The Return of the Prodigal Mainframer
After five years away from the mainframe, Izzi Software’s Jennifer Nelson shares her observations and notes that while a lot has changed, some things remain the same
Leaving behind 15 years at Rocket Software was more than just a career move: it was a leap into the unknown. During my more than two decades working on mainframes, I witnessed significant technological evolution. My focus was primarily on data—protecting it, ensuring its accessibility, and restoring it when needed. However, as the tech landscape expanded, I wanted to immerse myself in the role of distributed systems in an organization’s ecosystem and data management across a data lake, not just within mainframes. This curiosity led me to a role at a B2B software as a service (SaaS) company, taking me out of my mainframe comfort zone.
Transitioning to the SaaS world was an eye-opening experience that allowed me to apply my extensive mainframe expertise in new and exciting ways. The discipline, precision and deep understanding of large-scale systems I had developed on mainframes over the years proved invaluable and provided a solid foundation in system architecture and performance optimization, which was crucial as our team tackled the complexities of distributed systems. My mainframe background also gave me a unique perspective on ensuring reliability, scalability and efficiency within distributed environments.
During my time in SaaS, I gained a deeper understanding of hybrid architectures as it applied to mainframe modernization. Working with cloud platforms like AWS and Azure helped me understand how cloud and mainframe systems can seamlessly coexist. I also became well versed in cloud security and data availability, enabling me to design and deploy robust solutions critical to meeting market demands.
Full Circle Back to Mainframe
While I gained a wealth of new skills and experiences in the SaaS world, I missed the mainframe. Cloud architecture offers amazing benefits for specific workloads and certain types of services, and my time at the SaaS company provided me with a fresh perspective and a deeper appreciation for the role of mainframes in modern technology ecosystems. However, the mainframe still powers much of the world, so I decided to return to the platform I knew and loved.
Even after transitioning to SaaS, I regularly read mainframe blogs, articles and industry reports to stay updated on the mainframe space. It was interesting to see how the platform I had dedicated so much of my career continued to evolve. Since returning to the mainframe space full-time, it has been both exciting and humbling to see just how much has changed.
Mainframe Technology: What’s New and What’s the Same
Mainframe technology has experienced a remarkable evolution, and the rise of AI stands out as a transformative force, accelerating innovation and presenting businesses with opportunities to redefine their strategies. Similarly, the adoption of hybrid cloud models highlights a strategic shift toward optimizing workloads and data by assigning them to the most suitable platforms, striking a balance between modernization and efficiency.
Additionally, advancements in DevOps for mainframes have brought innovative solutions from new vendors, seamlessly integrating these technologies into CI/CD pipelines and bridging the gap between conventional practices and modern agile methods.
Despite numerous innovations over the last five years, the mainframe industry remains largely unchanged in several ways. Although advances in software engineering tools have made it easier for younger software engineers to code on mainframes, there is still a significant talent gap, particularly for roles like system programmers.
While products now exist that can convert and refactor legacy applications into modern languages, an estimated 8 billion lines of COBOL code continue to run critical applications in the western world. The industry’s inherently risk-averse culture continues to slow the adoption of new technologies. This cautious approach is understandable, given the platform’s reliability and what’s at stake.
Continuing Mainframe Evolution
Returning to the mainframe world after five years away has been a journey of rediscovery and growth. While the landscape has evolved with new technologies and innovations, the core principles of reliability, scalability and efficiency remain steadfast and continue to shape its future.
My time in the SaaS industry reinforced my appreciation for the unique strengths of mainframes. I am profoundly grateful to be part of the mainframe community, where innovation and tradition intersect. Being a mainframer has allowed me to witness firsthand the incredible potential of this technology and its pivotal role in shaping the future. I look forward to continuing this journey and contributing to the ongoing evolution of mainframe systems.