Background and Setting 

A Long Distance Telecommunications company required a rapid-development system for a 2+ year application backlog. An understaffed IS department was unable to effectively manage the application load with its current database development language.

Client Business Objectives and Issues

Faster Development of Applications
The existing development system, a “4GL” package, was as slow, or slower than existing 3GL procedural platforms, resulting in missed deadlines and an overworked IS department.

Reusable, Modular, and Uniform Code
Existing applications often contained the same core interface code in terms of functionality. This duplication of work wasted precious programmer time.

A uniform standard interface to end-users
Each application had its own style of interface, presenting different looks to end-users, forcing them to learn to use each system differently, and preventing the most effective use of the systems developed.

How Did UIA Help? 

A true non-procedural Rapid Development system was created. This development platform generated INFORMIX-4GL code from non-procedural design documents, providing uniform, reusable code while presenting the same look and feel to end-users. At the same time, this platform allowed function entry-points into the generated code for IS modification when needed, thus combining the ease-of-use of a 4GL with the power and flexibility of a 3GL.

How the Client Benefited.

Shortened Development Time and reduced Application Backlog
Application backlog was significantly reduced by adoption of the custom rapid development system. Development time for applications have been reduced by as much as 50 % and more in some cases.

A systematic framework for application development
The development platform presented a systematic development path for application programmers, resulting in cleaner and more well-thought out code. Programmers could concentrate on the functionality of their systems without having to worry about database interaction or end-user interfaces. Currently all major application development in the company is done with this tool.

A standard interface to end users.
Since this development system constructs a uniform screen interface, end users no longer have multiple interfaces to contend with.