Introducing AWS CardDemo optional features

AWS CardDemo is an open source mainframe application developed by AWS to demonstrate mainframe modernization capabilities. In our previous blog post, Introducing Open Source AWS CardDemo for Mainframe Modernization, we introduced the base version of the application primarily built on COBOL, CICS, JCL, VSAM and Assembler . Since its launch, CardDemo has garnered significant attention and feedback from the mainframe community.

With this blog post, we are excited to introduce a suite of new optional features that extend the base functionality.

AWS CardDemo optional features

These optional features serve as add-ons to the CardDemo base version. In this section, we will dive into the functions and technical components of these optional features for the CardDemo application.

Credit Card Authorizations with IMS, DB2, and MQ

With this feature, you can simulate credit card authorization requests using MQ, retrieve customer data from IMS databases, and log transactions in DB2 tables. The additional application artifacts include comprehensive MQ message definitions, IMS DB schema, and DB2 DDL for integration use cases.

Transaction Type Management with DB2

With our DB2 integration, you can now maintain transaction type reference data in dedicated DB2 tables. Add, update, or delete transaction types from an online CICS transaction or JCL batch job.

Account Extractions using MQ and VSAM

With this feature, you can extract account data from VSAM files and transmit through MQ channels.

Additional JCL Utilities

We have expanded existing batch job capabilities to include commonly used JCL utilities, including: FTP, text-to-PDF conversion, DB2 and IMS DB load/unload, and an internal reader.

Enhanced Data and Copybook Features

Explore more realistic data modernization with enhanced support for various datasets including VSAM (ESDS, RRDS, AIX), GDG, and PDS datasets. Whether it is variable or fixed record formats or complex copybook structures with REDEFINES, OCCURS, or OCCURS DEPENDING ON, CardDemo now covers additional use cases often seen in real migrations.

AWS CardDemo highlights – Domain and technical features

Figure 1 – Domain and technical features

Application Flow

The diagrams illustrate the introduction of new features for both regular and admin users.

Regular User Flow

Logging in as a regular user, you will find a new menu option for authorizations as explained in Figure 2. When you choose authorizations option, you will have the ability to list authorizations, view details of a particular authorization record, or mark the authorizations as fraudulent.

Figure 2 – User application flow

In the CM00 main menu screen you will find option 11 – Pending Authorization View as shown in Figure 3, by choosing this option you will be able to explore the authorizations functionality.

Figure 3 – CardDemo main menu

Admin User Flow

Logging in as an admin, you will find a new menu option for transaction type management as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4 – Admin application flow

In the CA00 admin screen you will see option 05 – List/Update Transactions Types and 06 – Maintain Transaction Types, as shown in Figure 5. By choosing those options you will be able to explore the DB2 functionality of CardDemo.

Figure 5 – CardDemo admin menu

Installing optional features

Follow the instructions available in GitHub to install the base version of CardDemo application. Once the base version of application is compiled and ready, go through the README file to configure and install optional features.

Conclusion

The addition of these new optional features make AWS CardDemo an even greater resource for those exploring modernization options with more realistic capabilities. With available modules for DB2, MQ, IMS DB, JCL utilities, and more data formats, users can leverage CardDemo to test a wider array of mainframe modernization, refactoring, replatforming, and augmentation scenarios.