VisualAge Generator to Enterprise Generation Language Migration Guide


Terminology differences

VisualAge Generator Developer on Java (VAGen on Java), VisualAge Generator Developer on Smalltalk (VAGen on Smalltalk), and the EGL support in WebSphere Studio all use different terminology. To help you relate the VAGen terminology to the EGL terminology, the following six tables show the three sets of terminology.

Figure 3. Code organization terminology differences

VisualAge Generator on Java
VisualAge Generator on Smalltalk Enterprise Generation Language (EGL)
Workspace Image Workspace
Project Configuration map EGL Project
Package Application EGL source folder and EGL Package containing one or more EGL files
(no comparable concept) (no comparable concept) File (generally a Java package or a Smalltalk application will split into multiple files). An EGL file contains one or more EGL parts of one or more part types.
Class or Type Class EGL part type
Method or Member Method (no comparable concept)
VAGen part VAGen part EGL part within a file

Figure 4. VAGen parts and concepts terminology differences

VisualAge Generator on Java
VisualAge Generator on Smalltalk EGL
Shared data item Shared data item TypeDef to a DataItem part
Non-shared data item Non-shared data item primitive item definition
Data item part Data item part DataItem part
Map group part Map group part FormGroup part
Map part:
  • display map
  • printer map
Map part:
  • display map
  • printer map
Form part:
  • textForm
  • printForm
I/O option and I/O object I/O option and I/O object EGL I/O statement
Java application or applet (GUI) Smalltalk view or visual part (GUI)
  • Smalltalk view and visual parts are not supported.
  • Java applications and applets are supported if you did not use VAGen parts on the free form surface. If you did use VAGen parts on the free form surface, then the Java application or applet is not supported in the current release.

Generation options part Generation options part Build descriptor part
Generation option Generation option Build descriptor option
Linkage table part Linkage table part Linkage options part

Figure 5. VAGen with IDE Windows terminology differences

VisualAge Generator on Java
VisualAge Generator on Smalltalk EGL
Log
  • Shows error messages
  • Product closes only if you close BOTH the Log and the Workbench
  • Workspace is ALWAYS saved when you close the product
System Transcript
  • Shows error messages
  • Product closes if you close EITHER the System Transcript or the VisualAge Organizer
  • Image is OPTIONALLY saved when you close the product
Console
  • Shows messages.

Tasks list
  • Shows messages, especially those related to syntax validation.
  • Workspace is ALWAYS saved when you close the product.
Workbench
  • Shows the projects and packages in the workspace.
VisualAge Organizer
  • Shows the applications in the image.
EGL perspectives:
  • Project Navigator view shows the projects, source folders, packages and files in the workspace.
Scrapbook Workspace No comparable concept in EGL.
Repository Explorer Application Editions Browser No comparable concept in EGL. The repository you decide to use might have a comparable concept.
VAGen Parts Browser
  • 3 panes show package, part type, and VAGen parts
  • Filtering is included in the browser
VAGen Parts Browser
  • 3 panes show application, part type, and VAGen parts
  • Filtering is included in the browser
EGL Perspectives:
  • Project Navigator view shows the projects, source folders, packages and files in the workspace.
  • Outline view shows the parts within a file.
VAGen options VAGen preferences EGL preferences
VAJava options VASmalltalk preferences Other WebSphere Studio preferences

Figure 6. VAGen Workspace management terminology differences

VisualAge Generator on Java
VisualAge Generator on Smalltalk EGL
Repository Library None. CVS and Clear Case LT are provided depending on the WebSphere Studio product that you use. You can choose your own repository management system.
Add / Delete Load / Unload If you decide to use a repository, the repository might have a comparable concept.
Replace with Load another edition Replace with local history
Note:
The repository you decide to use might have additional facilities.
Compare with Browse changes Compare with local history
Note:
The repository you decide to use might have additional facilities.

Figure 7. VAGen Repository management terminology differences

VisualAge Generator on Java
VisualAge Generator on Smalltalk EGL
Administrator Library Supervisor If you decide to use a repository, the repository might have a comparable concept.
Repository management:
  • Purge / Restore
  • Compact
Library management:
  • Purge / Salvage
  • Clone
If you decide to use a repository, the repository might have a comparable concept.

Figure 8. VAGen source code management terminology differences

VisualAge Generator on Java
VisualAge Generator on Smalltalk EGL
Ownership:
  • Project owner
  • Package owner
  • Class owner
Ownership:
  • Configuration map manager
  • Application manager
  • Class owner
If you decide to use a repository, the repository might have a comparable concept.
Version and release Version and release If you decide to use a repository, the repository might have a comparable concept.
Project:
  1. A project is required
  2. VAGen Project List Part
  3. The package owner can always release the package to the project.
Configuration map:
  1. Usage is optional
  2. Required map
  3. Optionally, you can delegate the release of applications or restrict their release to the configuration map manager.
Project:
  1. A project is required.
  2. No comparable concept, unless provided by the repository.
  3. No comparable concept, unless provided by the repository.
Package:
  1. No comparable concept
  2. No comparable concept
  3. No comparable concept
  4. Group members
  5. Versioning the project automatically versions the included packages.
Application:
  1. Prerequisite application
  2. Subapplications
  3. Privileges
  4. Group members
  5. You must version the application before you version the configuration map
Folder or Package:
  • If you decide to use a repository, the repository might have a comparable concept.
Class or Type:
  • Versioning the package or project automatically versions the included classes
Class:
  • You must version and release the class before you version the application
EGL part type:
  • No comparable concept in EGL.
VAGen parts:
  • There is a date and time stamp for each part
  • Packages containing duplicate part names CAN be added to the workspace.
  • There is a duplicate parts tool to locate the duplicate parts
VAGen parts:
  • There is a date and time stamp for each part
  • Applications containing duplicate part names CANNOT be loaded into the image.
EGL parts:
  • Parts are in EGL files; only the EGL file has a date and time stamp.
  • You can have duplicate parts in the workspace. EGL uses a combination of a project's EGL build path, the file's import statements, and the containerContextDependent property to determine the name space that is searched to resolve references to part names. Part names must be unique within the name space. The EGL build path for a project limits which additional projects are considered when looking for a part name. The import statement for a file limits which additional packages and/or parts within the EGL build path are considered when looking for a part name. The containerContextDependent property for a record or a function specifies that EGL should use the EGL build path and import statements for the file containing the program rather than from the file containing the record or function.


[ Top of Page | Previous Page | Next Page | Table of Contents | Index ]