1. Introducing Informix Genero -
Accelerating a New Generation of Mobile
and Cloud-based Applications
José M Ruiz
Informix Tiger Team
South West Europe
6 de abril de 2011 © 2011 IBM Corporation

2. Disclaimer
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2 © 2011 IBM Corporation

3. Customer Needs
Clients want to leverage their existing 4GL logic and skills, and re-
purpose their investments by adding modern platforms and features
that will allow for expanding their marketplace with to use solutions.
– Mobile Devices (iPad, iPhone, rugged devices, etc.)
– Graphical desktop clients, browser-based applications
– Simple development environment
– Consideration for SaaS. Cloud computing provides clients with
more flexibility to quickly and easily develop, test and deploy
applications at a lower cost of entry.
3 © 2011 IBM Corporation

4. Who is this offering for?
Customers who want to move “as-is” legacy 4GL code into a web-based, GUI
desktop, mobile or cloud environment.
• Business Partners looking to expand their offerings to modern environments
• ISVs looking to package and resell modern 4GL solutions with Informix
• Existing Informix 4GL customers
• Existing Informix customers looking to deploy applications simply and quickly
• Existing Four J’s customers looking for an IBM offering and a means to
consolidate their investments in an IBM agreement
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4 © 2011 IBM Corporation

5. Modern Solutions with Informix Genero
An offering that will complement existing Informix 4GL by allowing
users to deploy existing and new applications in browser-based,
graphical desktop, mobile and cloud environments.
The offering is driven through an OEM agreement with Four J’s
Leverages the Four J’s Genero product family:
• Genero Business Development Language with Web Services
• Genero Application Server (DVM)
• Genero Desktop Client
• Genero Studio
• Genero Report Writer (Designer, Engine and Viewer)
Future co-development between IBM and Four Js
5 5 © 2011 IBM Corporation

6. Informix Genero - Language Compatibility
Informix Genero really is an updated Informix 4GL
• Superset of Informix 4GL
• 99.9% compatible
• Simple recompile and your application will run
• Little to no modifications to business logic
• New Genero constructs “fit” with existing 4GL constructs. New GUI constructs adopt an
object-oriented type calling sequence
Virtual machine architecture
• Technology independent code
• We focus on the infrastructure
• You focus on the business logic
6 © 2011 IBM Corporation

7. Informix Genero – In Days or Weeks
Informix 4GL Informix Genero
Current Informix 4GL offerings: New Informix Genero offerings:
• 4GL Compiler Development • Informix Genero Developer Suite
• 4GL Interactive Debugger • Informix Genero Runtime Suite
• 4GL Compiler Runtime
• 4GL RDS Development
• 4GL RDS Runtime
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8. Informix Genero – In Weeks or Months
Ergonomics and Workflow
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9. Converting 4GL to Informix Genero
Straight-forward and simple…
1. Recompile 4GL source files with fglcomp
2. Recompile .per (form) files with fglform
3. Link objects into a project at the command line or import into a project via
Informix Genero Studio
4. Perform a build on the project in Informix Genero Studio
5. Perform UI customization as needed
6. Deploy anywhere!
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10. Converting 4GL to Genero – Case Study
Project A
• Perform 1:1 Conversion (4GL Genero)
• Very short duration – 3 weeks to convert!
• Conversion 100% executed by the a European
customer – no consulting!
• Enhancements and future development performed
by the customer
• Key Metrics
•354 programs
•3,023 4GL modules
•625 screens (4GL forms)
•1,174,100 lines of 4GL source code
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10 © 2011 IBM Corporation

11. Converting 4GL to Genero – Case Study
Project B
• Conversion with significant enhancements
• Medium term effort – 2 person-months to convert
• Conversion performed in close collaboration at the
customer site (Four J’s and customer engaged)
• Additional enhancements and future development
performed by the customer
• Key Metrics
•242 programs
•1,522 4GL modules
•596 screens (4GL forms)
•574,684 lines of 4GL source code
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11 © 2011 IBM Corporation

12. Informix Genero Studio –Application
Edit code Design Forms Create Reports
Debug apps Manage Projects Files & Dirs Team work (SCM) Diff
App Generator SOA & WS Profiler Help
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12 © 2011 IBM Corporation

13. Informix Genero Report Writer
Streaming architecture
• Real-time data
• Fast throughput
• Immediate results
• Reduced resource consumption
• Uses less disk space and memory
Dynamic layouts
Supports PDF, Excel, HTML, SVG
Supports Windows, Linux, and Unix
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14. Flexible Deployment – Native GUI Styles
The fastest path to Windows…
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15. Flexible Deployment – Native GUI Styles
The fastest path to the iPhone or iPad…
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15 © 2011 IBM Corporation

16. Flexible Deployment - Native GUI styles
The fastest path to Web 2.0…
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17. Flexible Deployment - Native GUI styles
The fastest path to the Cloud…
Heterogeneous Cloud physical
architecture
Client application accessed via web
services to Windows, Web, Mobile,
Macintosh & Java clients
Dynamic Virtual Machine (DVM)
maintains application context
• Synchronizes XML-based UI definitions
• Manages Informix database connection
• Manages Web Services
Application Server works in
conjunction with any standard Web
Server
17 © 2011 IBM Corporation

18. Flexible deployment – ‘N’ Tiers
Scalable and secure architecture …
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19. Offering Description
Informix Genero Informix Genero Runtime
Developer Suite Suite
Genero BDL with Web Services Genero BDL with Web Services
Genero Application Server (runtime)
Genero Studio (server and client) Genero Application Server
Genero Desktop Client (Linux Genero Desktop Client (Linux and
and Windows) Windows)
Genero Report Writer Genero Report Writer
Informix Client SDK 3.50 Informix Connect 3.50
Passport Advantage (PID 5725-D13) Passport Advantage (PID 5725-D13)
– Authorized User Single Install – Authorized User Single Install
– Floating User Single Session Single
Install
– Processor Value Unit
1919 © 2011 IBM Corporation

20. Informix Genero – Platform Support
Genero BDL
• Mac 64, HP 64, AIX 64, Linux 32/64, Windows 32/64, Solaris 64
Genero Studio and Report Designer
• Linux 32/64, Windows 32/64
Genero Application Server
• Mac 64, HP 64, AIX 64, Linux 32/64, Windows 32/64, Solaris 64
Genero Desktop Client
• Linux 32/64, Windows 32/64, Mac 32
Windows & Mac are new platforms for the 4GL user!
20 © 2011 IBM Corporation

21. Why Sell this Offering
Accelerator to help meet already defined sales targets
Full sales commissions for the Informix Genero Developer and Runtime Suites
Pre-approved discounts for existing Informix customers
Double down with sales on both legacy 4gl and Informix Genero sales as customers POC
the offering and convert to runtime licenses over time
Available on Passport Advantage and the IBM price book
2121 © 2011 IBM Corporation