IBM Introduces Watsonx Code Assistant for Z
August 24, 2023
The generative AI solution is designed to expedite mainframe modernization efforts
ArticlesPerformance Implications for CICS Applications Using COBOL Version 6
August 2, 2023
Rocket Software’s Ezriel Gross highlights a methodology for CICS problem analysis and performance tuning—and shares how it led to a 92% savings in CPU for a heavily used transaction
ArticlesWhy COBOL Application Cost Reduction Needs to Be the Focal Point of Every IT Budget
April 17, 2023
Despite ongoing macroeconomic concerns, there are indications that IT budgets remain steady. One study found that 52% of organizations expect to increase spending on IT products and services in 2023. The areas of particular interest to the surveyed organizations were cybersecurity, artificial intelligence/machine learning, public cloud services and private/hybrid cloud infrastructure; all closely linked to […]
ArticlesWomen of COBOL Celebrates International Women’s Day
March 8, 2023
Since 2021, the Women of COBOL video series has been uncovering and overcoming unconscious biases about COBOL and women in technology. What inspired the series? Moderator Misty Decker, director of worldwide AMC product marketing at OpenText (formerly Micro Focus), says, “I have been in the mainframe ecosystem for 30 years now. Over the years, I’ve […]
ArticlesFeet of Iron, Heads of Clay: The Counterintuitive Persistence of Legacy Technology
March 3, 2023
COBOL and the IBM mainframe are nerds. I’ll explain shortly, but first… The term “feet of clay” has become a common part of our language, referring to leaders, organizations and initiatives that have unreliable foundational traits despite the best and most visionary of intentions. Of course, the subtle implications often include that those very attractive […]
Closing the Mainframe Information Gap Through Education
January 25, 2023
If you’re reading this, you likely don’t need to be told that a mainframe career is very rewarding. The pay is excellent, the opportunity to work with world-class technology is exciting and the profession is filled with supportive people who are passionate about the platform. Dr. Cameron Seay, an adjunct professor at East Carolina University […]
ArticlesMoving Mainframe Apps to the Cloud: Should You Stay or Should You Go?
November 29, 2022
Over the last few years there’s been a noticeable push from the big public cloud data center providers to encourage enterprises to move their zSystems mainframe applications to the cloud. Cloud providers are offering a mix of support to entice companies, including development and runtime environments, systems integration tools and expertise—plus assurances that moving to […]
PodcastsSudharsana Srinivasan on Mainframe Advocacy and Education
November 22, 2022
Reg Harbeck: Hi, I’m Reg Harbeck and today I’m here with Sudharsana Srinivasan, who is the IBM zSystems Advocacy program manager. Sudharsana, welcome. Great to have you on the podcast. Sudharsana Srinivasan: Thank you so much Reg. It’s great to be here, looking forward to our conversation. Reg: Yeah, so you and I […]
ArticlesJava at 25: Celebrating Milestones, Mainframe Interoperability and More
November 15, 2022
It can be said that one sign of a healthy long-term relationship is that there’s still room for small, pleasant surprises. Such is the case with the IBM mainframe and Java. Even though Java’s availability on the mainframe predates the introduction of z/Architecture, IBM’s Skyla Loomis continues to encounter application developers who don’t realize that […]
VideoWomen of COBOL Episode 5: COBOL Is for Anyone – Transitioning to IT From Alternate Career Paths
October 28, 2022
Misty Decker: Hi and welcome to Episode 5 of of Women of COBOL. I’m delighted to have this conversation. Today we’re going to chat with two young women who have just launched their COBOL careers, about two years each, and we’re going to compare notes of what it’s like learning COBOL and launching a COBOL […]