screen manipulation. Does Host On-Demand require *DSPF screens?

Jim Mason: Host On-Demand doesn't require access to any source code. It converts 5250 display files at run time. ACCEPT/DISPLAY statements are presented on 5250 terminals and should work fine with Host On-Demand.

wheckman717716: How do you decide which tool is best for a problem?

Jim Mason: It's not always a simple answer. Sometimes more than one tool can meet the short-term requirements. You probably want to have a long-term IS services plan with a technology architecture for investment direction. Most companies seem to want to move a portion of their 5250 applications quickly to the Web using the basic front-end tools. Another group of companies is focused on delivering high-function Web applications with better user interfaces that flexibly integrate existing data and applications. Some of these may also want B2B integration. These companies are focusing on the advanced tool sets that provide more capability but also require a greater investment in skills.

ecb21781: Briefly -- what are the Affinity enhancements?

Dave Slater: AS/400 Affinity enhancements were added to WebSphere Studio to make it easy to access AS/400 data and applications.
Subfile Support
The most common method for an AS/400 programmer to access AS/400 data is through a subfile. We added a subfile part to WebSphere Studio so that it was easy to provide this type of data access through a browser interface.
AS/400 Data Types
We also added support for AS/400 data types. If you declare a field to be numeric on the Web interface and the user inputs an alpha character, the error will occur at the browser. You don�t have to ship the input to the AS/400 server, possibly across a complex network, in order to determine that you have bad data. This significantly improves application response times when users enter bad data.
Wizards and Templates
In order to provide easy access to AS/400 data and applications, we provide wizards and templates. These wizards and templates generate the Java code that runs in the WebSphere Application Server. This permits AS/400 programmers with little or no Java programming capabilities to access their data and applications via the Web.

Narendra.H.Reddy867824: How long does it take to implement WebSphere for a systems programmer?

Jim Mason: If you have a simple Web server environment, all on one AS/400, or an AS/400 Web server talking to an AS/400 application and data server, WebSphere Version 3.5 is not difficult to set up. There is a WebSphere Application Server course from IBM that I recommend. I plan to teach that course in 2001. More complex environments can require significant work to administer -- for example, WebSphere Application Server on AS/400 accessing data and applications from other AS/400s, mainframes, UNIX, LINUX, NT, etc.

michel.fecteau617895: Is there any special configuration to access Domino data (on the same AS/400) using two different IP stacks (Domino IP 10.1.1.100, WCS IP 10.1.1.200)?

Jim Mason: If Domino is running on the same AS/400 where the data resides, accessing the AS/400 data is quite easy and doesn�t necessarily involve IP addresses at all. Examples include:

• Domino formulas
• LotusScript using ODBC objects to reach the AS/400 database LOCALLY
• Java agents or applications providing LOCAL data access using the native JDBC driver supplied as part of the AS/400 JD

mlewis661470: What is the future of WebSphere Development Tools for AS/400?

Jim Mason / Dave Slater: In general, there will be more integration between components, continued support for open standards like Java, better performance and management tools.

Jim Mason: In addition, I expect to see more of the Java-based AS/400 affinity wizards. I expect WebSphere to become the core of most AS/400 development, and learning these tools will be critical for most people's careers.