March 16

2 comments

What is the best change management tool for IBM i?

By NickLitten

March 16, 2011

Turnover, aldon, change, implementor, kms, management, SCM, SDLC

IBM i and Software Change Management Tools

Today’s SCM (Software Change Management) systems are as focused on productivity gains for the programmer as they are on “controlling” or managing the source and objects. Anything that can be done to make programmers more effective and more efficient in their development process is a very worthy investment. Quite a few tools fit into this space on the IBM I operating system – each has its benefits and it’s downfalls. Lets review a few:

IBM i Change Management Software Review

Software configuration management (SCM) is an umbrella term that has come to mean a wide range of automation functions for application development all SCM product features have potential benefits and other functions that may require changes to your business practice.

The Big Three

What follows is a listing of products that provide SCM functions for IBM-i application development.

I.M.H.O. the three big players are:

  • Turnover V100 – SoftLanding Systems (acquired by Unicom in 2010)
  • Aldon LMe– Aldon Computer Group (acquired by Rocket Software group in March 2011)
  • Implementor – MKS Inc (acquired by PTC in May 2011)

These vendors are the heavy hitters in the IBM-I arena and all have Eclipse user-interface plug-ins for their solutions, which can integrate with IBM’s WDSC and RD-i.

The basics are all the same, Checkout, Compile, Promote, Test, Reject, and Promote. Each product handles things like Triggers, OVRDBF’s, Object Pre-checking, Concurrent Development and object Security. Each product conforms to Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL), Capability Maturity Model Integrated (CMMI) and Sarbanes-Oxley guidelines.

The Change management foundation provides facilities for managing multiple releases and concurrent development across more than one computer platform. Rememeber projects don’t just start and end, they have maintenance releases.


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TURNOVER V101

(aka SoftLanding :: TURNOVER® Lifecycle Manager)

SoftLanding Systems, Unicom.

Turnover manages both new development and modifications very smoothly. It is intuitive and can be configured to be as tight or as loose, as simple or as complex as needs dictate. It comes with a 5250 menu system and also a Windows based V100 client with many time saving enhancements.

Turnover Change Management defines and supports repeatable procedures for developing, deploying, and maintaining IBM-i, web, and multi platform applications. Features include integrated workflow, issue tracking, project management, change management, version control, a cross-reference database, and multi platform deployment. Turnover also provides a variety of plug-in’s for WDSc and other eclipse-based IDE’s and modules that extend Turnover to PC, Java, and web development projects: The programmer is 100% free to choose whatever IDE (Eclipse, VAJ, Websphere, etc) and whatever Version Management (PVCS, SourceSafe, CVS, etc) they want to manage the “front end” of this process. Turnover takes these objects from where ever they are and promotes them in a managed and tracked fashion to where ever you want them to go.

This means you can promote native IBM-i code and PC changes together in the same all-or-nothing promotion. The product has strong tools for customizing workflows and reports, and is capable of supporting highly regulated processes.

Regardless of the technologies they use, most developers wish they could spend more time programming, and less time doing all that “other stuff” — like finding the right source, checking dependencies or constantly sending status updates to managers and end users.

TURNOVER has a comprehensive 5250 green screen menu system:

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As well as an ECLIPSE based Rational Developer Plugin:

Turnover

TURNOVER® v101 liberates developers by automating the less interesting parts of their jobs via interfaces designed for optimum productivity in their preferred environment. From one screen, they can review their tasks, analyze what needs to be changed, make and test changes, and prepare a change for promotion and deployment. Because all interfaces access the same database, they can switch user interfaces at will and never worry about losing work.

If your 5250 developers plan to move to Rational Developer, you’ll appreciate how much TURNOVER® v101 shortens the learning curve. With TURNOVER® v101, the process, automation, and organization you use in 5250 translate directly into the RDi environment. You can confidently use RDi to do real work from day one without having to learn all the intricacies of the IDE. If you run into an obstacle, you can move back to 5250 at a moment’s notice and pick up right where you left off.

It is complex, powerful, and flexible.

TURNOVER is my personal ‘IBM i Software Change Management Tool of choice’.


Aldon
Aldon Lifecycle Manager (IBM-i Edition)

Rocket Aldon Lifecycle Manager (IBM i Edition)

Aldon Lifecycle Manager (IBM-i edition) automates and enforces IT business processes across the application lifecycle, tracks multiple software releases and dependencies between them, automates application deployment and distribution, and streamlines administrative tasks for developers. The product interfaces with RDi via a plug-in.

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Focused primarily on the tasks of change management, the Aldon tool exploits a common repository, and the company broadly supports both ALM tasks, as well as release and service management. Matching with this is Aldon’s focus on supporting traditional processes, and the company provides a number of compliance and industry-specific solutions.

The Aldon solution best fits teams with complex processes working relatively conventional development methodologies. It appeals to regulated organizations, or to those that need broad multi platform server support. Aldon doesn’t have tools for requirements, but has introduced facilities for test case management. Reporting and analytic tools are good for the core elements, but are limited by the lack of integrations to requirements and testing.


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Implementer (Integrity ALM)

IBM i Change Management | PTC

MKS (part of the PTS group)

Implementer/400 was originally a Silvon Product, but became an MKS asset several years ago and bought by PTS in 2011.

All three MkS products are part of the Application Lifecycle Management suite but can also function standalone. Implementer runs on the IBM-i and handles software configuration management tasks, for example, version control. MkS Integrity Manager provides crossplatform process, workflow, and issues management tools that include IBM-i support. MkS Source Integrity enterprise provides cross-platform software configuration management tools.

The company has created an ALM platform based around a framework with unified support for requirements, test management, development workflow, reporting and metrics, with configuration and change management integral for all artifacts. This framework supplies a consistent data structure that permits the creation of relationships that, in turn, allow the traceability, metrics and suspect flagging that is essential to collaboration. It further allows the construction of composite items (that is, documents) from the underlying artifacts. The architecture employs Java Web servers to allow platform-neutral, multitier enterprise implementations.

The pricing structure will appeal to certain clients. Rather than separate prices for each of the pieces, there is a single price per user for the entire platform.

MKS has a relatively complete offering, multi platform support and success in enterprise-level selling. MKS will be attractive to clients seeking strong process, change and configuration support for parallel or distributed product development, or those who find MKS’s approach to requirements compelling.


Honorable Mentions

There are many other players in the IBM i software Change Management Arena.

Here are some notable mentions:

SEE/CHANGE

SEE/Change | Change Management Software from Thenon | Thenon

See/ChAnGeSee/CHANGe offers tools for controlling problems, software changes, release versions, software configurations, and auditing. It supports projects in ILe RPG and all PC object types.

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SEE/Change is delivered with both support for 5250 and a plug-in to Rational Developer for the Development Manager.
The 5250 interface has PDM style panels that enable editing, compiling and testing of library objects before they are promoted through the development life cycle.

The Rational Developer interface has a GUI interface and supports the same Development Manager functions as the 5250 interface.
The Development Manager panels below show an RPG program, an RPGLE program and a PF checked out and ready for development using both the 5250 and Rational Developer interfaces.

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SEE/Change has been certified by IBM to help customers select products to run on the System i.


ARCAD-Skipper

Change management | IBM i | ARCAD Software

ARCAD-Skipper lets developers simultaneously manage native IBM and nonnative components to provide version control for PC components, administration of DB2/uDB components, synchronized multi platform development, and parameter data deployment. ARCAD-Skipper provides integration with WDSc, WSAD, and eclipse IDes via plug-ins.

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ARCAD-Skipper, Git, SVN, TFS, RTC, GitHub, GitLab…
  • Manage several parallel projects easily by establishing a hierarchy between them
  • Reduce the effort in source code merge
  • Compatible with most interfaces and tools
  • Complete traceability of changes and eased regulations compliance thanks to reporting features
  • ARCAD is an open system, offering several alternatives to ARCAD-Skipper for managing native IBM i source code (Git, SVN, TFS, RTC, GitHub, GitLab, etc…)

SOFTWARE CHANGE MANAGEMENT TD/OMS

Software Change Management solution TD/OMS | Remain Software

TD/OMS is a scalable, cost-effective and easy to use Application Life Cycle Management solution.

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TD/OMS supports IBM i (Power) Windows and Unix/Linux. It incorporates fundamental IT business process support to manage software changes, software development, deployment and modernization projects. TD/OMS enables development teams to work in a collaborative way and to share any information at various development stages in any environment (Development, Test, Acceptance, and Deployment). TD/OMS is a powerful software solution that incorporates all the functionalities to support modern software development requirements. 


Some other ALM Solutions

Her are some also rans that I’ve seen over the years:

IBM Rational ClearCase Change Management Solution

IBM Rational Software

IBM Rational ClearCase Change Management Solution provides integrated software configuration management and change control for development projects on multiple platforms, including IBM-i and System z. Features include version control, automated workspace manage- ment, build and release management, workflow tools, audit trails, realtime status and reporting, and security features. enterprise edition adds remote WAN access to a centralized, automatically replicated repository to provide added data security.


Professional Development Environment (PDE/400)

Applied Logic Corporation

PDe/400 works with IBM’s Programming Development Manager (PDM) to provide change-and project-management functions, application-development task automation, and a documentation and cross-referencing subsystem.

TeamStudio Snapper

Teamstudio, Inc.

TeamStudio Snapper helps developers build applications for all platforms that support Notes/Domino, including the IBM-i. Snapper records changes to entire applications or individual design elements automatically and lets developers roll back to any previously saved source-code version. Snapper interfaces with other Teamstudio products that automate other aspects of application development tasks.


CAVEAT EMPTOR

These thoughts are my personal opinions and do not reflect any corporate assessment. It’s for reference only. Take it for what it is… don’t flame or argue about any of my choices, because I’m right and you’re wrong. 🙂

The list of also-ran products came from various different corners of the inter-super-web-net-highway. If it helps someone to understand just some of the different choices for AS400 iSeries Change Management tools then it’s a good thing.

I’ve wanted to write a clean, simple change management tool specifically focused on simple distributions and source control for RPG application developers. One day… just one day… I might 🙂

Me. Pondering.

If you would like a review of your change management software… hunt me down and ping me a message on the Support Page

  • All the above help in installing sources. Are there software which automate installation of application configuration?

    • Hi Sajith – I know this is replying to a really old comment but this might help others so….

      The answer is YES. Most of them do that as standard.

      For example, when you create a promotion form to send to another IBM i system – you can include various runtime commands which would mirror configuration changes to other IBM i Systems on your network.

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