Even though the exact set of steps to modernize your OpenEdge application depends on your specific requirements, the modernization process typically involves the following phases:

  1. Analyze
    • Define your modernization goals.
    • Analyze your existing architecture.
    • Identify modernization requirements.
  2. Design
    • Create a modern, API-first design based on OpenEdge Application Architecture principles.
    • Incorporate continuous availability in your deployment design.
  3. Develop
    • Set up a Progress Developer Studio for OpenEdge environment.
    • Decouple ABL business logic from the UI code and reuse business logic where possible.
    • Develop ABL services for a web application.
    • Connect the ABL services to the UI layer.
  4. Build and test
    • Implement a CI/CD pipeline with automated build steps.
    • Implement quality gates and security scans in the pipeline, so that a build succeeds only if it passes defined quality and security checks.

This is not an exhaustive list. Its purpose is to illustrate the types of activities that you may need to perform in your environment. Keep in mind that it is more efficient and cost effective to make small incremental changes, rather than overhauling your systems.