Rational Software Delivery Platform for i

Simplifying Source Control Management and Governance on IBM i
IBM Rational Team Concert for i, a new software offering that became available in late Q4 2008, extends recently announced Rational Team Concert to provide a collaborative software delivery environment that empowers IBM i development teams to simplify, automate and govern software delivery, natively on IBM i. Dynamic project provisioning enables day one productivity, while real-time collaboration helps significantly reduce scrap and rework. Rational Team Concert for i extends the capabilities of development teams with integrated source control management, workflow, and governance, as well as dashboard and reporting capabilities for effective project management.

Accelerate Web 2.0 and SOA application development
IBM Rational Developer for i for SOA Construction, a new software offering, enables you to build innovative rich Web applications, and user interfaces (UI), so you can link to the backend RPG, COBOL, and EGL business applications. IBM Rational Developer for i for SOA Construction includes IBM Rational Developer for i, IBM Rational Business Developer (EGL), and Rational Host Access Transformation Services for 5250 Toolkit (HATS).

IBM Rational Developer for iis a new Eclipse-based tool with a reduced footprint. It is an integrated development environment for creating traditional IBM i and integrated business applications using RPG, COBOL and CL. The key enhancements to this release include the visual Application Diagram tool, IBM i 6.1 host support, and specific functions previously in WebSphere Development Studio Client Advanced Edition for System i V7.0 such as single sign-on and Screen Designer.

IBM Rational Business Developer delivers the latest technology tools to support the definition and testing and debugging of EGL applications and services. It also offers support for a broad variety of application hosting environments including J2EE servers (WebSphere®, Apache Tomcat, IBM i™ Integrated Application Server, and so on) and traditional transactional systems such as IBM System z™ CICS® and Information Management System (IMS™) or IBM i™ on Power Systems. The latest version of Rational Business Developer added support for Web 2.0 for building Rich Internet Applications.

Extend the reach of 5250 applications and data to new users
IBM Rational Host Access Transformation Services for 5250 (HATS), a follow-on version of HATS/WDHT, offers a complete set of application transformation solutions that can enable enterprises to extend existing green screen applications to new browser-based and rich client users, and to quickly create web services from existing RPG and COBOL applications. HATS also includes support for mobile devices such as cellular phones, data collection terminals, and personal digital assistants (PDAs).

Accelerate JAVA development
Rational Developer for i and Rational Application Developer in combination adds all the capabilities currently available in WebSphere Development Studio Client Advanced Edition (WDSC-AE). Two separate products enable customers to receive timely releases and updates to both and keep Java developers synchronized across all supported platforms. The combined solution also offers several IBM i specific features available from the RDi product such as the JCA Connectors, wizards and tools to leverage the i5/OS Java Toolbox, and many other Java technology specific features.

Create new and extend existing RPG or COBOL programs as services
IBM WebSphere Development Studio for System i 6.1, now offers significant enhancements to the IBM i host Integrated Language Environment (ILE) compilers. The new release includes a major repackaging of its components. The product no longer bundles all the application development tools and compilers together. Instead, it contains three separately orderable features. These features include ILE compilers, Heritage compilers, and Application Development Toolset (ADTS). Also included in this release are key enhancements to the ILE compilers: RPG, COBOL, C, and C++.