Zeeshan Afzal, Author at LANSA Tue, 22 Jul 2025 14:14:12 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://lansa.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/favicon_32x32_yvA_icon-150x150.png Zeeshan Afzal, Author at LANSA 32 32 10 Software Quality Metrics that Matter https://lansa.com/blog/app-development/software-quality-metrics/ Mon, 24 Feb 2025 14:00:13 +0000 https://lansa.com/?p=49714 Monitoring software quality metrics is essential for building reliable and high-performing applications. By tracking the right software metrics, teams can identify issues early, streamline development, and ensure software meets user expectations. In 2020, U.S. companies lost $2.08 trillion due to software failures, bugs, and poor development practices (CISQ Report). Yet, many software teams (and a […]

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Monitoring software quality metrics is essential for building reliable and high-performing applications. By tracking the right software metrics, teams can identify issues early, streamline development, and ensure software meets user expectations.

In 2020, U.S. companies lost $2.08 trillion due to software failures, bugs, and poor development practices (CISQ Report). Yet, many software teams (and a lot of enterprises) still struggle to track the right software quality metrics leading to numerous challenges like missed deadlines, rising costs, and frustrated users.

This article will give you clear, actionable answers to every possible question you have regarding software quality metrics. You’ll get acquainted with:

✅ The 10 key software quality metrics that top-performing teams use.
✅ How to track, measure, and improve them.
✅ Why these metrics directly impact reliability, security, and user experience.

Key insights

  • Tracking software quality metrics ensures better performance, security, and user experience.
  • Choosing the right metrics prevents unnecessary overhead and improves decision-making.
  • Defect density, test coverage, and MTTR are crucial for stability and reliability.
  • A data-driven approach helps prevent post-release failures and enhances software maintainability.
  • Companies that prioritize code quality and user satisfaction deliver better products with fewer long-term costs.
  • High-performing teams use software metrics to enhance security, minimize downtime, and accelerate development cycles.

By the end, you’ll have a data-backed strategy to make smarter decisions, build better software, and reduce costly issues before they reach your users. Before we get into the details, it’s crucial to first understand what software quality metrics are and why they are important.

What are Software Quality Metrics?

Software metrics are measurable indicators that assess the effectiveness, reliability, and performance of a software product.

They provide objective data on critical aspects such as code quality, maintainability, security, and user satisfaction. Software quality metrics provide quantifiable data to help teams make informed decisions, track progress, and optimize their workflows.

But not all software metrics are equally useful. Some provide clear, actionable insights that help teams improve performance, security, and user experience, while others create unnecessary noise.

Types of Software Quality Metrics 

To effectively monitor software quality, software quality metrics are classified into three main categories:

software quality metrics types

Product Metrics

Product metrics evaluate the inherent quality of the software, focusing on aspects like code structure, defect occurrence, performance, and security vulnerabilities. They help assess how well the software functions and its overall robustness.

Process Metrics

Process metrics focus on the effectiveness of development and testing workflows, measuring how efficiently software is developed, tested, and maintained. They highlight how well issues are identified, addressed, and resolved.


Project Metrics

Project metrics assess the overall project health, including software deployment frequency, user satisfaction, and resource management. They help evaluate the efficiency of project execution and its impact on end-users.

10 Software Development Quality Metrics That Matter

There are countless ways to measure software quality, but tracking everything doesn’t mean building better software. The key is focusing on metrics that provide real insight into software stability, performance, and maintainability. That’s why we have broken down the 10 most critical metrics one by one.

Below are 10 essential software quality metrics help software professionals evaluate software quality, performance, and maintainability, allowing them to prevent failures, streamline development, and ensure long-term software success

Code Quality and Maintainability (Eliminate Technical Debt Before It Slows You Down)

Every software application, whether a modern cloud-based system or a legacy IBM i platform, relies on well-structured and efficient code. Poorly written code leads to frequent defects, increased debugging time, and higher long-term maintenance costs. On the other hand, high-quality code ensures faster development cycles, easier scalability, and long-term software reliability.

What is Code Quality?

Code quality refers to how well-written, maintainable, and error-free a codebase is.

High-quality code is:

  • Readable – Easy to understand for both current and future developers.
  • Maintainable – Can be updated and modified without introducing unexpected issues.
  • Efficient – Optimized for performance and avoids unnecessary complexity.
  • Secure – Protects against vulnerabilities and follows security best practices.

Without a structured approach to maintaining code quality, enterprise applications, including IBM i systems, can become difficult to modernize and scale, leading to significant business risks.

How to Measure Code Quality

Code quality is assessed using static code analysis tools that scan source code for complexity, maintainability, duplication, and security vulnerabilities.

Improving code quality requires consistent processes, automated tools, and strong development standards. Some key strategies include:

  • Implement automated code reviews in CI/CD pipelines to catch issues before deployment.
  • Follow a modular architecture to reduce dependencies and simplify code updates.
  • Refactor legacy code incrementally instead of attempting full rewrites, which are costly and risky.
  • Adopt secure coding guidelines to prevent vulnerabilities from entering production.

When the code is structured properly, debugging, testing, and scaling become simpler. Developers spend less time firefighting and more time delivering value.

Test Coverage and Defect Detection – Catch Issues Early, Reduce Failures Later

Even the most well-structured software contains defects.

Test coverage is one of the most reliable ways to measure how well a software system is validated before deployment. For IBM i applications, test coverage is particularly important because many legacy systems were built with minimal automated testing frameworks. Without proper validation, these applications risk unexpected failures and costly downtime.

What is Test Coverage?

Test coverage measures the percentage of an application’s code that is executed during automated tests. It helps teams determine whether critical functions have been tested and validated before release.

A high test coverage percentage suggests that most of the application is validated, while a low percentage means significant portions of the software remain untested.

How to Measure Test Coverage (With Formulas)

Several types of test coverage provide different insights into the thoroughness of software validation.

A well-tested system requires more than just high coverage percentages. It requires meaningful, well-designed tests that accurately reflect how the software is used in real-world conditions.

Defect Density and Production Stability – Fix the Most Costly Bugs First

Software defects are inevitable, but the way teams detect, track, and resolve them determines whether an application remains stable or becomes a long-term liability. Defect density is one of the most effective ways to measure software quality before deployment. It provides insight into how frequently defects occur relative to the size of the codebase, allowing teams to make informed decisions about release readiness.

Many enterprises struggle with legacy codebases where technical debt impacts software quality, making updates more difficult and risky.

A well-maintained system does not just have fewer defects; it has a controlled defect rate, where issues are caught early, resolved quickly, and prevented from recurring.

How Defect Density is Measured

Defect density is calculated using the formula:

defect density formula

A lower defect density suggests better software reliability, while a higher value indicates potential stability risks. However, defect density should always be analyzed in the context of some applications, like enterprise financial software, which requires near-zero defects, whereas experimental software might tolerate higher defect rates.

Mean Time to Recovery (MTTR) – Minimize Downtime, Restore Service Faster

Even with rigorous testing, software failures are inevitable.

The true measure of system reliability is not just how often failures occur but how quickly they are resolved. Mean Time to Recovery (MTTR) tracks the average time it takes to detect, diagnose, and fix an issue in production, ensuring minimal downtime and business disruption. For cloud services, MTTR is often under 30 minutes. For enterprise software, it can stretch to several hours. If your team’s MTTR regularly exceeds 4-6 hours, you have a bottleneck somewhere, either in detection, diagnosis, or deployment speed.

How to Measure MTTR

  • Automated monitoring tools (Datadog, Splunk) detect issues before users do.
  • Incident response tools (PagerDuty, OpsGenie) track resolution times.
  • Incident tracking systems streamline resolution and assign responsibility.
  • Post-mortem reports help refine troubleshooting strategies for future incidents.

MTTR formula

Faster recovery time reduces financial losses, improves user experience, and strengthens system resilience. Companies that integrate AI-driven alerts, predictive maintenance, and DevOps best practices consistently achieve lower MTTR, ensuring high availability and long-term software stability.

Lead Time for Changes – Deliver Features Without Delays

For high-performing software teams, speed is everything because speed and stability go hand in hand in software development.

Lead Time for Changes measures how quickly teams can take a code change from development to production, reflecting the efficiency of a team’s workflow. Long lead times often point to bottlenecks in testing, approval processes, or inefficient CI/CD pipelines. A shorter lead time allows businesses to deliver updates faster, while a longer lead time can indicate bottlenecks in testing, approvals, or deployment. Tracking lead time helps identify delays and streamline the development process.

How to Measure Lead Time for Changes

  • CI/CD pipelines (Jenkins, GitHub Actions) measure commit-to-deployment time.
  • Code review analytics track bottlenecks in the approval process.
  • Deployment automation removes unnecessary manual steps to speed up delivery.

lead time for changes formula

When lead times are optimized, teams can move features from development to production faster without compromising quality. In large-scale enterprise environments, software development estimation plays a crucial role in ensuring that development efforts align with business needs, preventing unnecessary rework and improving overall efficiency.

Customer-Reported Bugs – Prevent Users from Becoming Your Testers

When users find bugs, it’s a clear sign that your testing and monitoring processes need improvement.

High rates of customer-reported bugs suggest gaps in testing coverage or pre-release validation.Instead of waiting for users to discover problems, teams should focus on identifying and resolving issues proactively.

How to Measure Customer-Reported Bugs

  • Real-time error monitoring tools (Sentry, Rollbar) catch failures before users do.
  • Beta testing and staged rollouts help detect issues in controlled environments.
  • Automated UI and regression tests prevent recurring defects.

How to Improve It

  • Implement real-time error monitoring to catch bugs early.
  • Increase beta testing and User Acceptance Testing (UAT) before major releases.
  • Expand automated test coverage in high-risk areas.

By resolving issues before customers encounter them, teams can enhance user satisfaction and reduce support costs.

Release Frequency and Deployment Stability – Ship Updates with Confidence

Frequent software updates indicate an agile and efficient development process, but uncontrolled or unstable releases can introduce defects and disrupt user experience. Release Frequency measures how often teams deploy new features, fixes, or updates, providing insight into development speed, process maturity, and software stability.

How Release Frequency is Measured

Release frequency is tracked using the formula:

release frequency formula

A higher release frequency indicates a more agile development process, while a lower frequency may suggest longer development cycles or potential deployment bottlenecks.

User Satisfaction and Software Success

No matter how technically sound software is, its success ultimately depends on user experience.

User Satisfaction measures how well your software meets customer expectations, focusing on usability, performance, and reliability. A drop in satisfaction often signals performance issues, confusing interfaces, or unresolved defects.

One of the most widely used methods to measure user satisfaction is the Net Promoter Score (NPS):

nps formula

How It Works

  • Promoters are users who rate your software 9 or 10 on a satisfaction scale.
  • Detractors are those who rate it 6 or below.
  • The NPS score is calculated by subtracting the percentage of detractors from the percentage of promoters.

A higher NPS indicates strong customer satisfaction and loyalty, while a lower NPS suggests that improvements in user experience, software stability, or feature offerings may be needed.

System Availability and Uptime Reliability

Availability is a critical software metric that directly impacts business operations and user trust.

A system with frequent outages or high downtime creates financial losses and damages credibility. System Availability measures how often a system remains operational and accessible.

It is calculated using:

system availability formula

A higher availability percentage (e.g., 99.99% uptime) indicates a more reliable system, while lower availability suggests frequent outages, which may affect user experience and business operations.

Security Vulnerability Metrics and Risk Management

Security is an essential aspect of software quality, especially for enterprise and IBM i environments, where sensitive data is processed. Measuring security vulnerabilities helps teams identify risks, prevent breaches, and ensure compliance with industry standards.

A key security metric is Vulnerability Density, which measures how many security flaws exist per thousand lines of code (KLOC):

vulnerability density formula

How Can LANSA Help?

As software systems evolve, maintaining high code quality, system reliability, and security compliance becomes more complex.

IBM i enterprises, in particular, face challenges with legacy modernization, scalability, and integration. This is where LANSA’s solutions come in. Some of the highly used and recommended ones are Visual LANSA and aXes. These tools help you streamline development, automate workflows, and enhance software quality.

Visual LANSA: Modernizing Application Development

Visual LANSA provides a low-code development platform that enables faster software delivery without compromising quality. By automating routine tasks, reducing coding effort, and integrating best-in-class testing frameworks, teams using Visual LANSA can accelerate development cycles while maintaining software integrity.

aXes: Enhancing UX Without Disrupting Legacy Systems

For organizations running legacy IBM i applications, aXes provides a seamless way to enhance UI and accessibility without requiring extensive redevelopment. Instead of costly rewrites, aXes enables browser-based modernization, improving usability and customer experience while keeping back-end systems intact.


To sum it all up…

Software Quality metrics isn’t just the name of tracking numbers. It is to build software that is reliable, efficient, and easy to maintain. Metrics help, but only when used with purpose. You can have the most detailed reports, fancy dashboards, and perfectly optimized test coverage, but if your system is slow, unreliable, or frustrating to use, none of it matters.

The real purpose of tracking these metrics is not to collect data but to make better decisions.

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What is an AS/400? Understanding Its Role Today https://lansa.com/blog/application-modernization/what-is-an-as400/ Wed, 28 Aug 2024 16:12:23 +0000 https://lansa.com/?p=49993 The AS/400 is a family of midrange computers that IBM introduced back in 1988. Even today, It still continues to serve many businesses because it is known for reliability, scalability and secure performance. The AS400 (Now IBM i) remains a key tool for managing critical applications in fields like healthcare, financial services, retail and manufacturing. […]

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The AS/400 is a family of midrange computers that IBM introduced back in 1988. Even today, It still continues to serve many businesses because it is known for reliability, scalability and secure performance. The AS400 (Now IBM i) remains a key tool for managing critical applications in fields like healthcare, financial services, retail and manufacturing.

The AS400 uses a special technology called Technology Independent Machine Interface (TIMI).

So what exactly is TIMI?

Think of it as a “Translator” that allows programs to speak using common language, no matter what type of computer chip (processor) is inside.

This means IBM i (AS/400) can upgrade the computer’s processor without rewriting their programs. The TIMI acts like a middle layer that converts software instructions into a format and adjusts the instructions to match the new processor, so old programs keep working on new hardware without any changes.

This ensures that the programs on AS400 are running smoothly even if the hardware is upgraded, without disrupting existing applications.

Although AS400 software was developed at the end of the last century, it is still popular and frequently used today. In this article, we will look at what AS400 is, what are the benefits of using it, its scope, and also what alternative names exist. We will also explain how to upgrade an older IBM green screen.

What is AS400? The Legacy

The AS400 also known as IBM i series or IBM i is a mid-range computer system designed to serve as an integrated platform for business and enterprise applications. 

As stated above, it is widely known for its reliability, scalability and security which made it (and makes it) an attractive choice for the businesses and enterprises that needed a system to handle complex business workloads.

How is AS400 referred to?

AS400 is familiar within the market and among business professionals for several names which often creates confusion for those who are not familiar with its history. So here are some of the most common terms used:

  • AS/400

    The original name was given by IBM in 1988.

  • IBM iSeries

    A rebranding that took place in the early 2000s.

  • IBM i

    The current brand name for the operating system that runs on the platform.

  • System i

    Used in some contexts as a shorthand reference for the iSeries.

  • AS400 Software

    A common way to refer to the software used on the system.

All these different terms point to the same powerful system (AS-400). Though the name may differ depending on when it was introduced or updated.

History and evolution of AS400

The AS400 (Application system/400) has been a cornerstone of enterprise computing for decades. This flexible platform (now known as IBM i) was first created to give companies a dependable, all-in-one solution for managing their systems infrastructure, data and applications. After going through multiple iterations and enhancements, AS400 has transformed from a hardware system into a more adaptable and contemporary solution that is still used by businesses (and large enterprises) all over the world.

In fact, the AS400 was first introduced as IBM AS400 but the system was rebranded as technology developed throughout time and its name kept changing to reflect these advancements.  

It was later rebranded to IBM iSeries in the early 2000s, followed by IBM System i. Now it is known as IBM i because of its ongoing role as an integrated platform for enterprise computing. 


AS400 Usage Graph

The Evolution of AS400

Throughout its journey, AS400 has been updated to meet the changing needs of businesses.

The key upgrades have typically focused on:

Hardware enhancements
Increased processing power and…

Improving integration with modern technologies.

Below is a table summarizing the evolution of the AS400 system, including the year, hardware name and the operating system (OS) used.




IBM has continually improved the AS400 (now IBM i) with enhancements to both hardware and software. Here’s how:

Initial Release (1988)

The AS400 system was a multifunctional solution integrating hardware, software and database management. It featured an OS/400 operating system and became popular for its reliability.

  • Early 1990s

    Support for Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) and Java was introduced, making the system more adaptable to changing programming trends. This opened up the AS400 to a wider variety of enterprise applications.

  • 2000s (iSeries and System i)

    During this time, AS400 evolved into the iSeries and System i lines. Important upgrades included support for Linux and web applications, making it easier for companies to integrate new technology into their existing infrastructure.

  • 2010s (IBM Power Systems)

    This phase saw increased emphasis on cloud integration, virtualization and AI capabilities which helped IBM i better support modern business needs.

    The introduction of IBM Cloud capabilities made AS400 an even more attractive option for businesses looking to modernize their systems.

Present-Day (IBM i)

Today, IBM i continues to thrive, offering businesses a flexible platform for handling mission-critical operations. It supports everything from traditional workloads to cloud-based and AI-enhanced applications.

AS400 in Numbers: Statistics and Usage



AS400 in Numbers Statistics and Usage

Languages supported by AS/400 (IBM i)

One of the prominent features of AS/400 is its programming environment. The system supports several languages, making it an all-in-one platform for creating business applications.

Here are some of the main languages supported by AS/400 systems:

  • RPG (Report Program Generator)

    A programming language that’s been around since the early days of the AS/400. RPG is particularly known for handling business applications efficiently.

  • COBOL

    Commonly used for legacy business applications, especially in finance and government sectors.

  • Java

    IBM i supports Java, making it possible to run modern applications on the system.

  • SQL

    For database management and querying, SQL is fully integrated into the AS/400 environment.

  • CL (Control Language)

    A scripting language used to automate system tasks and operations.

This combination of languages enables businesses to integrate both legacy and modern systems, which is one reason AS/400 remains a viable solution today.

Key Characteristics of AS/400 Software

AS/400 software or IBM i has several key features that make it stand out in the world of enterprise computing. Some of them are as follows:

  1. Reliability

    Known for its uptime and stability, AS/400 is often used for mission-critical business applications.

  2. Security

    The system has security features that are integral to industries like finance, healthcare and government.

  3. Integrated System

    AS/400 was designed as a complete solution, combining hardware, operating system and application support into one system.

  4. Scalability

    AS/400 systems can scale as business needs grow, making them suitable for both small businesses and large enterprises.

  5. Backward Compatibility

    IBM ensures that older applications built on the AS/400 remain operational on modern systems, ensuring businesses don’t lose their investments in legacy software.

These characteristics have allowed AS/400 to endure, even as other systems have come and gone.

What is the difference between IBM i and AS400?

IBM rebranded the AS/400 system, but many still refer to it by its original name. So what exactly is the difference between IBM i and AS/400?

Here’s a quick breakdown

AS/400 (1988)

  • Original System

    AS/400 was introduced as an integrated hardware and OS solution specifically for mid-sized businesses, offering strong data handling capabilities.

  • Business-Ready Stability

    Known for exceptional uptime, AS/400 gained popularity for running critical business applications due to its reliable performance and in-built security.

  • Integrated Database

    AS/400 featured an embedded DB2 database, eliminating the need for external databases and simplifying data management.

  • Limited Web Compatibility

    Primarily a transactional system, AS/400 lacked the web and mobile flexibility required by today’s technology needs and requirements.

IBM i on Power Systems (2008 – Present)

  • Updated OS for Power Systems

    IBM i continues the AS/400 legacy on modern Power Systems hardware, supporting a wider range of business operations.

  • Adaptable to Cloud and AI

    Unlike the original AS/400, IBM i supports cloud applications and AI capabilities allowing businesses to integrate newer technologies.

  • Advanced Resource Management

    IBM i introduces robust virtualization, enabling multiple OS environments on a single system which optimizes resource use.

  • Enhanced Data Security

    With stronger security protocols, IBM i addresses current compliance needs, meeting industry standards for data protection.

These key differences highlight how IBM i has evolved and how it remains a continuation of the AS/400’s legacy, offering backward compatibility with older AS/400 applications.

Mainframes And IBM i (AS/400) Systems: What’s The Difference?

There are many differences between mainframes and IBM i (AS/400) systems. Instruction set and underlying hardware, scalability, user interface, general architecture, etc. But the main difference is that IBM i is a mid-range server and the mainframe is a high-end server.

A mid-range server is a more affordable but less powerful option than a high-end server such as a mainframe. Another difference is that the mid-tier server is a stand-alone system, while the mainframe is a distributed network of components that interact to form a massive computing platform. Companies use a high-performance server to store large amounts of data and run centralization applications. It is distinguished by reliability and safety.

Is the AS/400 Still in Use?

The IBM AS/400 system is constantly evolving and using modern technologies. Many of the world’s leading companies are now using it for mission-critical applications. This system provides scalability, security, reliability, and flexibility. AS/400 powers ERP systems, and applications for hospitals, banks, government agencies, and more.

Here are some key reasons why the AS/400 system is still in use:

  1. Reliability and Security

    The system offers a secure, integrated database with high transaction speed, making it ideal for data-intensive applications.

  2. Scalability and Performance

    AS/400 is known for its powerful processors, delivering performance three to five times greater than comparable systems, which is essential for businesses requiring high productivity.

  3. Interoperability

    Applications developed in the 1980s can still run unchanged on newer hardware, ensuring longevity and reducing the cost of redevelopment.

  4. Modern Technology Integration

    IBM i incorporates in-demand technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and client-server systems using modern programming languages like Java and C#.

  5. Logical Partitioning (LPAR)

    This feature allows multiple operating systems to run simultaneously on a single device, ensuring resource independence and optimized performance.

  6. Cost-Effectiveness

    Switching from AS/400 to another system can be costly and disruptive, which encourages businesses to retain their existing systems.

For a deeper look at why the AS/400 remains a preferred choice in many industries, check out this detailed guide on the continued demand for AS/400.

What is AS400 used for?

The AS/400 system is primarily used to run business applications that require high levels of security, reliability, and scalability. Some of the most common applications of AS/400 include:

  1. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) SystemsIBM i excels as a foundation for ERP applications, the backbone of managing essential business operations like finance, accounting, HR and inventory.

    Companies rely on IBM i to power ERP systems such as JD Edwards, Infor and Lawson.

  2. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) SystemsCRM platforms hosted on IBM i enhance customer interactions by tracking data, managing leads, and improving service quality.

    They enable businesses to build and maintain stronger client relationships.

  3. Supply Chain Management (SCM) SystemsOptimizing the supply chain is seamless with IBM i, as it facilitates inventory control, order processing, logistics and demand planning, ensuring smoother operations and higher efficiency.
  4. Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)In manufacturing, IBM i supports MES tools that monitor production processes, manage work orders and uphold quality standards, contributing to streamlined shop floor operations.
  5. Healthcare Information SystemsIBM i’s role in healthcare includes hosting systems for electronic health records (EHR), hospital information and billing processes, ensuring secure and reliable data handling in a critical industry.
  6. Banking and Financial ApplicationsFrom core banking to credit card processing and EFT services, IBM i provides the stability and security required for financial institutions to manage complex operations.
  7. Retail Point of Sale (POS) SystemsRetailers leverage IBM i to power POS systems that enable real-time transaction processing, inventory management, and sales tracking, enhancing customer service and operational transparency.
  8. Warehouse Management Systems (WMS)For warehousing, IBM i supports solutions like Manhattan Associates and Royal4, helping businesses manage inventory and streamline fulfillment processes effectively.
  9. Business Intelligence (BI) and ReportingIBM i brings data to life with BI tools that deliver actionable insights through analytics, interactive dashboards, and comprehensive reporting, driving informed decision-making.
  10. Document Management and ArchivingDocument management systems hosted on IBM i ensure secure storage, easy access, and efficient handling of critical business documents.
  11. Transportation and Logistics SystemsFleet operations, shipment tracking, and route optimization in transportation and logistics sectors are made efficient with IBM i-powered applications.
  12. Utility Billing SystemsIBM i supports utilities by managing billing processes and customer data for essential services like electricity, water, and gas, ensuring accurate and reliable systems.
  13. Insurance Policy ManagementInsurance providers rely on IBM i for policy administration, claims processing, and underwriting functions, delivering secure and efficient operations.
  14. Government and Public Sector ApplicationsIBM i supports government services ranging from tax administration to public safety systems, empowering agencies to manage resources and serve citizens effectively.
  15. Educational Management SystemsEducational institutions use IBM i for managing student information, grading, course registration, and administrative tasks, ensuring seamless academic operations.

The ability to handle such critical applications across different industries showcases the AS/400’s versatility and enduring value.

Modern AS/400 Software Applications

Some of the modern applications include:

  • Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software

    AS/400 systems continue to support ERP applications like SAP, Oracle, and others.

  • CRM Systems

    Customer relationship management software is now fully compatible with IBM i, offering organizations a way to manage customer data more effectively.

  • Web and Mobile Applications

    IBM i supports web and mobile application frameworks, allowing businesses to create responsive, user-friendly applications.

These advancements allow businesses to keep their AS/400 systems up to date with the latest technologies.

The Benefits of AS/400

The AS/400 continues to be popular due to several key benefits:

  1. Reliability

    AS/400 is known for its 99.9% uptime, which is crucial for businesses that cannot afford system downtimes.

  2. Security

    AS/400 offers advanced security features to protect sensitive business data.

  3. Cost-Effective

    Compared to newer systems, AS/400 often proves to be a more affordable solution for many businesses.

  4. Long-Term Support

    IBM continues to provide support for AS/400 users, ensuring that their systems remain secure and up-to-date.

The Challenges with AS400

Despite its reliability, the AS400 (IBM i) system has several challenges that modern enterprises face.

Here are some common challenges and solutions, along with how LANSA can assist:

User Interface Limitations

The traditional AS400 system uses a “green screen” interface which is outdated and can be difficult for new users to navigate. These green screens were originally designed with text-only displays, making them less user-friendly compared to modern graphical interfaces.

This can be solved by modernizing the UI by implementing web-based frameworks like Angular or React, which enables a smoother and visually appealing experience.

LANSA can support this by providing tools to streamline the process of transforming AS400 applications into web-based applications enhancing accessibility and usability.

High maintenance costs

Maintaining AS400 systems is costly due to specialized hardware and software.

Moving applications to the cloud can reduce these expenses.

LANSA facilitates a hybrid approach, enabling cloud migration while ensuring seamless integration with on-premise AS400 systems

Difficulty integrating with modern applications

The AS400 system’s design often lacks compatibility with newer software and cloud environments which complicate efforts to integrate with modern business applications.

One approach is to expose AS400 functionality via APIs, allowing it to interact with other applications.

LANSA enables API-based modernization, allowing AS400 data to interact securely with new applications via RESTful APIs.

Programmers.io

A company (Programmers.io) successfully migrated its AS400 applications to the cloud, leading to enhanced scalability, reduced costs and improved system agility.

By leveraging cloud-native solutions, the business experienced greater flexibility in scaling and updating its applications without altering its core AS400 functionality.

Integrative Systems

A project focused on modernizing the UI of AS400 applications resulted in an improved user experience and streamlined operations.

By shifting from green screens to graphical user interfaces, the team could operate more effectively enhancing productivity and user satisfaction.

Modernizing AS/400

IBM has made it easier for businesses to migrate from legacy systems to modern platforms while maintaining compatibility with existing applications.

Key modernization strategies include:

  • Cloud Integration

    Moving AS/400 systems to the cloud for enhanced scalability and flexibility.

  • Web and Mobile Access

    Making applications accessible through web browsers and mobile devices.

  • Application Upgrades

    Upgrading legacy software to take advantage of new features and improvements.

By modernizing their AS/400 systems, businesses can continue to leverage its power while integrating the latest technology.

How To Modernize AS400 With LANSA?

LANSA is a popular solution for modernizing IBM i applications. It provides various tools that make it easy to optimize the application development process, upgrade existing applications, and add new features.

AXes by LANSA is a tool that allows you to easily and quickly create modern user interfaces and web applications instead of the older IBM green screens. All you need to do is use aXes with your IBM i and your employees can securely access their IBM i 5250 applications from any remote device with Internet access

Ready to Modernize Your AS400 Software?

Install a free trial version of aXes by LANSA and use it to modernize AS400 software.

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