Our journey: how and why?

Building Business Applications in Today's Digital Environment

The modern digital landscape offers a multitude of approaches to developing business applications.  Two key categories are client-facing applications and back-office applications.  Client-facing applications, exemplified by platforms like Amazon and Shopify, rely heavily on visually appealing frontend interfaces to engage users, leveraging HTML and CSS to create interactive experiences.  In contrast, back-office applications prioritize simplicity and efficiency, focusing on supporting internal operations rather than customer interaction.  These applications often mirror the functionality of traditional mainframe systems, which have been optimized for handling complex, behind-the-scenes tasks.  Jtmcode has made significant contributions in this area by developing modern enterprise applications that are robust, scalable, and tailored to meet specific business needs.

What can we learn from COBOL

COBOL is a straightforward, business-centric programming language designed to process screen data sequentially.  Its primary value lies in efficiently retrieving database information to populate screen fields and updating databases with user-inputted data.  Renowned for its simplicity and alignment with business workflows, COBOL excels at these foundational tasks.

On mainframe systems, COBOL also provides granular control over screen elements—such as highlighting, protecting, or hiding specific fields—to enhance user interaction.

At JtmCode, we’ve modernized COBOL’s core principles by leveraging Java as the backbone of our framework.  We’ve built a foundational Java structure that allows developers to layer business-specific functionalities on top.  This strategy preserves COBOL’s simplicity and business-focused efficiency while harnessing Java’s flexibility and modern programming advantages, bridging legacy strengths with contemporary innovation.

What can we learn from CICS

CICS (Customer Information Control System) offers valuable lessons in designing efficient and robust mainframe system software.  Its ability to handle multiple concurrent user sessions, provide seamless navigation between screens, and efficiently manage data storage and retrieval demonstrates the importance of user-centric design in transaction processing systems.  CICS's ease of screen management, effective load balancing across multiple CPUs, and long-standing reliability highlight the benefits of a well-architected system.  The success of Jtmcode's similar system, which ran continuously for over three years without issues while handling hundreds of concurrent users, proves that these principles can be successfully applied to modern software development.  CICS's enduring relevance in the rapidly evolving world of technology underscores the value of creating stable, scalable, and user-friendly systems that can stand the test of time.

Screen Layout Specification

The structure and content of a screen are outlined in a straightforward text document, similar to a detailed index.  This document precisely defines each element on the screen, including its position, data type, size, and other pertinent attributes. This method provides a clear and organized approach to screen design, allowing for easy visualization and modification of the user interface components. 

Robust Error Management

Effective error management is essential for maintaining a smooth user experience. The system employs a strategic approach to error handling, prioritizing user stability.  When issues arise on secondary screens, error messages are intelligently redirected to the primary screen, minimizing disruption to the user's workflow.  This method distinguishes between system-level and application-specific errors, treating each category appropriately to ensure optimal system performance and user satisfaction.

Seamless Expandability

CICS offers exceptional expandability, allowing for the addition of new COBOL programs without any system downtime.  This enables users to access newly implemented features instantly and without interruption.  Jtmcode employs a similar approach, ensuring a seamless and dynamic user experience.

Session-Specific Data Management

In COBOL, the Working Storage Section serves as a dedicated area for storing data unique to each individual screen session.  This design facilitates efficient data comparison and context management, ensuring that each user's interaction remains distinct and properly tracked.  Jtmcode has implemented a comparable system, recognizing the importance of maintaining session-specific information for smooth and personalized user experiences.

Inter-Screen Communication Mechanism

In COBOL, the Linkage section facilitates communication between different screens.  This mechanism allows for seamless data transfer across the application.  For instance, when a user selects a client from a list, the system stores the client ID in the Linkage section and then passes it to the client detail screen, enabling efficient retrieval of specific client information.  Jtmcode has implemented a similar approach, recognizing the value of this efficient inter-screen data transfer method in creating a cohesive and responsive user experience.

Robust Authentication Framework

At Jtmcode, security is a top priority.  The company leverages industry-leading identity providers such as OKTA or Auth0 to implement OpenID Connect (OIDC) protocols for user authentication.  This strategy not only fortifies the system against Denial of Service (DOS) attacks but also manages critical security features including password recovery and multi-factor authentication.  By outsourcing these complex security mechanisms to specialized third-party services, Jtmcode ensures a high level of protection while focusing on its core business functionalities.

Streamlined Screen-CICS Interaction

The communication protocol between screens and CICS was engineered for maximum efficiency, taking into account the constraints of early hardware.  Jtmcode has adopted an innovative approach reminiscent of IKEA's flat-pack model.  In this system, only the crucial components are transmitted to the browser, which then constructs the complete screen interface.  This clever method significantly reduces server CPU usage, resulting in faster response times and enhanced concurrency.  By offloading some of the processing to the client-side, the system can handle more simultaneous user interactions, improving overall performance and user experience.

Mainframe Inspiration

Mainframes, bolstered by reliable systems like CICS and COBOL, have demonstrated remarkable longevity, remaining operational for over six decades.  By emulating the core principles and robust design of these mainframe technologies using modern tools, we can potentially create applications built to last for decades to come.  This approach combines the proven stability of mainframe concepts with the flexibility and scalability of contemporary technologies, offering a path towards building exceptionally durable and dependable software solutions. 

Enhanced User Experience Features

Intuitive features such as automatic tab navigation and enter key support streamline the user experience by intelligently advancing the cursor to the next appropriate field.  This ensures efficient data entry, minimizing manual effort and improving overall usability.  By automating these common interactions, the system provides a more fluid and responsive interface, enhancing user satisfaction and productivity.