Enterprise developers are under pressure to maintain critical business applications built on aging desktop client-server platforms (like VB6 or Powerbuilder) while preparing their organizations for enterprise mobility and BYOD. Potential solutions like application virtualization, technical migration, or re-writing from scratch all have challenges and limitations - namely complexity, high costs, long lead times, and project risk. Gizmox is working with IT organizations to tackle this problem using a unique technology called Transposition.

1. enterprise application mobility
Strategies for moving
business apps to
HTML5 and cloud
Josh Epstein, VP Marketing
josh.epstein@gizmox.com
Itzik Spitzen, CTO
itzik.spitzen@gizmox.com

2. context
ENTERPRISE
MOBILITY
30%
of IT budgets
going to mobility
46%
NEW
TECHNOLOGIES
BYOD
74%
of IT leaders say
BYOD makes
workers more
productive
of CIOs
call mobility
more important
than web
revolution
growth
in HTML5
apps
5x
of business
incorporating
mobility into
workflows
73%
2x
growth in HTML5
developers
34%
71%
businesses
supporting BYOD
of websites use
some HTML5
EXISTING
SKILLSETS
LEGACY
INVESTMENTS
8M
Visual Studio
Developers
20+ years
of desktop
enterprise apps
15B
lines of VB6 code
7.5B
lines of
.NET code
20B+
lines of Oracle
forms,
PowerBuilder,
Delphi, Magic,
COBOL, SQL
Gupta, etc…
AGING
PLATFORMS
Windows XP
going out of
support
VB6 no longer
supported

3. company overview
since inception, Gizmox has offered solutions for building dataintensive apps with rich UIs, optimized for browser client delivery
founded
2007
Experienced technologists
HTML5, development tools, high reliability, compiler tech
team
Enterprise IT
ex-Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, EMC
Tech entrepreneurs
locations
US (Cambridge, MA) and Israel
partners &
customers
Customers: Global 2K Enterprises and ISVs
Partners: Network of VARs and SIs.
Strategic: Microsoft and Citrix
investors
Atlas Venture, Maayan, IVC, Citrix

4. what is gizmox?
we provide HTML5 platforms for bringing business applications to web
and mobile – quickly, securely, with your existing development team
Build nativequality HTML5
applications within
Microsoft Visual
Studio
Reconfigure
existing
applications to
.NET and HTML5
for web and mobile

5. addressing an architectural shift
PC-CENTRIC APP DELIVERY
Backend Servers
cloudbased
servers
Application Code
Web-Optimized App Code
(VB6, Powerbuilder)
(C#, Java)
cloudbased
servers
Framework
Framework
OS Runtime
Data
Tier
Web Server
Backend Servers
datacenter
server
DISTRIBUTED APP DELIVERY
PC
Business
Tier
User
Interface
Tier
Windows
Message Loop
Web Protocol
(HTML5)
PC I/O Devices
Browser/Device IO
(display, mouse, keyboard)
(display, touch, device specific)
multiplatform

6. objectives/imperatives
1. Move away from unsupported platforms
2. Leverage new capabilities of modern
development and deployment platforms
<VB6>
<VB6>
3. Extend beyond windows clients
4. Deliver new user experience – i.e.
webify/mobilify
5. Centralize management and
administration
6. Improve app security while extending app
reach
4.5

7. comparing paths to app mobility
replace with
out of the box
application
virtualization
migration
rewrite
Does not fit with your
business processes
Very costly. Poor mobile
app experience
Not effective for converting
to new platform
high cost, long projects,
high risk

8. transposition
rapidly re-architect existing apps to .NET or HTML5
Delivers new code
(e.g. C# and
HTML5), while
mapping key
dependencies and
controls.
Leverages
patented compiler
algorithms to
rapidly move code
from one platform
to another.
New code is of
highest quality –
as if written from
scratch for .NET
Developer guides
process using tools
– refactoring and
re-architecting as
desired.

9. transposition benefits
BENEFITS
IT
BY THE NUMBERS*
 Rationalize Microsoft
platforms
 Cope with obsolescence
 Support BYOD plans
Developers
 Transfer .NET skillsets to
modern tools (HTML5)
 Get maintainable C# code
Business
 Reduce cost, time to market,
risk
 Enterprise mobility
 Leverage in house resources
90%
more cost
efficient
80%
shorter time
to market
$0.50 – $2/LoC
vs.
$10 – $20/LoC
1300 LoC/developer/day
vs.
177 LoC/developer/day

10. transposition overview
rapidly re-architect existing apps to .NET or VWG/HTML5
1. assessment
2. translation
3. compilation
4. configuration
5. generation
6. evolve &
improve

11. start with old application code
Typical VB6 “thick
client” application
Uses ActiveX
objects
ADODB data
connections
VB6 style error
handling
Win32 APIs
Validated and
Tested Business
Logic

12. objectives/imperatives
1. Move away from unsupported platforms
2. Leverage new capabilities of modern
development and deployment platforms
<VB6>
<VB6>
3. Extend beyond windows clients
4. Deliver new user experience – i.e.
webify/mobilify
5. Centralize management and
administration
6. Improve app security while extending app
reach
4.5

13. translation and compilation
Extends MS Visual
Studio infrastructure
Source-to-source
compiler
Toolkit for
architects/developers to
translate and refactor
application

14. working with raw code
Raw translated .NET code
provides “surface” on which
to work
Use Transposition toolkit to
make decisions, define
rules, and apply mapping
and refactoring logic

15. defining a code pattern
Mark a piece of code as in
important “algorithm” in the
application
Defining template for how
pattern should be
implemented in new code
Visit gizmox.com/trans-dev
for video examples of
transposition tools

16. transposition
Generate new code
applying rules you
have defined on
the translated code
Iterate

17. working with transposed code
Maintain visual
development
paradigm
Leverages
existing skillsets
C# or VB.NET
Visual Studio
version of choice

18. working with transposed code
Maintain visual
development
paradigm
Leverages
existing skillsets
C# or VB.NET
Visual Studio
version of choice

19. running the app
New app deployable on
web server – improved
manageability
Deployable on cloud
Accessible on any
OS/device using HTML5 (or
4)
No client installation
Highly secure

20. evolve and improve the app
Leverage form
factor designer
Themes and
templates for
common devices

21. getting started
1.
FREE
ASSESSEMENT
 Download assessment wizard
 Answer survey questions
 Follow instructions on
submitting code
 Receive assessment results
 Schedule meeting to review
Download
gizmox.com/assess
2.
Leverage Assessment to:
 Better understand
code structure
 Understand how
your code can
leverage standard
mappings vs. need
for custom
 Basic price estimate
and project scope

22. thanks for your time
www.gizmox.com
Contact
2067 Massachusetts Avenue
5th Floor
Cambridge, MA 02140
617-945-0525
sales@gizmox.com
Online Resources
Website
gizmox.com
Whitepaper
Case Studies
CTA

23. transposition case study
CHALLENGE
 Need to upgrade desktop/windows-based
energy efficiency application
 Data centric – relies on customizable, graphical
views defined dynamically by user
 Desire to convert to SaaS offering based on
Windows Azure
COMPANY OVERVIEW
Limón GmbH is provides energy efficiency
solutions to businesses – from identifying
opportunities to optimize energy use to
implementing customized efficiency solutions.
é.VISOR is an energy monitoring application that
collects energy consumption data and calculates
key energy statistics.
RESULTS




95% of code converted automatically
UI brought to web with no loss of functionality
Deployment on Windows Azure
Total project completed in 1 month with 1
dedicated developer
“Now that we have completed the migration and are
familiar with the application and the code, I can
confidently say that rewriting it would have taken
between 6 and 12 months, and we have done it in
one month.”

24. transposition overview
rapidly re-architect existing apps to .NET or VWG/HTML5
1. assessment
free assessment and
cost wizard analyzes
code and provides
benchmark
comparison of
transposition to
rewrite
2. translation
proprietary translator
platform converts
source code to
intermediate language
without code freeze of
source app
3. compilation
4. configuration
make edits, amend
code, selectively
rewrite portions within
Visual Studio
virtual compiler
processes translated
code and mapping
rules – highlighting
areas for developer
attention
5. generation
make edits, amend
code, selectively
rewrite portions within
Visual Studio
6. redesign
leverage Visual WebGui to
evolve, optimize, and
extend application