PROCEDIMIENTO DE ANÁLISIS PARA SISTEMAS HEREDADOS EN LA PLATAFORMA MAINFRAME

Abstract

Due to its own characteristics and many other reasons, application analysis on mainframe environments is mainly performed manually. When an error is reported one or several analysts examine program‟s source code and all associated error messages to determine which and where the problem could be in. In the same way, source code is analyzed to know where it should be modified to introduce a new functionality or to add a new module or application. In both cases, this is an activity that requires a lot of time, it is extremely dependent on specific groups of persons (those who are familiar with the applications) and it could introduce new errors. This research describes how to apply different techniques used in Software Engineering and Compilers Theory to propose a semiautomatic code-analysis procedure on one single unit of compilation, to be used for the mainframe platform, although this procedure does not eliminate manual work completely, it is anticipated as an important tool to help the analyst in its labor and therewith an effort to minimize time usage and associated risk. As a direct consequence of this initiative a man-hours reduction is expected and therefore of all of associated costs. As far as possible the procedure was developed attempting a general approach; however in some stages of the development, focus in some specific properties of the prevailing language in the platform was required. The practical application was chosen based on the author‟s professional experience and participation on several projects when several issues at source code analysis were detected. The solution proposed to some of those problems is a good opportunity to generate practical knowledge on analysis matters, as in this particular case for COBOL language on the IBM mainframe platform where software licenses‟ prices are high and the same can be said in regards to the analysis and development work.