Amazon Web Services (AWS) has recently unveiled the public preview of Amazon Q Developer, a suite of generative AI-powered transformation capabilities designed to modernise .NET Framework applications to a cross-platform environment. This announcement was made during the high-profile re:Invent 2024 conference, and it marks a significant development for businesses looking to streamline their software processes, particularly those reliant on the older .NET Framework versions.
The new features introduced in Amazon Q Developer are said to enable developers to port their Windows-based .NET applications to Linux-ready cross-platform .NET technology up to four times faster than traditional methods. Additionally, businesses may see a reduction in licensing costs by up to 40%, potentially leading to significant financial savings.
Developers will interact with the transformation capabilities via a simplistic natural language interface, allowing them to outline high-level transformation goals. Following this, the tool connects to source code repositories to assess existing application code. It can identify .NET versions, supported project types, and necessary dependencies before executing the porting process, which includes migrating code and unit tests to the latest cross-platform .NET framework. This automated approach offers collaborative review options, facilitating compliance through detailed logs of the transformation process.
Utilising Amazon Q Developer is straightforward. Developers can initiate the transformation process by clicking the "Transform" button within their Integrated Development Environment (IDE) using the AWS Toolkit. The system automates the rest of the procedure; it deploys agents to pinpoint which components require updates, formulates a plan of action, and executes necessary modifications. This includes not only the upgrade of existing code and configuration files but also the provision of new files where needed. In cases where builds may fail, the system’s agents are designed to automatically identify and rectify errors, providing developers with a comprehensive summary of changes made upon completion.
Steve Leung, a senior software engineer, shared insights on LinkedIn regarding this groundbreaking announcement. He noted that the new functionality would allow developers to transform code from the older .NET Framework to the latest .NET core with the assistance of generative AI, alleviating the traditionally manual and challenging porting process.
Mai-Lan Tomsen Bukovec, Vice President of Technology at AWS, highlighted the significant benefits of Amazon Q in a press release, stating that it greatly accelerates application transformation projects. The AI-driven agents manage some of the most labour-intensive tasks, including analysing, planning, code generation, and testing, thus saving customers valuable time and money while enabling them to maximise their cloud investments.
For those interested in the detailed transformation capabilities of Amazon Q Developer, additional information is accessible through AWS's documentation pages. As businesses continue to adapt to changing technological landscapes, the advancements within Amazon Q Developer may play a pivotal role in shaping future trends in AI automation across various industries.
Source: Noah Wire Services