IBM Z* Open Development is an entry-level toolset for z/OS* development teams who plan to transform their software delivery practices around a common, automated delivery pipeline. It provides the essential link Z developers need to join a platform neutral, continuous integration and deployment pipeline that’s inclusive of z/OS application components.
Neat and Lean
Developers must be able to iterate quickly between editing, building and debugging code. When working with modern source code management systems like Git and Rational* Team Concert that support parallel development, developers perform this tight set of steps independently, until they’re ready to share their work with their team, and ultimately, their customers.
IBM Z Open Development offers z/OS developers the essential capabilities necessary for quick iteration. These capabilities include:
Modern editors for COBOL, JCL and PL/I. These editors provide the familiarity of other Eclipse-based editors while providing language-specific features such as syntax highlighting and source actions.
Graphical views to improve program understanding. Program control flow provides graphical views of the logical flow within a COBOL or PL/I program, enabling users to understand the logic of the programs they’re editing. Program data flow provides graphical and hierarchical views of the data flow within a COBOL program. This feature also allows users to examine how data elements are populated or modified.
Powerful and modern debugging with IBM z/OS Debugger. This Eclipse-based GUI source level debugger provides advanced debugging capabilities for 24- and 31-bit z/OS applications written in COBOL, PL/I and C/C++*. IBM z/OS Debugger allows users to step through the program being debugged, monitor and modify variables, set breakpoints during or prior to a debug session, and inspect program memory. The tool also includes Visual Debug, which provides graphical views of COBOL and PL/I program execution flow—including current execution paths.
Intelligent build capabilities. The Dependency Based Build toolkit heightens build capabilities with a set of Java* APIs that can be used to define an intelligent build script. To simplify the process of creating intelligent build scripts using Dependency Based Build APIs, the toolkit also contains an Apache Groovy installation that’s been modified to run on UNIX* System Services.
Simplified integrations. Dependency Based Build integration, along with the editor functions, enable users to compile programs by employing the same build scripts that have been defined for the pipeline build—including copying files and any dependencies to the specified host, running the build process and returning any errors.
Armed with 10 years of experience in migrating mainframe development organizations to modern software configuration management (SCM), IBM can also help manage the transition at a process level, with a special focus on how existing mainframe applications can be componentized and how the application interfaces can be described and managed, as well as built.
Learn More at Think 2019
IBM Z Open Development’s entry-level tools link z/OS development seamlessly to an open DevOps toolchain. To find out how today’s agile DevOps practices and tools can support you on your path toward a fully integrated and automated pipeline enabled by a multicloud architecture, check out session 6795 at Think 2019: “Accelerating Agile Development for Faster Digital Transformation.”
Session 2004 at Think 2019, titled “DevOps Transformation for Mainframe Outsourced Teams With BNP Paribas,” will also help you learn how BNP Paribas deploys modernized workstations, as well as flexible and agile SCM with IBM Developer for Z Systems Enterprise Edition and Dependency Based Build, Git and Jenkins to empower mainframe development teams.
Learn more about IBM Z Open Development at ibm.co/2OSZ6Ym.