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Need Suggestion for migrating to Java from PL1 project

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kelvin

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Nov 20, 2009, 9:21:10 AM11/20/09
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Dear friends, I involved in a migration project from PL1 to Java. I
have no such experience before. The PL1 source code is more than
200,000 lines! I doubt I have enough time to read and understand it.
I'd very appreciated if you may recommend some strategics,methods or
tools for this work. Is there any tools to analysis PL1 codes?

Thanks in advance!

robin

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Nov 21, 2009, 1:27:00 AM11/21/09
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"kelvin" <shaoj...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1a2c09e5-e7b7-4abb...@h14g2000pri.googlegroups.com...

| Dear friends, I involved in a migration project from PL1 to Java. I
| have no such experience before. The PL1 source code is more than
| 200,000 lines! I doubt I have enough time to read and understand it.

That project sounds like a waste of time.
It is headed for disaster.


kelvin

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Nov 21, 2009, 3:52:34 AM11/21/09
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On Nov 21, 3:27 pm, "robin" <robi...@bigpond.com> wrote:
> "kelvin" <shaojun1...@gmail.com> wrote in message

Hi robin, thanks for your opinion!
I admit that it is very tough project,but customer is always right.
besides, high risk is always with high profit(my boss's mantra).
More important, whether kick-off this project is not decided by me. :(

Best regards,
Kelvin

Peter Flass

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Nov 21, 2009, 7:27:44 AM11/21/09
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A few years ago Peter Elderon gave a SHARE presentation about
integrating a Java GUI front-end with the PL/I back-end business logic.
You might want to take a look. If you can't find it, I have a copy
somewhere I converted from Freelance to Powerpoint.

kelvin

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Nov 21, 2009, 1:08:01 PM11/21/09
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Hi Peter, Thanks for your information!
I am very glad to see this presentation.
Could you kindly send a copy to my email?
Thank you so much!

Best regards,
Kelvin

Ira Baxter

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Nov 21, 2009, 6:07:30 PM11/21/09
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"kelvin" <shaoj...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1a2c09e5-e7b7-4abb...@h14g2000pri.googlegroups.com...

If you insist on doing this, you don't want to do it manually.
You need tools to do the conversion, not just analyze it.
Here's some background:

http://www.semanticdesigns.com/Products/Services/LegacyMigration.html

The DMS engine supporting this has been used to convert languages
similar to PL/1 (e.g., Jovial for the B-2 Bomber, see
http://www.semanticdesigns.com/Products/Services/NorthropGrummanB2.html).

..not for Java, but a reliable result nonetheless.

--
Ira Baxter, CTO
www.semanticdesigns.com


John W Kennedy

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Nov 22, 2009, 12:40:34 AM11/22/09
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If you're running on an IBM mainframe, the current generation of
developer's tools, including the compiler, are about the best you can find.

There are pretty severe mismatches between the two languages. Your best
bet may be to regard the project as creating a new system, rather than
as migrating the old one. Consider going all the way back to doing a
system study, gathering specifications, etc. If you try to translate
PL/I into Java, you'll end up with hideous Java.

--
John W. Kennedy
"Sweet, was Christ crucified to create this chat?"
-- Charles Williams. "Judgement at Chelmsford"

kelvin

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Nov 23, 2009, 6:23:48 AM11/23/09
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On 11月22日, 午前8:07, "Ira Baxter" <idbax...@semdesigns.com> wrote:
> "kelvin" <shaojun1...@gmail.com> wrote in message

>
> news:1a2c09e5-e7b7-4abb...@h14g2000pri.googlegroups.com...
>
> > Dear friends, I involved in a migration project from PL1 to Java. I
> > have no such experience before. The PL1 source code is more than
> > 200,000 lines! I doubt I have enough time to read and understand it.
> > I'd very appreciated if you may recommend some strategics,methods or
> > tools for this work. Is there any tools to analysis PL1 codes?
>
> If you insist on doing this, you don't want to do it manually.
> You need tools to do the conversion, not just analyze it.
> Here's some background:
>
> http://www.semanticdesigns.com/Products/Services/LegacyMigration.html
>
> The DMS engine supporting this has been used to convert languages
> similar to PL/1 (e.g., Jovial for the B-2 Bomber, seehttp://www.semanticdesigns.com/Products/Services/NorthropGrummanB2.html).

>
> ..not for Java, but a reliable result nonetheless.
>
> --
> Ira Baxter, CTOwww.semanticdesigns.com

Hi Ira,

Thanks for your advice!
http://www.semanticdesigns.com/Products/Services/LegacyMigration.html
that is really good instruction for legacy system migration.

Frankly speaking, I do not think it is easy to develop a automated
conversion tools for converting to object-oriented language(java) from
procedure-oriented language(PL/I). I am afraid we cannot afford such
effort before project starting. but we will consider using or creating
some semi-auto tools for PL/I program logical analysis.

Please let me know if you or your company developed such PL/I analysis
tools.

Thanks&Best regards,
Kelvin

kelvin

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Nov 23, 2009, 6:41:37 AM11/23/09
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Hi John,
Thanks for your opinion!

I totally agree with you about "pretty severe mismatch", and "regard
the project as creating a new system" your mentioned is our backup
optional development model if we can not find a good solution for
migration.

Thanks again!

Best regards,
Kelvin

robin

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Nov 23, 2009, 7:01:34 AM11/23/09
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"kelvin" <shaoj...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:766d1f6f-5f80-442d...@s21g2000prm.googlegroups.com...

|On Nov 21, 3:27 pm, "robin" <robi...@bigpond.com> wrote:
|> "kelvin" <shaojun1...@gmail.com> wrote in message|
|>
|> news:1a2c09e5-e7b7-4abb...@h14g2000pri.googlegroups.com...
|> | Dear friends, I involved in a migration project from PL1 to Java. I
|> | have no such experience before. The PL1 source code is more than
|> | 200,000 lines! I doubt I have enough time to read and understand it.
|>
|> That project sounds like a waste of time.
|> It is headed for disaster.

|Hi robin, thanks for your opinion!
|I admit that it is very tough project,but customer is always right.

I drew that conclusion based on your statements:
1. You "have no such experience before";
2. You "doubt [you] have enough time to read and understand it";
3. Even with the aid of a mechanical translator, it is a huge project.
4. I have attempted projects of up to 10,000 lines translating
to a similar language, with mixed success;
5. Java doen't have anywhere near comparable features to PL/I.

|besides, high risk is always with high profit(my boss's mantra).
|More important, whether kick-off this project is not decided by me. :(

"If it works, don't fix it" is a more pertinent mantra.


kelvin

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Nov 25, 2009, 9:22:54 PM11/25/09
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Hi robin,

Thanks for your conclusion!

I almost agree with you.
This project will span more than two years, and at least 30 people
will be involved.
We do not 'fix' it, we will create new one base on it.

Thanks & Best regards,
Kelvin

kelvin

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Nov 25, 2009, 9:31:02 PM11/25/09
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New finding share with you guys!

There is one good analysis tool for COBOL,PL/I,RPG program.

The name is 'ソース編集君' created by Japanese.

http://srcedit.pekori.jp/tool/srcedit.html

Try it :)

Best regards,
Kelvin

John Wood

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Nov 26, 2009, 4:50:03 AM11/26/09
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In article <1a2c09e5-e7b7-4abb...@h14g2000pri.googlegroup
s.com>, kelvin <shaoj...@gmail.com> writes
If major sections of PLI code can be "wrapped" behind an API and you can
preserve a PLI runtime presence then why not make these sections of code
as DLL's and call then through the Java Native Interface.

If you don't actually know what the code does then of course you have a
problem anyway. Later you can replace the functionality behind the
interface with non-PLI code if you wish without disturbing a working
hybrid product. You can deliver relatively quickly and contain the
problems.
John Wood Birmingham UK

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