CSM: Year 2000 Problem

Detection, Analysis, and Correction

Introduction

Our level of social and economic dependence on correction computer representation and processing of date information may come as a surprise: air traffic control, banking, building security, emergency services (ambulance, fire, police), insurance, utilities (electricity, water) are just some of the applications that directly depend on correct computer software dates. Busiesses, economies and nations that fail to invest in "Year 2000" problem solution are likely to be eclipsed by those that do make the investment. In some jurisdictions, negligence may even lead to personal liability.

Necessity for Tool Support

Included among the solutions is Semi-Automated Correction/Conversions. Because there is so little time left, because the problem weill probably manifest itself up to twelve months before 1 January 2000, and because of a rapidly-widening skills shortage, it will be advantageous to develop and to employ special-purpose software tools to complete the job in time. There is no need to panic (yet), but delay in implementing a manged approach to "Year 2000" problem solution can no longer be afforded. However, purely manual approaches, especially at this late date, are high-risk.

The key to the CSM's distinctive capability in "Year 2000" analysis and correction is our "Language Extension Workbench" (LWXB) toolkit. The LXWB allows the rapid development and customisation of purpose-built, language-specific analysers and converters. There are two overlapping classes of the "Year 2000" problem that the LXWB addresses:

• No support technology exists for specific languages: while analysis and correction tools exist for popular languages, many legacy applicatoins have been written in idiosyncratic languages and dialects for which commercially-available solutions are unlikely.
• Maximising return on investment: many managements may baulk at the large investment in "Year 2000" correction, but would bay e.g. for 3GL-4GL conversions.

Binary Analysis

In additions, the CSM houses one of the world's leading teams of binary translation expertise, relating to a third class of "Year 2000" problems:

• Source code lost: up to 30% of legacy systems are estimated to have lost their source code, leaving a decompilation approach as an only solution.