Michael Vallière, a 28-year-old full-stack developer at Proginov, uses Progress OpenEdge to build complex applications.
Proginov, an OpenEdge partner in France with 1,000 customers globally, has three OpenEdge-based applications and over two hundred developers.
Before working at Proginov, Michael had little experience with programming languages, only knowing languages such as Java, HTML, CSS and PHP. This led to some fear of taking on a developer role, but luckily, Proginov helped Michael overcome this by using Progress OpenEdge Advanced Business Language (ABL).
Proginov has a two-week training program on ABL. The first week is spent learning about the tools and instructions for accessing the database. The second week is spent practicing the language while working on small projects to apply what was learned the previous week. After this is completed, they are ready to use ABL to develop applications.
When asked what it was like learning the programming language, Michael said, "OpenEdge is easy to learn and very efficient to code."
Because ABL is easy to learn, essential projects in Proginov can now see the light of day without causing excessive delays and frustrations to daily operations.
Here are the top three things Michael likes about ABL:
- Accessing databases and building windows using the same language.
- The efficiency of accessing the database.
- Instructions are easy to code, read and understand because it is a normal language (SYNTAX), almost like reading in English.
Michael explains that when there are lots of programs that you need to maintain, ABL is best because you can read them faster. ABL also has less code and is easier to sustain.
Because ABL is upwards compatible, it is easy to move from one version to the next, which is a big win for Michael and his team at Proginov. He says developers did not know about any changes because of this compatibility. They can continue working without downtime, which can cause business delays and frustration within the organization and among its customers.
When speaking to another developer, Michael would recommend using Progress OpenEdge ABL. The developer can start quickly and with ease of use.
Michael notes that Progress’ technologies are state-of-the-art, and that ABL is an accessible language that is easy to learn and can be operational instantly.
So, what are the next steps in Michael’s development career? He is now teaching incoming developers the OpenEdge ABL language.
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Jessica (Malakian) Newton
Progress Software empowers organizations to achieve transformational success in the face of disruptive change. Our software enables our customers to develop, deploy and manage responsible AI-powered applications and digital experiences with agility and ease.
Bio Overview
With over five years of experience in product marketing, Jessica has developed a strong foundation in application development and database management software. Her entire career has been at Progress, where she began as an intern in 2020 and have since contributed to multiple products, including the Progress Corticon business rules management system and others.
Jessica specializes in Go-To-Market strategy, execution and management for the Progress OpenEdge platform—leading both campaigns and new product launches, as well as content development, market and persona research and other product marketing activities. She consistently delivers results that drive customer retention and foster innovation. Her public speaking skills have been recognized, notably when she placed first in the Pi Sigma Epsilon South/Atlantic Regional Speakers Competition.
Her goal is to empower customers and partners to fully realize the value of their OpenEdge technology—enabling them to modernize, innovate, and achieve greater business impact by maximizing existing investments and seamlessly embracing new capabilities. Whether it’s migrating to the latest version of the OpenEdge applications or leveraging the Progress Data Platform, she is dedicated to showing organizations how to transform their technology into a strategic advantage. Currently, she focuses on multiple initiatives for the OpenEdge platform, including modernization, expanding the developer base, AI integration, security and more, helping customers and partners succeed in a rapidly evolving landscape. Outside of work, Jessica enjoys writing and reading, which help her stay creative and balanced.
Areas of Expertise
- Product Marketing Strategy
- Go-To-Market Execution and Management
- Content Development
- Market and Persona Research
- Public Speaking
Credentials & Publications
- Pi Sigma Epsilon South/Atlantic Regional Speakers Competition – First Place
Connect with Me
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicamalakian/
- Contact Me / Request a Collaboration: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicamalakian/