A
Arden Hecate
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The OpenEdge × AI Innovation Challenge invited developers from around the world to explore how artificial intelligence can solve real business problems using Progress OpenEdge as the operational and data backbone. Participants were challenged to build production-ready AI solutions that demonstrated practical business value while showcasing new ways organizations can modernize their existing applications.
Carlos Vega, a software developer specializing in OpenEdge ERP solutions in Barcelona, Spain, earned second place by demonstrating how AI can extend the capabilities of existing OpenEdge desktop applications. Rather than building an entirely new application, Carlos focused on helping organizations bring AI into the mature systems they already depend on every day.
Carlos has spent 20 years developing OpenEdge business applications for the automotive industry. After participating in the first OpenEdge AI hackathon, where he demonstrated how OpenEdge could connect to AI using the Model Context Protocol (MCP), he wanted his second project to tackle a different challenge.
"I wanted to do something related with legacy software," Carlos explained. "[AI’s] not only for modern applications. It's for every kind of software." For Carlos, that distinction matters. While AI demonstrations often focus on newly developed web applications, many organizations continue to rely on mature OpenEdge systems that have supported their businesses for decades. Those applications contain years of trusted business logic and structured data, making them an ideal foundation for AI-powered workflows.
Carlos's project demonstrates how an OpenEdge Windows desktop application can connect to AI through an MCP server hosted on Progress Application Server (PAS) for OpenEdge. Instead of limiting AI to database queries, his solution allows an AI assistant to interact with the application itself.
Users can ask questions in natural language, retrieve information from the OpenEdge database, navigate directly to application windows and even allow AI to analyze what is displayed on screen. Carlos also developed a desktop client that presents these AI interactions within a familiar OpenEdge interface, making the experience feel like a natural extension of the existing application.
One of the project's most innovative features allows AI to interpret screenshots of the running application. By capturing the current screen and converting it into information an AI model can understand, users can ask questions about what they are viewing without manually describing every detail.
As Carlos explained, "[the] MCP [Server] is not only about getting data." He wanted to demonstrate that AI could also perform actions inside an OpenEdge application, helping users navigate complex interfaces and complete everyday tasks more efficiently.
Carlos's second-place finish builds on an impressive hackathon journey. After winning the previous OpenEdge AI hackathon, he approached this year's challenge by pushing his original idea further. His first project demonstrated that OpenEdge could connect to AI through MCP. This year, he wanted to show what organizations could actually do with that connection by enabling AI to interact with both enterprise data and the application interface itself. That progression reflects the rapid pace of AI innovation and highlights how developers continue to discover new ways to modernize existing OpenEdge applications.
Carlos's project demonstrates that organizations do not need to replace mature OpenEdge applications to begin adopting AI. By combining decades of trusted business data with modern AI capabilities, businesses can enhance familiar workflows, simplify complex user experiences and extend the value of the applications they already rely on.
Reflecting on the future, Carlos believes OpenEdge remains an excellent choice for developing business applications. While every technology has its strengths, he sees OpenEdge as a platform that continues to evolve alongside modern development practices and AI. As he put it, "For business applications, OpenEdge is a good choice," and the ability to integrate with modern tools gives developers new opportunities to innovate without leaving existing systems behind.
The OpenEdge × AI Innovation Challenge showcased how developers are using Progress OpenEdge to modernize business applications with AI. Learn more about the OpenEdge MCP Server, OpenEdge AI Assistant and the broader OpenEdge platform to discover how you can bring AI capabilities to your own applications.
Continue reading...
Carlos Vega, a software developer specializing in OpenEdge ERP solutions in Barcelona, Spain, earned second place by demonstrating how AI can extend the capabilities of existing OpenEdge desktop applications. Rather than building an entirely new application, Carlos focused on helping organizations bring AI into the mature systems they already depend on every day.
Rethinking Legacy Applications
Carlos has spent 20 years developing OpenEdge business applications for the automotive industry. After participating in the first OpenEdge AI hackathon, where he demonstrated how OpenEdge could connect to AI using the Model Context Protocol (MCP), he wanted his second project to tackle a different challenge.
"I wanted to do something related with legacy software," Carlos explained. "[AI’s] not only for modern applications. It's for every kind of software." For Carlos, that distinction matters. While AI demonstrations often focus on newly developed web applications, many organizations continue to rely on mature OpenEdge systems that have supported their businesses for decades. Those applications contain years of trusted business logic and structured data, making them an ideal foundation for AI-powered workflows.
Bringing AI Into Existing Workflows
Carlos's project demonstrates how an OpenEdge Windows desktop application can connect to AI through an MCP server hosted on Progress Application Server (PAS) for OpenEdge. Instead of limiting AI to database queries, his solution allows an AI assistant to interact with the application itself.
Users can ask questions in natural language, retrieve information from the OpenEdge database, navigate directly to application windows and even allow AI to analyze what is displayed on screen. Carlos also developed a desktop client that presents these AI interactions within a familiar OpenEdge interface, making the experience feel like a natural extension of the existing application.
One of the project's most innovative features allows AI to interpret screenshots of the running application. By capturing the current screen and converting it into information an AI model can understand, users can ask questions about what they are viewing without manually describing every detail.
As Carlos explained, "[the] MCP [Server] is not only about getting data." He wanted to demonstrate that AI could also perform actions inside an OpenEdge application, helping users navigate complex interfaces and complete everyday tasks more efficiently.
Building on Two Hackathons
Carlos's second-place finish builds on an impressive hackathon journey. After winning the previous OpenEdge AI hackathon, he approached this year's challenge by pushing his original idea further. His first project demonstrated that OpenEdge could connect to AI through MCP. This year, he wanted to show what organizations could actually do with that connection by enabling AI to interact with both enterprise data and the application interface itself. That progression reflects the rapid pace of AI innovation and highlights how developers continue to discover new ways to modernize existing OpenEdge applications.
Why It Matters
Carlos's project demonstrates that organizations do not need to replace mature OpenEdge applications to begin adopting AI. By combining decades of trusted business data with modern AI capabilities, businesses can enhance familiar workflows, simplify complex user experiences and extend the value of the applications they already rely on.
Reflecting on the future, Carlos believes OpenEdge remains an excellent choice for developing business applications. While every technology has its strengths, he sees OpenEdge as a platform that continues to evolve alongside modern development practices and AI. As he put it, "For business applications, OpenEdge is a good choice," and the ability to integrate with modern tools gives developers new opportunities to innovate without leaving existing systems behind.
Discover What's Possible with Progress OpenEdge
The OpenEdge × AI Innovation Challenge showcased how developers are using Progress OpenEdge to modernize business applications with AI. Learn more about the OpenEdge MCP Server, OpenEdge AI Assistant and the broader OpenEdge platform to discover how you can bring AI capabilities to your own applications.
Continue reading...