Technology performance company Compuware (News - Alert) Corporation recently detailed important enhancements to its Compuware Workbench standardized point-and-click mainframe application development interface. Now boasting faster and more efficient file and data management capabilities as well as more robust debugging functionality, Workbench offers a significant boost to developer productivity.

The primary purpose of this interface is to provide an environment in which new and inexperienced developers can produce high quality applications to drive business success, effectively "future-proofing" mainframe development.

"Without access to a modernized development interface, new developers would be deterred by the complex and antiquated mainframe development environment, leaving companies vulnerable to application outages and other business risks when experienced developers retire and take their knowledge with them," said Kris Manery, senior vice president of the Mainframe Solutions Business Unit at Compuware, in a statement.

Other enhancements to the Workbench include support for browsing and editing IMS data bases, as well as DB2 and other mainframe file systems, in the File-AID Data Editor. Being an older mainframe database and transaction management system, IMS typically requires highly technical and specialized knowledge, but with this Workbench enhancement, developers can easily edit and understand IMS data constructs.

This closely mirrors how File-AID revolutionized developers access and manage mainframe data files in TSO/ISPF environments 30 years ago. The File-AID Data Editor also support the XREF capabilities of File-AID MVS by automating the selection and use of record layouts for files with different record types.

Furthermore, Xpediter/Eclipse now includes a number of enhancements that provide developers with greater flexibility in navigating through source code during the application debugging process. Users can also now automatically display compile diagnostics, allowing developers to quickly pinpoint the location of errant code.

In November, Compuware vice president of strategic services, Bob Kennedy, presented an overview of the Compuware Mobile Visioning practice at the CIO Forum & Executive IT Summit, detailing the methodology and benefits of the Visioning practice.

Around that time, the company hosted a live webcast to highlight key industry trends that impact the architectures of modern networks, while examining why a hybrid approach to application performance management is now a requirement.

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