IBM gathers redevelopment tools

IBM and Viasoft Inc agreed to jointly develop reengineering tools to assist in the downsizing practice of migrating Cobol applications designed under IBM's Application/Development (AD) Cycle environment off mainframe computers to microcomputer and other more inexpensive operating platforms. The new programs operate by inputing applications logic from large business applications such printing or report generating into the AD/Cycle's complex forward engineering tools. These tools generate smaller, more manageable applications that can run on more cost-effective platforms. Industry analysts believe these types of products will give organizations alternatives when it comes to reengineering projects. In the past, such projects often demanded expensive consulting services to complete. The tools being developed by IBM and Viasoft will give organizations the option of having in-house personnel meet their reengineering needs.