Using integrated development environments

You can use a variety of tools and languages to develop applications that access DB2 UDB for z/OS data. Popular development tools include the IBM WebSphere Studio family of products, the Microsoft Visual Studio tools, VisualCafe, Borland JBuilder, and many others. Access from these tools is through a variety of access options, such as popular APIs and Web services. A variety of coding styles are built on top of these access mechanisms.

DB2 development support in integrated development environments

Whether developing desktop or Web-based applications, DB2 offers options for working with multiple programming languages, application development styles, and operating systems. DB2 provides tools for developing applications in both the Java and the Microsoft development environments. The three primary areas of DB2 development support in integrated development environments (IDEs) are with WebSphere Studio, Microsoft Visual Studio, and DB2 Development Center.

• WebSphere Studio: DB2 integration with WebSphere Studio provides server-side development for stored procedures and user-defined functions, and integration with the J2EE development environment. This IDE makes it easy to develop server-side functions and to develop J2EE applications and Web service applications within the same development environment.

• Microsoft Visual Studio: Integration with Microsoft Visual Studio provides integration of DB2 application and server-side development. In this IDE, application programmers can build applications that use Microsoft support.

• DB2 Development Center: The DB2 Development Center is integrated with the other DB2 administration tools, such as the DB2 Control Center. DB2 Development Center focuses on DB2 server-side development for stored procedures and user-defined functions. You can read more about the DB2 Development Center in “Using the DB2 Development Center” on page 207.

Access from these tools is through all of the commonly used APIs including JDBC and ODBC, OLE DB, ADO.NET, and ADO. With these access options, application programmers can use a number of other current development tools, including basic editor and command-line support, for developing DB2 applications.

WebSphere Studio Application Developer

You read about the WebSphere Studio family of products in “WebSphere family of products” on page 26. The WebSphere Studio family provides a robust suite of tools for application and Web development. A key tool for application development is IBM WebSphere Studio Application Developer that replaces its predecessor, IBM VisualAge® for Java.

WebSphere Studio Application Developer provides end-to-end support for developing applications that access DB2. Using this tool, you can build J2EE applications with JSP (JavaServer Page) files and EJB (Enterprise JavaBean) components, create Web service applications, and generate XML documents. You can read more about WebSphere Studio Application Developer in “Web-based applications and WebSphere Studio Application Developer” on page 367.

DB2 Development Add-In for Visual Studio .NET

The DB2 Development Add-In for Microsoft Visual Studio .NET provides DB2 development support that is tightly integrated into the Microsoft Visual Studio .NET development environment. The Add-In features make it easy for application programmers to work with DB2 servers and develop DB2 routines and objects. The key Add-In features enable developers to perform these tasks:

• Build DB2 server-side objects

  DB2 Connect provides a DB2 .NET Data Provider that enables .NET applications to access DB2 UDB on z/OS and workstation (Windows, UNIX, and Linux) operating systems.

  Using the Solution Explorer, developers can use script files for building objects that include routines, triggers, tables, and views.

• Access and manage DB2 data connections

  The IBM Explorer provides access to IBM database connections and enables developers to perform the following tasks:

  - Work with multiple DB2 connections

  - View object properties

  - Retrieve and update data from tables and views

  - View source code for DB2 procedures and functions

  - Generate ADO .NET code by using drag-and-drop

• Launch DB2 development and administration tools

  These tools include the DB2 Development Center, Control Center, Replication Center, Command Center, Task Center, Journal, and DB2 Information Center.

Workstation application development tools

A wide variety of tools are available for performing tasks such as querying a database. These tools include ODBC-based tools such as Lotus Approach, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Visual Basic, Microsoft Excel, and many others. The ODBC-based tools provide a simpler alternative to developing applications than using a high-level programming language. QMF for Windows provides access to DB2 data for these tools. With all of these tools, you can specify DB2 UDB for z/OS as the database to access.