The Sitemule Platform is engineered around a set of core runtime engines - IceBreak, IceCap, Architect, and Assist - each operating natively on IBM i. These engines form the executable core of the platform, ensuring that all modules operate within a unified, high-performance runtime environment. This structure eliminates middleware dependencies and aligns execution with the strengths of the ILE model, creating a coherent and scalable modernization framework.

Native Web Execution with IceBreak

IceBreak is the foundational engine that redefines IBM i as a modern web application server. It executes RPG and COBOL programs as service-bound ILE objects under a job-managed dispatcher that handles HTTP/S traffic directly - without reliance on Apache, Java, or external interpreters. Developers can configure how each request is executed through a set of dispatcher models ranging from single-session debugging to high-concurrency application pooling.

What differentiates IceBreak is its ability to expose internal logic as fully documented RESTful web services using native OpenAPI integration. This capability is not emulated - it is compiled directly into the runtime. All transactional behavior, database interaction, and session state management occur without context switching, resulting in consistent millisecond-level response times even under high load.

5250-to-Web Transformation via IceCap

IceCap works in tandem with IceBreak to modernize user interfaces without altering the backend code. It intercepts the 5250 screen buffers and renders them as structured, browser-based applications. Buttons replace function keys, dropdowns replace coded input, and tab-based workflows enable seamless navigation - all while preserving the original RPG business logic underneath.

Because IceCap runs within the same runtime as IceBreak, any updates to the backend logic are reflected immediately in the web interface. This live coupling between UI rendering and business logic ensures synchronization without needing dual maintenance. It provides the user with a modern interface, while the development team continues working in familiar ILE environments.

SQL Modeling and Application Generation with Architect

Architect brings runtime intelligence to data transformation. It scans legacy Db2 structures and generates a fully relational SQL model, which is then deployed as live web applications accessible through the Sitemule Portfolio environment. This process uses Domain Model Design, allowing developers to define relationships, constraints, and views - then bind them directly to grid-based interfaces with filtering, sorting, and export capabilities.

Applications generated by Architect are compiled into ILE modules and integrated into the runtime environment, ensuring the same performance and security as hand-written RPG programs. Because it operates within the same stack as IceBreak and IceCap, Architect-generated applications are immediately accessible through the unified UI and share the same dispatch, session, and security infrastructure.

Intelligence from Assist

Assist adds an AI-driven execution layer to the runtime ecosystem. It enables real-time access to organizational knowledge across both structured ERP data and unstructured documentation. When users engage with applications - whether for support, product data, or process execution - Assist interprets the context and delivers precise, immediate responses drawn from indexed content.

Running alongside IceBreak and IceCap, Assist shares session awareness and can personalize results based on who the user is, what task they're performing, and what system they’re interacting with. It acts not just as a knowledge engine but as a runtime-aware assistant embedded directly into business processes.

What You Always End Up With

The result of implementing Sitemule’s runtime stack is not just a modernized application landscape, but an execution framework that is consistent, compliant, and high-performing.

• A native, high-performance runtime environment that does not rely on third-party interpreters or middleware.

• A cohesive platform where user interfaces, data models, web services, and AI integrations share a common execution context.

• A deployment model that isolates development from production, meeting strict regulatory requirements.

• Full traceability, session logging, and runtime visibility built into every service call and UI action.

This ensures that modernization isn’t fragile or dependent on external orchestration - it’s embedded, controlled, and scalable within the platform itself.

From A to B with Guided Support

Despite the technical depth of Sitemule’s runtime engines, implementation is guided, structured, and predictable. System & Method’s support team leads organizations through:

• Initial environment assessment and prerequisite validation.
• Configuration of runtime servers, dispatcher pools, user roles, and developer environments.
• Hands-on training for dispatch strategies, REST service exposure, and runtime debugging.
• Gradual onboarding of legacy RPG or COBOL logic into IceBreak’s execution model.
• AI knowledge graph modeling and tuning with Assist based on domain-specific terminology and workflows.

Whether you are replacing outdated 5250 workflows, integrating REST APIs into RPG programs, or deploying AI knowledge bots inside your ERP interface, the runtime layer ensures a seamless transformation journey. These engines do not just run code - they manage modernization from execution to delivery with full control, visibility, and consistency.

To begin your transformation with full support and technical alignment, get in touch with us at Support.

Frequently Asked Questions & Takeaways

• Why are runtime engines important in modernization?
  • They provide the execution backbone that ties applications, data, and services together. Without them, modernization often depends on middleware that adds complexity and slows performance. A native runtime ensures stability, speed, and long-term scalability.
• How do runtime engines improve user interfaces on IBM i?
  • They can intercept 5250 green screens and render them as modern web applications without rewriting backend logic. This lets companies give users browser-based experiences while keeping existing business rules intact.
• Can runtime engines help modernize legacy data?
  • Yes, advanced engines can scan Db2 structures and generate relational SQL models. These models are easier to integrate, analyze, and extend with new applications. It bridges the gap between legacy databases and modern business demands.
• What makes Sitemule’s runtime stack unique?
  • Sitemule integrates IceBreak, IceCap, Architect, and Assist into a single IBM i-native runtime. This unified design eliminates middleware and ensures that UI, data, APIs, and AI all run consistently in one execution layer.
• What outcome can companies expect from using Sitemule’s runtime engines?
  • They gain faster applications, modern interfaces, and AI-driven intelligence on IBM i. The result is a secure, high-performance foundation for digital transformation that is stable, scalable, and future-proof.