Using Gen AI in mainframe modernization
Industry research backs the ides that generative AI can address gaps in the mainframe modernization process.
According to a recent report on mainframe trends by Information Services Group (ISG), the use of gen AI can accelerate migrations and mitigate the risks associated with mainframe modernizations:
“In most mainframe migrations to the cloud, more than 70 percent of the time is spent on testing. GenAI significantly accelerates this process by generating testing scripts from the legacy source code and automatically running them on the newly created applications, ensuring speed and accuracy,” ISG’s report states. “In addition to accelerating testing, GenAI can pinpoint bugs in the code, facilitating quick fixing and improving quality. GenAI is also used as a human interface, enabling clients to inquire about the functionality of both old and new code, understand business rules and assess the impact of modifications. Other reported benefits include eliminating dead code, replacing code libraries and providing clean code for future maintenance.”
Thoughtworks partnership
In addition to the Imogen launch, Mechanical Orchard is announcing its first partner: Thoughtworks, a technology consultancy that specializes in data and legacy application modernization and cloud services software design.
The partnership will make use of Thoughtworks’ CodeConcise Legacy Assistant, an AI-based tool aimed at quickly understanding and analyzing legacy codebases. The idea is to integrate CodeConcise results into the Imogen system to speed code development, the company stated.
Mechanical Orchard was founded in 2022 by Mee, who is former CEO of Pivital Labs, which VMware bought for $2.7 billion in 2019. Mechanical Orchard has raised $74 million in funding, and it has about 100 employees. It joins a list of competitors that offer mainframe modernization services, including Kyndryl, Google Cloud, AWS, Microsoft, and Rocket Software.
