mrc Productivity Series Puts Enhanced Java Development to BED

by Dan Burger

Contrary to what you might hear from those who have visited Web application development hell, it doesn't have to be as difficult as some people describe. With the multitude of Web application tools on the market, the question is which ones are best suited for your company's specific needs. "Easy to learn" and "easy to navigate" are easy to say, but only you can be the judge for your own situation. The latest offering from michaels, ross & cole is worth a look.

No stranger to the application development market, mrc has been developing its Productivity Series suite of tools for several years. What the company has just introduced, however, are point-and-click Web interface capabilities with several unique features.

At the recent COMMON conference in Indianapolis, mrc announced a new browser enhanced development (BED) version of its tool set. Officials with the Chicago company say this BED version uses Java servlet technology to provide "run anywhere" possibilities, allowing applications developed with the BED tools to be deployed in HTML, CGI, XML, RPG, or Java. Since servlets can run on almost any platform or operating system, BED applications can be moved to the most cost-efficient or performance-efficient environment.

The capability to build both Web and traditional green-screen applications without leaving the development environment is a feature that should be appreciated by many OS/400 shops that remain happy with the green-screen functionality and simplicity.

For ease of use, mrc is quick to promote the accessibility to the development environment from any browser-equipped computer, the fact that no development language needs to be learned, and that no manual coding is required, so the functionality of legacy applications is preserved without rewriting code.

The GUI features an intuitive, tab-based menu system. It also features advanced search capabilities that enable users to enter specific search parameters and quickly find the applications they wish to work on.

Applications built with the browser enhanced development version of the Productivity Series suite can be developed, tested, and executed without leaving the environment (instead of switching back and forth between green-screen and Web environments in order to perform tests), which increases productivity.

"There is no longer a feeling of being tied to your desk, or tied to a particular computer," says Brian Crowley, mrc's director of development. "Instead, developers can access the interface at any point during the build process to create, update, delete, or run their business applications from anywhere in the world, so long as there is a computer with a Web connection and a browser."

BED is a powerful offering on so many levels, Crowley says. "And because BED was created in Java servlets, the development environment is remarkably fast, and tailored for Web use."

To simplify operations, mrc designed BED so that only a Web browser is needed on the PC. Additionally, future updates or upgrades of the software only need to be installed in one location to be available to all users automatically.

The Productivity Series BED interface is available to mrc customers as part of their maintenance and warranty package, for no additional charge. Service and support are included. For more information, go to www.mrc-productivity.com.

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