database-migrationprogress-4glopenedgecode-migration

OpenEdge 11.3 Application Migration


We have an application with 10 millions lines of code in 4GL(Progress) and a database also OpenEdge with 300 Tables. My Boss says we should migrate it to a new Programming language and a new Database Management system. My questions are:

  1. Do you think we should migrate it? Do you think Progress has a "future"?
  2. If we should migrate it, how, are there any tools? Or should we begin with programming from scratch?

Thank you for the help. Ablo


Solution

  • Unless your boss has access to an unlimited budget, endless user patience and a thirst for frustration and agony you should not waste any time thinking about rewrites.

    http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/fog0000000069.html

    Yes, Progress has a future. They probably will never be as sexy an option as Microsoft or Oracle or whatever the cool kids are using this week. But they have been around for 30 years and they will still be here when you and your boss retire.

    There are those who will rain down scorn on Progress because it isn't X or it doesn't have Y. Maybe they can rewrite your 10 million lines of code next weekend and prove just how right they are. I would not, however, pay them for those efforts until after the user acceptance tests are passed and the implementation is completed.