Progress Software, a trusted provider of AI-powered digital experience and infrastructure software, has introduced the Progress OpenEdge MCP Connector for ABL for early customer review and testing. This purpose-built integration combines Generative AI (GenAI) with Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) to deliver context-aware assistance tailored to OpenEdge Advanced Business Language (ABL), enabling developers to enhance code quality, modernize legacy systems, and extract greater value from OpenEdge data and applications.
The OpenEdge MCP Connector for ABL addresses the limitations of generic AI tools in handling ABL's unique structure, offering developers intelligent, tailored guidance that aligns with organizational standards. By leveraging RAG, the connector retrieves relevant business logic, legacy code, and documentation in real time, ensuring recommendations are grounded in domain-specific context. This facilitates seamless integration into existing workflows, reducing errors and accelerating the evolution of OpenEdge applications in mission-critical environments.
Designed for seamless compatibility with popular development environments, the connector enables collaborative AI interactions where MCP servers access proprietary data repositories for deeper insights. Developers can automate routine tasks, such as generating boilerplate code or conducting unit tests, while embedding compliance rules to uphold code quality. For modernization efforts, it identifies outdated constructs and provides step-by-step refactoring support, easing transitions to OpenEdge 12 and minimizing technical debt.
This approach not only boosts individual productivity but also supports team onboarding by surfacing code patterns and documentation dynamically, fostering knowledge retention in complex ABL ecosystems.
John Ainsworth, EVP and General Manager, Application and Data Platform, Progress Software, stated: “Generic AI tools struggle with ABL due to limited training data and lack of domain context. The OpenEdge MCP Connector for ABL is purpose-built for our customers’ workflows, enabling faster development, reduced risk and smarter modernization strategies. Most importantly, it helps organizations get more value from their OpenEdge investment by making it easier to access, understand and evolve.”
For IT and business leaders, the connector serves as a foundation for responsible AI adoption, incorporating enterprise-grade governance to ensure transparency and risk mitigation. It promotes real-time collaboration aligned with business logic, shortening project timelines and enhancing decision-making through smarter automation of OpenEdge data.
Early feedback from partners underscores its impact: Tony Prettyman, Practice Leader at DMSi, noted: “We see tremendous potential for enhancing developer productivity by integrating AI with our Progress development environment. The ability to utilize either the Progress documentation MCP server or markdown files directly gives us the flexibility to choose the right approach for each situation. This adaptability is essential for staying agile in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.”
Mike Fechner, Director of Consultingwerk, added: “We are excited to participate in the validation program. Progress has taken exactly the right approach here. The OpenEdge MCP Connector for ABL has become a key pillar of our application modernization and refactoring strategy. Large parts of the code written on our developer framework in the last four months have been written by Windsurf and Devin.”
Mike Liewehr, CEO of Build.One, commented: “The Progress approach fits perfectly with the Build.One mission of making AI work for Enterprise Business applications. The improvement in developer productivity that we are seeing in early results is impressive and promising.”
Currently in testing with OpenEdge partners and customers, the connector promises to transform how organizations leverage their legacy investments for innovative, AI-enhanced applications.
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. Customers get a trusted provider in Progress, with the products, expertise and vision they need to succeed. Over 4 million developers and technologists at hundreds of thousands of enterprises depend on Progress.
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