Java™ Connector Architecture: Building Custom Connectors and Adapters

Refactoring Legacy Applications

The task of refactoring is never easy because it requires knowledge of the internal architecture and design of the application. Over time, many applications become enormously difficult to maintain, let alone restructure. Even fixing small frustrating bugs becomes a huge task. Integrating these types of applications is extremely difficult. A better approach might be to redesign the integration logic, and implement it as a physically separate component (adapter). An example is a resource adapter for a CICS-based COBOL application. Instead of changing that application, it is better to build a resource adapter, and localize the integration logic in it. One side effect is the potential duplication of some business rules ...