At Karsun Solutions, we’re constantly pushing the boundaries of innovation, especially when it comes to modernizing legacy systems. Our monthly Innovation Town Halls showcase how our experts use emerging technologies like automation and AI to solve real-world customer challenges. Recently, we had two insightful presentations that highlighted the power and versatility of our ReDuX AI-powered modernization platform in transforming complex legacy code using an AI code parser. That team recently summarized their findings on our GoReDuX Blog. Today we’re sharing their insights below.

Natural/ADABAS Modernization with ReDuX AI Code Parser

A common pain point for mainframe customers involves systems written in legacy Natural code with ADABAS. The desire to move away from these systems is driven by several factors, including proprietary software costs, workforce shortages and the fine-tuning required for proper system performance. 

While other modernization tools offer automations for refactoring or replatforming, they often fall short in providing deeper insights. Moreover, they do not lay the groundwork for future enhancements.

The ReDuX Solution

Karsun expert Eamon Cusic shared how his team addressed this. Using ReDuX, they developed a Natural parser capable of assessing both the syntax and semantic structure of the code The team utilized ReDuX Blueprinting agents to analyze user behavior, software module code, and VSAM database schema.

This enabled them to provide context within the VSAM, including crucial elements like core business logic, data flow, and screen flows. With ReDuX Blueprint citations, Eamon’s team could even examine exact window management subroutines, providing unprecedented clarity.

Conquering VB6 and Unsupported Third-Party Components

Raminder Saluja, an AI for modernization leader in our aviation practice, shared another critical challenge facing his customer. A vital legacy application faced obsolescence because its language and third-party components were no longer supported, making modifications and bug fixes nearly impossible. The looming threat? The application was anticipated to stop working with the next Windows update.

The ReDuX Solution

Raminder’s team needed a tool for rapid modernization. ReDuX proved to be the solution, not only capable of parsing VB6 code but also validating requirements and generating test cases as part of the modernization process. After leveraging the Blueprinting agents (like those used for Natural), Raminder’s team extended ReDuX’s VB6 parsing to its code companion code generation agent. The ultimate goal: migrate VB6 to a VB .Net application.

This approach dramatically reduced the modernization timeline. While traditional methods can take over a year, this ReDuX-powered effort is expected to be completed within a 6-month timeframe.

ReDuX: A Mature Framework for Any Legacy Language

What these case studies demonstrate is ReDuX’s incredible adaptability. Whether you’re dealing with Natural, VB6, Oracle Forms/Apex, or other legacy coding languages like COBOL, ReDuX provides a mature framework that allows for the addition of new parsers and libraries. Depending on the language’s complexity, a ReDuX AI engineering team can typically write new parsers in just 2-6 weeks.

Both Eamon and Raminder leveraged this mature process to tackle previously intractable code parsing problems, transforming challenging modernization efforts into achievable projects.

ReDuX empowers Architects, BAs, Product Owners, Designers, Developers, and Testers to achieve significant improvements. Connect with us to discover how ReDuX can tackle your legacy code challenges and accelerate your modernization journey!

As a software developer/solutions architect, navigating the complexities of modernizing legacy applications requires more than just adopting new technologies. It demands a deep understanding of software design patterns that ensure scalable, resilient, and maintainable solutions. Unfortunately, in the rush to modernize, crucial design patterns are often overlooked, leading to technical debt, performance bottlenecks, and security vulnerabilities. This article explores key design patterns frequently ignored by modernization teams, the reasons they are neglected, and the consequences of bypassing them. By integrating these patterns into modernization strategies, developers and architects can build robust, future-proof applications that stand the test of evolving technological landscapes.

Strangler Fig Pattern

The Strangler Fig Pattern is a gradual migration strategy where new functionality is built around the existing legacy system, slowly replacing it until the old system is entirely phased out.

• Why it’s overlooked: Modernization teams often opt for a full rewrite rather than incremental refactoring, assuming that starting from scratch will be faster and more efficient. However, this can introduce significant risks and delays.
• Real-world example: A financial institution migrating from a monolithic COBOL-based mainframe to a microservices-based architecture used the Strangler Fig Pattern. They introduced an API layer that progressively handled more transactions while legacy components were retired incrementally.
• Consequence of ignoring it: A complete system rewrite without this pattern can lead to prolonged development times, business disruptions, and increased failure risks due to untested new implementations.
• When to use: Use this pattern when modernizing large, complex legacy applications that cannot afford extended downtime or complete overhauls at once.

Saga Pattern

The Saga Pattern manages distributed transactions by breaking them into a series of smaller, compensating transactions.

• Why it’s overlooked: Modernization teams often assume eventual consistency is automatically handled by microservices frameworks, neglecting explicit transactional workflows. Implementing sagas can be challenging due to the need for handling failures and maintaining consistency. Teams may opt for simpler orchestration mechanisms without considering the potential for distributed transaction failures.
• A real-world example: An online travel booking system had issues where partial failures left customers with incomplete reservations (e.g., flights booked but hotels not confirmed). Implementing the Saga Pattern ensured rollback mechanisms were in place, maintaining data consistency across services. 
• Consequence of ignoring it: Without the Saga Pattern, distributed systems suffer from data inconsistencies, orphaned transactions, and poor user experience. Distributed transactions can lead to inconsistencies if not handled properly. Failures in one service can impact the entire transaction.
• When to use: Use this pattern when dealing with distributed transactions involving multiple services that must maintain consistency and systems with complex business transactions that span multiple services.

Sidecar Pattern

The Sidecar Pattern runs auxiliary services in separate containers alongside main application services, enabling functionalities like logging, monitoring, and security without modifying the core application.

• Why It’s Overlooked: Modernization teams may prioritize core service development and neglect auxiliary concerns, leading to bloated application code.
• Real-World Example: A fintech company used the Sidecar Pattern to deploy a separate logging and monitoring service alongside each microservice, simplifying debugging and performance tracking.
• Consequence of Ignoring It: Neglecting this pattern leads to tightly coupled services, making maintenance difficult and increasing the complexity of scaling and updating auxiliary functions.
• When to Use: Use this pattern when microservices require independent functionalities like logging, monitoring, or security without modifying the core service logic.

Circuit Breaker Pattern

The Circuit Breaker Pattern prevents a system from continuously making requests to a failing service, reducing unnecessary load and enabling faster recovery.

• Why it’s overlooked: Modernization teams often assume cloud-native platforms handle failure gracefully, ignoring the need for explicit fault tolerance mechanisms.
• Real-world example: Netflix employs the Circuit Breaker Pattern to maintain high availability in its microservices architecture. If a particular service fails repeatedly, the circuit breaker trips and prevents further calls until recovery.
• Consequence of ignoring it: Without circuit breakers, cascading failures can occur, where a single failing microservice can bring down an entire system due to unhandled retries and excessive load.
• When to use: Use this pattern in distributed systems where service failures must be isolated to prevent widespread outages.

Bulkhead Pattern

The Bulkhead Pattern isolates different components or services so that failures in one do not impact the others.

• Why it’s overlooked: Many teams focus on horizontal scaling but neglect to compartmentalize workloads, making services susceptible to systemic failures.
• Real-world example: In e-commerce platforms, checkout, inventory, and recommendation services can be isolated using bulkheads to ensure that failure in one does not affect the others.
• Consequence of ignoring it: Ignoring this pattern can lead to entire systems going down due to a single point of failure, significantly impacting user experience and revenue.
• When to use: Use this pattern in microservices architectures where services must operate independently to ensure resilience.

Event Sourcing Pattern

The Event Sourcing Pattern stores changes to an application’s state as a sequence of immutable events rather than modifying records directly.

• Why it’s overlooked: Teams often prioritize relational database models and transactional consistency, overlooking event-driven architectures that enhance auditability and scalability.
• Real-world example: Uber uses event sourcing to track rides, payments, and user interactions, ensuring that every action is recorded as an event for consistency and debugging.
• Consequence of ignoring it: Not using event sourcing can lead to data inconsistencies, loss of historical data, and difficulties in troubleshooting and replaying past transactions.
• When to use: Use this pattern in applications requiring strong audit trails, historical tracking, and event-driven state management.

CQRS (Command Query Responsibility Segregation) Pattern

CQRS pattern separates read and write operations into different models, optimizing for performance and scalability.

• Why it’s overlooked: Many teams’ default to CRUD-based architectures without considering read-heavy or write-heavy optimizations.
• Real-world example: E-commerce platforms like Amazon use CQRS to manage inventory updates separately from customer queries, ensuring high performance under heavy loads.
• Consequence of ignoring it: Ignoring CQRS can lead to database contention, performance bottlenecks, and inefficient scaling strategies.
• When to use: Use CQRS in high-performance applications where read and write workloads differ significantly.

Repository Pattern

The Repository Pattern separates the business logic from data access, providing a clean abstraction layer between application logic and database queries.

• Why It’s Overlooked: Modern ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) frameworks promise simplified data management, leading teams to believe explicit repository layers are unnecessary.
• Real-World Example: A healthcare software provider initially used direct ORM calls within service classes. As the system scaled, database logic became scattered, leading to maintenance challenges. Refactoring to use the Repository Pattern improved code organization and maintainability.
• Consequence of Ignoring It: Ignoring this pattern leads to tightly coupled code, making it harder to switch databases, optimize queries, or maintain separation of concerns.
• When to Use: Use this pattern when dealing with complex domain logic that requires a clean separation between business rules and data access.

API Gateway Pattern

The API Gateway Pattern acts as a single entry point for all client requests, routing them to appropriate backend services while handling cross-cutting concerns like authentication, logging, and rate limiting.

• Why It’s Overlooked: Teams may assume direct client-to-microservice communication is sufficient, leading to complex client logic and inefficient network calls.
• Real-World Example: A streaming service adopted an API Gateway to handle authentication, request aggregation, and traffic management across various backend services, improving performance and security.
• Consequence of Ignoring It: Without an API Gateway, microservices architectures can become fragmented, increasing security risks, inconsistent data access, and complex client-side logic.
• When to Use: Use this pattern when managing multiple microservices and requiring centralized handling of security, authentication, and request routing.

Modernization efforts should not only focus on adopting new technologies but also on leveraging proven design patterns to ensure scalability, resilience, and maintainability. Patterns like Strangler Fig, Saga, Circuit Breaker, Bulkhead, Event Sourcing, Repository, Sidecar, and CQRS provide essential strategies to ensure a scalable, resilient, and maintainable architecture. By integrating these patterns into modernization efforts, teams can avoid common pitfalls, minimize risks, improve system reliability, and create robust solutions for the future.

A version of this blog was first posted by Karsun expert Lakshman Maruri. Lakshman is an expert in our aviation portfolio. Connect with him on LinkedIn. Our Karsun Cloud Solutions experts use tools like those available in our Cloud Runways and Microservices Toolkits to accelerate transformation and build resilient, scalable architecture. Learn more at https://karsun-llc.com/innovation-center/modernization-and-transformation-toolkits/cloud-runways/

HERNDON, VIRGINIA – Karsun Solutions has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2024 honor by the Oklahoman. Awardees are among the best employers in the state of Oklahoma. This list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage. The confidential survey uniquely measures the employee experience and its component themes, including employees feeling Respected & Supported, Enabled to Grow, and Empowered to Execute, to name a few. 

“Earning a Top Workplaces award is a badge of honor for companies, especially because it comes authentically from their employees,” said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. “That’s something to be proud of. In today’s market, leaders must ensure they’re allowing employees to have a voice and be heard. That’s paramount. Top Workplaces do this, and it pays dividends.”

This is Karsun’s third year on the list. Headquartered in Virginia, its teams in Oklahoma City, the Washington, D.C. region and around the country support large-scale enterprise modernization efforts at government agencies. In addition to this award, the technology consulting firm previously received Top Workplaces awards as a top employer in the Washington, D.C. region, nationally as part of the USA TODAY Top Workplaces program and across the industry as a Technology Industry Top Workplace. It is currently hiring team members for both remote and hybrid roles in these locations. It is currently hiring at KarsunCareers.com/jobs.

Karsun Solutions has once again been awarded a Top Workplaces 2023 honor by Oklahoman Top Workplaces. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage LLC. The confidential survey uniquely measures 15 culture drivers that are critical to the success of any organization, including alignment, execution, and connection, just to name a few. 

“Earning a Top Workplaces award is a badge of honor for companies, especially because it comes authentically from their employees,” said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. “That’s something to be proud of. In today’s market, leaders must ensure they’re allowing employees to have a voice and be heard. That’s paramount. Top Workplaces do this, and it pays dividends.”

Karsun Solutions previously received a Top Workplaces 2023 Culture Excellence Award for Work-Life Flexibility and a 2023 Technology Industry Top Workplace Award. Both award programs use third-party survey results from Energage. In addition to culture awards from Top Workplaces, it has also received recognition from Comparably, an employee-rating site, for company outlook and career growth. 

“We are committed to a work culture where all can grow, innovate, collaborate and build great solutions for our government customers,” said Kelly Demaitre, Karsun Chief People Officer. “We are honored to see this commitment reflected in this Top Workplaces award.”

Karsun Solutions is an enterprise modernization firm serving government agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Aviation Administration and General Services Administration. Most of Karsun’s Oklahoma City, Oklahoma-based team serves its FAA customer. This is the second year its team was named an Oklahoma Top Workplace. Learn more about Karsun’s aviation industry careers, including its Oklahoma City team, at https://karsun-llc.com/careers/aviation-industry-technology-jobs/.

About Karsun Solutions

Transform your career with the company transforming possible for the government. Join the workplace where the only limit on your potential is the limit of your curiosity. Thrive in a community that empowers software development, cloud and data experts. At Karsun, collaborate in a culture that allows you the freedom to explore every possibility and provides support to turn your bold ideas into reality. Expand your career potential with dynamic development resources like Karsun Academy and sponsored technical certification courses. And joining a growing enterprise means as we grow, so do your career opportunities. Take your career to the next level and play your part in powering new possibilities for federal agencies.

Company Contact 
Karsun Solutions
marketing@karsun-ll.com
www.karsun-llc.com

About Energage

Making the world a better place to work together.

Energage is a purpose-driven company that helps organizations turn employee feedback into useful business intelligence and credible employer recognition through Top Workplaces. Built on 17 years of culture research and the results from 27 million employees surveyed across more than 70,000 organizations,  Energage delivers the most accurate competitive benchmark available. With access to a unique combination of patented analytic tools and expert guidance, Energage customers lead the competition with an engaged workforce and an opportunity to gain recognition for their people-first approach to culture. For more information or to nominate your organization, visit energage.com or topworkplaces.com.

Karsun Solutions Herndon, Virginia FAA Team at their August 2018 Potluck

Karsun Solutions recently celebrated the one year anniversary of the start of the FAA SSD program. In August of 2017 Karsun Solutions was awarded the five-year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with a $145 million ceiling value. This recent addition to the Karsun family is also among the organization’s fastest growing.

The contract provides technical services in support of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Information Technology (FAA AIT). These Software Solution Delivery (SSD) support services assist in the implementation and continuing support of enterprise-wide software application and database development. We also perform maintenance related activities related to solution development and the sustainment of existing systems.

Over the course of the first year, Karsun’s FAA SSD Program has grown to more than 150 people. With rapidly growing teams in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and the Washington DC metro area we prioritized the quick integration of Karsun culture across our FAA program.

FAA SSD is One of Many Growth Factors

FAA SSD is one of several programs driving Karsun’s ongoing growth. We have multiple $100 million-plus contracts. Our portfolio of services includes Modern Software Development, Cloud Solutions, and Advanced Analytics. Our proprietary GoLean ® methodology guides our development practice. In 2017 we released our GoLean.io lean management toolkit to augment this data-driven methodology. In addition to the FAA, our premier customers include the General Services Administration, US Department of Homeland Security, Smithsonian and Government Accountability Office.

Recognized locally and nationally for our continuous growth, the Washington Business Journal ranked Karsun on its list of the 50 Fastest Growing Companies in the Washington, DC area. We were also recently named to the Inc. 5000 list of Fastest Growing US Private Companies. We are actively hiring for teams in both Oklahoma and Virginia. For more information on joining the Karsun Solutions team visit our Karsun Careers Page.

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ- The Federal Aviation Administration William J. Hughes Technical Center awarded a five-year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract to Herndon, Virginia based Karsun Solutions. With a $145 million ceiling value and a five-year period of performance, the contract provides technical support services in support of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Information Technology (FAA AIT). These Software Solution Delivery support services assist in the implementation and continuing support of enterprise-wide software application and database development. Karsun will also perform maintenance related activities related to solution development and the sustainment of existing systems.

“We are excited to support the Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Information Technology (FAA AIT) with the development and maintenance of enterprise-wide software applications and databases,” said Karsun Solutions CEO Sundar Vaidyanathan. Karsun enables “the agency to seamlessly connect, interact, and respond to employees, customers, and other stakeholders more easily and reliably. The Karsun team looks forward to providing innovative, cost-effective and high quality IT services to FAA . ”

Karsun Solutions is a small business that can support a $100 million+ contract as a prime. It is currently supporting the General Services Administration (GSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As the prime contractor on the $110 million GSA CAMEO Small Business contract, the organization is delivering on initiatives supporting acquisition planning, solicitation writing, contract award and contract administration functions. It is also engaged with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to modernize its Balanced Workforce Strategy decision support system.

About Karsun Solutions

Karsun Solutions is a fast-growing, innovative enterprise modernization firm. Recently awarded Best Company Culture by Comparably.com, its teams deliver modern software development, cloud, and data solutions to customers at government agencies including the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Aviation Administration and General Services Administration. Leveraging GoLean, Karsun teams drive digital transformation and help its government customers Do Extraordinary. Learn more at Karsun-LLC.com.