Learn what to expect when migrating existing Smallworld applications to version 5 and how to prepare for the migration. The presentation was conducted at the International Software Summit 2016, held by GE Grid Solutions in Sorrento, Italy. Feel free to contact us for more details: contact@globema.com

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ABOUT GLOBEMA
Leading provider and integrator
of geospatial and location-based
software solutions
that enable effective planning,
management and control
of networks, assets, resources and
works
in utilities, telecoms & other
enterprises
Mobile
Workforce
Management
Real-Time
Tracking of
Assets & Staff
Optimizing
Decisions
with Maps
& Data
Energy Management
in Smart Grid &
Renewables
Network
Inventory
& Service
Handling
Advanced
Distribution
Management
GLOBEMA
SOLUTIONS
& SERVICES

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120+ Geospatial Software Engineers at 5 R&D Labs
SELECTED TECHNOLOGIES & PLATFORMS WE USE

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OUR GE SMALLWORLD SERVICES
Application development
COTS Products on Smallworld
GIS Solution Delivery
& Implementation
Business Analysis
Technical Consulting
System Audits
Smallworld Trainings
GIS Data Migration
GIS Data consolidation
GIS Data Quality assurance
Helpdesk
Remote System Admin
Maintenance & Support
Project Management

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Why Smallworld 5?

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Smallworld GIS platform history
2000 2003 2006 2012 2015
MagikSF
Virtual machine
designed by
Smallworld
Magik
on
Java
Java 8
(2014)
Smallworld
acquired
by GE
4.0 4.1 4.3 5.0
199x
Smallworld platform releases
Windows
XP
(2001)
Google
Maps
(2005)
Windows
NT 4.0
(1996)
Android
1.0
(2008)

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GOALS OF SMALLWORLD 5
Modern technology stack
based on the Java VM
Improved performance and
user experience
Simplified integration and
interoperability
Straightforward upgrade

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JAVA VM
Benefits of adopting Java VM
• Multithreading, 64-bit processing
• Optimized virtual machine
JIT (just-in-time) compilation
Advanced memory allocation algorithms
• Profiling tools available
• Broad availability of Java libraries

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USER EXPERIENCE
SWIFT – Smallworld User Interface Toolkit
Foundation of a modern user interface
Successful customer trials
Adopted or emulated in Smallworld 5
GE and Google Global partnership
Google Maps, StreetView and address search
Integrated with network data

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INTEGRATION AND INTEROPERABILITY
Preserving your existing investment
• Applications can still be written in Magik
• Existing SWAF applications supported
• Extends GE’s open architecture policy
Reducing TCO
• Availability of libraries and tools
• Open standards
• Simplified integration – e.g. Java to Java
Leading technology for many years into the future

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EASE OF UPGRADE
• GE’s objective is to support smooth and successful upgrades
Working closely with Globema and other partners
• Limited changes between 4.3 and 5.0
Minimal data model or API changes
Minimal functional changes
• Smallworld 5 portfolio released in Q4 2015
Smallworld Core, PNI, LNI, EO, GSS, NV, NIG, …
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GLOBEMA INVOLVEMENT
• GE Smallworld Logical Network Inventory (LNI)
Developed for GE by Globema since 2008
Migration to version 5.0 started in November 2014
5.0 released in November 2015
• Other products
Telecommunication – PRM, ONA, CATV Design
Utilities – DH.GIS (district heating), EL.GIS (power grid)
• Customers’ applications

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GLOBEMA INVOLVEMENT
• GE Smallworld Logical Network Inventory (LNI)
Developed for GE by Globema since 2008
Migration to version 5.0 started in November 2014
5.0 released in November 2015
• Other products
Telecommunication – PRM, ONA, CATV Design
Utilities – DH.GIS (district heating), EL.GIS (power grid)
• Customers’ applications

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ARCHITECTURE COMPARISON
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Database
(SWMFS)
Application
MagikSF Virtual Machine
Smallworld Core
GE Applications (PNI, LNI, EO, GTO)
Globema/Partners’ Products
Smallworld
4.3
Magik Modules
Customisations

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ARCHITECTURE COMPARISON
Magik Modules
Smallworld
5.0
Database
(SWMFS)
Application
MagikSF Virtual Machine
Smallworld Core
GE Applications (PNI, LNI, EO, GTO)
Globema/Partners’ Products
Customisations
Java Virtual Machine
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Our experiences

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MAGIK (PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE)
• Still the primary programming environment
• Excellent backward language compatibility (> 99%)
• Code compiled to Java VM
• Noticeably faster
• Integration with Java
libraries

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DATABASE (VMDS)
• No functional changes
Practically 100% backward compatible
• Faster access
API read even 4x times faster in some scenarios
• Same communication protocol
Improvements planned after 5.0 release
• Concurrent access for 4.x and 5.0 clients

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USER INTERFACE
• New set of UI elements – SWIFT
New icons, different modern look
Emulation of “old” components from version 4.x
• No 100% backward compatibility
Most of the code works without changes
• Whole user interface needs review
Large number of small changes 5.0
4.3

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USER INTERFACE - CHALLENGES
• Emulation is not perfect
Documentation does not clearly describe all differences
How to find the missing 1%
• Keyboard handling
Different notifications
Some shortcuts do not work
• Performance

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THREADING
• Threads are different in Smallworld 5
Native Java threads
Pre-emptive thread switching
• Basic conversion well-documented
• Issues
UI synchronization
Some features are missing
In one case significant application re-design was needed

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TRIVIA
• Magik images are gone
closed image  compile code into jars
open image  use database contexts
• Conversion of icons .ico  .png
• Keep Smallworld 5.0 directory locally
Disable localisation products if possible (to be fixed in 5.1)
• perform()
Do not redefine perform() method in Magik
Even a single re-definition can seriously degrade DB write performance

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DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT
• MDT – limited experience
Difficult to change developers’ habits
• Emacs
Not officially supported – but still works!
Including class browser
• Native Java diagnostic tools (performance, memory)
• Developer tools not available in 5.0

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OTHER CHANGES
• Documentation and context help
Based on HTML 5
Context help delivered with application
Documentation available on-line on GE servers
• Google Maps and StreetView
Built in the application
Address search
StreetView integrated with other tools (e.g. trail)

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LNI – version 4.3

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LNI – version 5.0

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LNI - RESULTS
• Product upgraded, tested and released
• Much more changes than initially anticipated
We have started early – platform was not stable at that time
UI changes and threading
Unexpectedly large number of small changes/corrections
A number of performance issues identified together with GE
Platform performance improved

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LNI - STATISTICS
• Total lines of code
LNI 4.3 192.500
LNI 5.0 191.200
• Changes: 16.600 lines [9%]
Added 6.100
Modified 800
Deleted 9.700
Modules with biggest changes 58%
cit_protection_diversity_editor 20%
cit_config_rule 13%
lni_gui_components 12%
cit_channel_editor 13%
58% of changes in just 4 modules
Migration of legacy code
Changes after adjustment:
~7.000 lines [4%]

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NETWORK VIEWER FOR DH.GIS
• NV to replace a legacy web application
• New features available in NV 5.0.1
Printing improvements
Large internals
• Partial upgrade of DH.GIS application
Data model and API level only
No changes in application-level Magik code between NV 4.3.2 and 5.0.1
Migration of some low-level modules needed

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PNI MODULES
• PRM, ONA, CATV Design
Products upgraded and
released on 5.0
Next release on 5.1 – Q2 2016
• Upgrade experience like with LNI
Few new core issues encountered (fixed fonts, keyboard handling)
More heavy use of threads  more work needed
• Products to be maintained on PNI 4.3

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SMALLWORLD 5.1
• Faster start-up
• Bug fixes
• Minimal functional changes
Same data model
Upgrade 4.x  5.1 as easy as (or easier than) 4.x  5.0
• Development tools are back

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HOW TO START?
• Difficult to assess upgrade
costs
• Upgrade in stages
• Client application upgrade

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HOW TO START?
• Difficult to assess upgrade
costs
• Upgrade in stages
• Client application upgrade
Primary areas – UI and threading

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HOW TO START?
• Difficult to assess upgrade
costs
• Upgrade in stages
• Client application upgrade
Primary areas – UI and threading
Start with the low-hanging fruit
Database-level and API should be easy
NV/NIG/GSS may be a good candidate
Can run simultaneously with 4.x clients

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HOW TO START?
• Difficult to assess upgrade
costs
• Upgrade in stages
• Client application upgrade
Primary areas – UI and threading
Start with the low-hanging fruit
Database-level and API should be easy
NV/NIG/GSS may be a good candidate
Can run simultaneously with 4.x clients
Concentrate on UI

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SUMMARY
• Mature/proven platform (Java VM)
• Excellent Magik compatibility
• Minimal changes to the architecture
Ease of migration
• UI changes
Needs review and fixes
• Performance
Possible to achieve decent performance, but it needs work

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CONTACT US!
contact@globema.com
• How to conduct migration to Smallworld 5?
• How to get the most of your Smallworld 5 system?
www.globema.com
www.globema.com/solutions/smallworld-gis

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Thank you
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