The Evolution of CICS

The Evolution of CICS: FASTER Language Feature (FLF) (1973)

FASTER was one of those software packages that came into being in the late 1960s (4Q68), first as an IBM Type III Application Program and then a bit later it evolved into Program Products as FASTER MT and FASTER LC. Dick Gentry was the author of FASTER, which was frequently referred to as the "GENTRY MONITOR".

The product offered its users an alternative to coding online applications as COBOL, PL/I or Assembler programs. The user would instead code definitional statements (macros) to describe his terminals and files and then code Transaction Processing Descriptions (TPDs) to control application flow at execution time.

Originally, FASTER provided its own runtime environment but as of December 1973, IBM announced that a FASTER Language Facility (FLF) would become available in February 1975 to enable FASTER TPDs to execute in a CICS/VS environment. In June 1975, FLF was extended to also enable original FASTER 2260 applications to execute on the IBM 3270.

Two IBM technical bulletins were written at the time to assist FASTER users in their migration (conversion) to CICS. In addition to the FASTER to CICS/VS Migration Planning Guide, there was also the FASTER to CICS/VS Migration Techniques Guide. These bulletins were supplemented by a number of so-called "Flash Letters" which gave additional hints and tips for the migration process.

The following is a small TPD which displayed a data entry screen to the end user:


GPD      START    0
         GENCCB   GPD,0,0,0,0,(FORMAT)
         GENSTG   GPD,FORMAT,1,TPRTRN,0,ENDSTG
         GENAREA  OUTPREC,9,F1,58,X,22,F2,25,X,121,F3,5,F4,4,X,25,F5,13,      X
                  X,38,F6,28,X,1,F7,21
PAN1     GENPANEL F1,.PS.HI,F2,.PS.HI,F3,.ND.MDTON.PS,F4,F5,.PS.HI,F6,F7,     X
                  .PS.HI,CURSOR=240,FILL=.PS,WCC=(EA,RKB)
         BLIST    GPD,FORMAT,1,(L,80,5,0,0,0,0),PANEL=PAN1
         GEN      GENMV,TO=F1,CONST='LOCAL JUSTICE APPLICATION - GENERAL PURPOX
                  SE INDEX INQUIRY'
         GEN      GENMV,TO=F2,CONST='FILL IN FIELDS AND ENTER'
         GEN      GENMV,TO=F3,CONST='GPI '
         GEN      GENMV,TO='F5,CONST='INDEX NEEDED'
         GEN      GENMV,TO=F7,CONST='IDENTIFIER OR NUMBER'
         ELIST    GPD,FORMAT,1
         LISTP    GPD,FORMAT,1
         END

Exciting stuff? Now what was it you said about coding CICS BMS macros? Or learning how to code the seemingly cryptic Java statements? Without explaining each of the above statements, one can deduce that the TPD defined the screen layout, positionally dependent beginning with display position 1 on the 2260 terminal, and specifying field length and attributes. The GENMV statement caused static data to be moved into display fields. Pretty basic but FASTER did have its advocates at the time.

During its early years, FASTER established is niche among government accounts, and I'm sure some accounts in other industries as well. But given IBM's database/data communications strategy announcement in 1971, the handwriting was on the wall, that FASTER accounts would be encouraged to migrate (convert) to CICS/VS.

The FASTER Language Feature (FLF) enabled migrating customers to continue to run their existing FASTER TPDs (application programs, if you will) and have them coexist within a CICS/OS/VS or CICS/DOS/VS system. Minor code additions were required for most TPDs however there did exist a list of considerations if the user's application somehow extended the original FASTER framework.

FLF provided multi-tasking for the FASTER Type III and FASTER LC user. FLF enabled the customer to begin using VSAM and the 3270. Sign-on and sign-off operator password security was also new for the FASTER user. CICS controlled shutdown and warm start offered the FASTER customer still more enhancements.

FLF was distributed as a set of processing routines which replaced FASTER language processing macros in the previous system. The migrated FASTER TPD now appeared to CICS as ordinary CICS applications.

Tom Gleason, a retired IBMer, with some FASTER experience in his resume, seems to recall that FASTER stood for "Filing And Source data entry Techniques for Easier Retrieval"., MT and LC stood for Multi-Tasking and Low Core (entry level). Comment anyone?