CA TELON

CA TELON is a code generation system designed for developing online applications on z/OS, primarily targeting IMS and CICS environments. It employs a macro-based approach to generate COBOL and PL/1 code, focusing on streamlining the development of online interfaces and database access layers. The system supports databases including Db2, VSAM, IMS, IDMS, and Datacom/DB.

The main components include the TELON Design Facility (TDF) for designing and testing 3270 screen interfaces, the code generator which processes the macros, and the runtime environment on z/OS where the generated code executes. The generated code directly interacts with databases and transaction processing systems like IMS and CICS. Communication between components is primarily through z/OS system calls and standard data access protocols.

CA TELON integrates with z/OS security systems such as RACF, ACF2, and Top Secret for authentication and authorization. The generated code leverages these systems to enforce role-based access control (RBAC) and other access control models. A key architectural advantage is that the generated code does not require proprietary runtime libraries, which simplifies deployment and maintenance.

Competing products offer similar code generation capabilities, but CA TELON's strength lies in its focus on online transaction processing and its ability to generate code that integrates seamlessly with existing mainframe environments.