Nexus Tools — User Guide
Welcome to the Nexus Toolchain user guide. This section provides practical, step-by-step instructions for using each tool in the Nexus suite.
What is the Nexus Toolchain?
The Nexus Toolchain is a collection of purpose-built tools that automate the daily tasks of Ingenium development teams — from compiling COBOL code to managing servers and migrating insurance policies between environments.
All tools are designed to work together seamlessly, with the Binean Nova VS Code Extension as the central interface.
Tools at a Glance
| Tool | Purpose | Who Uses It |
|---|---|---|
| benova | Set up development environment | Developers |
| icomp | Compile COBOL source code | Developers |
| iman | Manage the isman server process | Developers, DevOps |
| isman | HTTP management server (API) | Automated / Extension |
| ipol | Policy export, import, and copy | Business Analysts, DevOps |
| nexus | Encrypt, decrypt, and hash utilities | Developers, DevOps |
| itun | SSH tunnel management | DevOps |
| VS Code Extension | Integrated development hub | Developers |
Getting Started
1. Install the Environment
Run benova dev to open VS Code with all environment variables configured automatically. See the benova guide for details.
2. Build Your Code
Use Ctrl+Shift+B in VS Code, or run icomp build from the terminal. See the icomp guide for all compilation options.
3. Manage Servers
Start the management server with iman start, then monitor everything from the VS Code sidebar. See the iman guide.
4. Work with Policies
Export, import, or copy insurance policies between environments using the policy task system. See the ipol guide.
Prerequisites
Before using any Nexus tool, ensure you have:
- Windows operating system (Linux supported for server deployment)
- Visual COBOL compiler installed
- IBM DB2 server or client
- Nova configuration files in
~/.nova/cfg/(created during setup)
All tools read their configuration from ~/.nova/cfg/nova.toml and ~/.nova/cfg/ing.toml. You only need to configure these files once.