Tool from WRQ streamlines legacy-to-Web software
WRQ Inc.'s Apptrieve, an application mining tool, integrates data from legacy hosts into Web applications.
By Patricia Daukantas
GCN Staff
WRQ Inc.'s Apptrieve, an application mining tool, integrates data from legacy hosts into Web applications.
Apptrieve maps the legacy application, provides tools for Web development, and deploys onto SunSoft Solaris and Microsoft Windows NT platforms, which are the future of host access, said Shaun L. Wolfe, the Seattle company's vice president for host access.
Web-to-host technology is taking over the traditional host-access market, Wolfe said. 'A lot of the discussion is about the nice Web graphical interface, but the real value comes in information tied up in the back-end systems,' he said.
Indirect route
In the interests of data integrity, administrators usually don't want a new Web developer to access data from legacy systems directly, Wolfe said.
Apptrieve's core technology comes from Conextions Inc. of North Andover, Mass., which makes object-oriented connection software for the now-defunct NextStep machines. WRQ modified Conextions' Expresso technology for release as Apptrieve.
Its combined server technologies do what WRQ product marketing manager Steve Dulaney called application mining without any extra software on the desktop PC.
Apptrieve takes a three-step approach, Dulaney said. In the first step, users map the legacy application with a graphical design tool. For the second step, WRQ provides software development kits for various platforms with specific connectors for products from Forte Software Inc. of Oakland, Calif., Silverstream Software Inc. of Burlington, Mass., and Bluestone Software Inc. of Mt. Laurel, N.J., as well as Apple Computer Inc.'s WebObjects, Dulaney said.
The third step is deploying the application on the Apptrieve enterprise server. The server software supports failover and integrated load balancing if configured to work with multiple servers, Dulaney said.
A developer's seat is $995, including tools and prototyping software, Dulaney said. The server software lists for $15,000 plus $500 per session with volume pricing for concurrent sessions.
Contact WRQ at 800-872-2829.