Modernising enterprise IT set to get easier with MOMOCS release

It comes out of the two-year European MOMOCS research project, which has been developing a methodology and tools for fast reengineering of complex systems – driven by a need to keep up with fast-changing business and technology. Project coordinator Alessandra Bagnato, of TXT e-solutions in Italy, explains that key to MOMOCS is what it calls an 'Extreme End-User-Driven Process', which rapidly models existing systems and keeps track of new versions and their transformations in a knowledge base. First, MOMOCS creates a model of your legacy systems, with an overview of the architecture and business logic, specifically identifying critical components. Then it highlights components that can be reused and lays down predefined transformation rules to expedite change – all recorded in a library. There are also 'what-if' facilities, so that software engineers can get to a fairly accurate cost estimate for any modernisation project. "I was initially surprised at the amount of detail in the models we got from our industrial partner Siemens during testing of the MOMOCS tool suite and methodology," says Bagnato. "We are talking about very complex systems and yet the MOMOCS-generated models were able to pinpoint the different parts." She also says that because the system reveals relationships within the model, engineers can quickly select only the aspects that need to be modernised – such as electrical systems on the shopfloor, or switching systems in a warehouse. A final beta of MOMOCS is now available on the project website and parts of its tool suite are to be published on the MoDisco website.