Magic Software's eDeveloper Speeds Project Turnaround

For those with fewer resources and tight deadlines, Magic Software offers an alternative platform called eDeveloper that enables developers to work with complex enterprise-level code in a single environment.

Customers that are using J2EE and .Net can quickly move to eDeveloper and enhance some enterprise projects that require new interfaces with those platforms. EDeveloper can generate native code for .Net and J2EE platforms and can also work as a stand-alone runtime environment, allowing developers to code entire enterprise systems from scratch.

One of Magic Software's biggest challenges in promoting eDeveloper has been its output code. In the past, eDeveloper kept its code in a format readable only by its own runtime engine and hard-core eDeveloper programmers. EDeveloper represents procedural code in text files that are sent to its runtime environment. With eDeveloper 2, now in beta, each program is stored in XML. The code is the same, but now the menus, data files and source code are structured inside XML tags.

EDeveloper 2 can deploy code with the Magic Enterprise Server in two ways—through XML or cabinet files. Cabinet files are precompiled versions of XML and eliminate the loading and unloading of XML. However, the code is not completely open to XML. EDeveloper still generates special instructions that are understood only by its runtime engine. Its runtime technology is a semi interpreter because a lot of the functionality is built into its engine and the XML files are used to simply configure how the engine should run. For instance, instead of interpreting file-manipulation routines, the XML code passes parameters to the engine of what file to open and how to open it.

With other code-generation tools in the market, developers at some point have to jump right into the code to optimize routines. EDeveloper does not permit that because its routines are already highly optimized and are built into the Enterprise Server. While this technique restricts programmers, it is useful in high-volume execution environments that require servers to run extremely fast.

Even though this method provides faster execution of many subroutines,it leaves average developers in the dark because code execution cannot be traced outside of eDeveloper's environment. Developers cannot go to the XML tomake modifications. This is analogous to using a number in C# when manipulating strings, for instance, and having string functions built into the CLR work through code execution. This is also analogous to having libraries built into its runtime engine.

Instead of programming restrictions, Magic Software customers are concerned mostly with high transaction output and quick project turnaround. This platform provides that advantage over .Net and J2EE and solution providers should take notice.

By moving to XML, eDeveloper is now compatible with all the major source control technologies. EDeveloper 2 now accepts user-defined functions, so code can be modularized. The new platform provides access to directory structures and allows developers to create their own code wizards. All the tools required to design, build, test and deploy are included in the same IDE.

EDeveloper uses an unusual rules-based language that structures code, data and UIs in table format. In fact, eDeveloper places every component and platform feature in table format. Instead of having access to an editor to write free-form code, eDeveloper programmers work with a table editor that behaves like property editors used by many mainstream IDEs.

The editor provides a view of all properties as developers jump between rows and provides choices for language statements in the appropriate cells. Developers use many built-in functions provided in drop-down fields in the code cells. EDeveloper 2 arrives with wizards that automate many steps in creating Web services, DLLs and stored procedures.

Out of the box, eDeveloper interfaces with RPG code on IBM's AS/400. To implement systems with mainframe code and other legacy environments, customers have to buy IBI's iWay adapters separately.

Magic Software Premier partners have access to numerous marketing tools, free training, maintenance and support, professional consulting and co-op marketing. Telephone support for all North American partners is offered between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday. Average reseller margins start at 15 percent. EDeveloper 2's starting price is $5,995.