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THINKWISE AI-POWERED MODEL-DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT PLATFORM

Upcycler

Modernize Your Legacy Applications at Record Speed.

Automatic modernization of legacy applications

Thinkwise Upcycler

20+ years of proven modernization strategy
Accelerated with AI: 70–90% automation
A proven approach to legacy modernization

Many organizations modernize legacy software by completely rebuilding their applications. Projects like these often take years and can introduce risks to business continuity.

The Thinkwise Upcycler offers an alternative. The Upcycler analyzes an existing application and automatically converts its key components into a modern application on the Thinkwise Platform.

This quickly creates a working foundation of the application, without having to redevelop everything from scratch.

Two generations of Upcycler

The Thinkwise Upcycler is available in two variants.

The traditional Upcycler has been used for more than twenty years to modernize legacy applications. The AI-Upcycler builds on this foundation and can additionally analyze and translate source code. As a result, a much larger portion of the application can be automatically preserved.

Upcycler

The traditional Upcycler primarily analyzes the structure of the application.

The following elements are automatically extracted:

  • data structures

  • data

  • application structure

Based on this information, the platform automatically generates a new database. The user interface is interpreted at runtime based on the model, allowing changes to become visible immediately.

Because the UI is derived from the database, screens are not always identical to the original system. Business rules and user experience often still need further refinement.

AI-Upcycler

The AI Upcycler goes even further.

In addition to metadata, it also analyzes the source code of the existing application.

Using AI, this code is translated into concepts within the Thinkwise Platform, such as:

  • screen layouts

  • validations

  • process logic

  • business rules

This enables 70–90% of the application to be automatically transformed.

The result is an application that behaves very similarly to the original system for end users, but runs on a modern architecture.

What this means for the modernization project

The difference between both Upcyclers is not only technological, but also affects how a modernization project unfolds.

Upcycler

The traditional Upcycler provides a kickstart to the modernization project. Upcycling significantly accelerates development, but the project still largely remains a development effort.

After the Upcycle, developers continue building:

Business rules
Processes
User Interface

AI-Upcycler

With the AI-Upcycler, a large part of the application is already automatically converted.

As a result, the role of developers changes. The focus shifts from development to validation and optimization, significantly accelerating modernization projects.

Instead of building new functionality, the focus is on:

Verifying the AI translation
Modeling exceptions

The AI-Upcycler for RPG

One of the technologies where the AI-Upcycler is widely applied today is RPG on IBM i (AS/400).

Using AI, the Upcycler can analyze RPG code and automatically translate it into a modern application on the Thinkwise Platform. In most cases, 70–90% of the application is transformed automatically, while preserving existing logic and functionality.

How upcycling works

Step 1

Analysis and extraction

The Upcycler analyzes the legacy system and extracts:

  • database structures

  • metadata

  • data

When the AI-Upcycler is used, source code is also analyzed to identify business rules and screen behavior.

Step 2

Automatic transformation

The extracted information is translated into an application model within the Thinkwise Platform.

This includes the transformation of:

  • database

  • screen structures

  • application models

The AI-Upcycler can also automatically translate logic from source code into Thinkwise concepts such as:

  • validations

  • process steps

  • business rules

Step 3

Deployment on a modern platform

After the transformation, the new application is deployed.

The database is generated, data is automatically migrated, and the application becomes immediately available via:

  • web

  • desktop

  • mobile

When the AI-Upcycler is used, the resulting application model is significantly richer, as business rules and processes are automatically derived from the original application.

What organizations gain

Applications modernized with the Thinkwise Upcycler immediately benefit from the capabilities of the Thinkwise Platform.

This includes:

SF-website mockup - fit
Full cloud support
Access from any device
A scalable Service Tier for performance and security
Integration with other systems via Connect-to-Anything
Advanced authorization, 2FA, and user roles
Multilingual support and a modern user interface
What our customers say
  • “When you fill a data model in the Thinkwise Upcycler, the user interface is almost ready to use straight away. This means users can have a look and give their feedback. That is a valuable addition compared to just drafting a requirements document”
    Edwin Saan
    Business Architect Royal Saan
  • “Thinkwise already modernized our existing business software during the procurement phase. We got a new version of our existing application in a very short time, but completely modernized with a new database and instantly available for Windows Web, tablets, and smartphones”
    Peter Lenferink
    Director/Owner Manter International
  • "Thinkwise demonstrated during the procurement phase that our business processes posed no problem for them. During the intake, they understood how our business processes worked in under 2 hours. This gave us confidence for the rest of the ERP project."
    Johan den Hartigh
    Cost & Revenue Controller W.E.C. Lines
FAQ
1. What is the difference between the Upcycler and the AI-Upcycler?

The traditional Upcycler primarily analyzes the structure of an application, such as databases and metadata. Based on this information, data models, application structures, and a basic user interface are automatically generated.

The AI-Upcycler goes a step further by also analyzing the application’s source code. Using AI, this code is translated into concepts within the Thinkwise Platform, such as screen layouts, validations, and process logic. As a result, 70–90% of the existing application is transformed automatically, significantly accelerating modernization.

2. Can you also deploy your own ‘upcycles’ as a Thinkwise client, partner or ISV?

As the name suggests, the Thinkwise Upcycler is an integral part of the Thinkwise Platform, so that any user can also perform their own Upcycles. You can use predefined Upcyclers or modify an existing one, which can be a good starting point if you want to Upcycle multiple applications. All of the above comes with full support and training. 

3. Can an application be further developed after it has been upcycled?

Yes. Developers can modify, extend, and optimize the resulting application model.

4. Can you also ‘edit’ the outcome of the Upcycler and optimize the code?

This depends on the legacy technology, but at the very least, it includes the data, and in many cases also meta-information related to business logic, user interface, processes, rights, and more.

Thinkwise is exploring the possibility of using AI to extract even more information by analyzing legacy source code.

See the potential of your transformation in 2–6 weeks
With a Proof of Transformation, we show you within 2–6 weeks, with no obligation, how the AI-Upcycler analyzes your application and what can be transformed automatically - typically 70–90%.