Is Java the AS/400's Final Lifeline?
by Alex Woodie

For the first 10 years that IBM pressed Java onto its AS/400 installed based, the programming language was received with boos and sneers. 'Why would we spend millions to retool in Java when RPG works just fine?' was the near-universal response. But today, with Power Systems server sales plummeting, RPG programmers retiring and dying, and serious questions about the value of the platform in a Web-connected world, i OS application developers appear to be looking now to Java as a means of survival. READ MORE >

AquaFold Adds DB2/400 Support to Database Tool
by Alex Woodie

i-based Power Systems shops looking for a power tool to supercharge their database development and maintenance tasks may want to check out the latest release from AquaFold. Last week the Silicon Valley company unveiled Aqua Data Studio version 7.0, which adds support for the DB2/400 (DB2 for i) database, brings a new entity relationship modeling component that should help developers better understand how their applications consume data, and support for seven languages. READ MORE >

Infor ERP LX Adds Compliance and Language Features, SOA Enablement
by Dan Burger

Manufacturers using the Infor ERP LX suite of products for process or mixed-mode environments have new features and functions available to them with the release last week of Feature Pack 3. At the top of the list are capabilities relating to regulatory compliance and support for multiple languages in a single instance database. The LX product line was once known as BPCS and is often referred to by that name. It's a bastion of the IBM System i installed base. READ MORE >

Shield Gets Closer to Full HA with RAP 3.1
by Alex Woodie

With the launch of Receiver Apply Program (RAP) version 3.1 earlier this year, Shield Advanced Solutions has narrowed the gap between its remote journaling-based product and high availability (HA) products that have been established in the market for years. The capability to automate the switch-over process and reverse the flow of journaling is perhaps the most important new feature in RAP 3.1 bringing the product closer to feature parity with other HA solutions. READ MORE >