Dear fellow mainframer,
Meeting with young graduates at HOGENT University in Ghent and fresh students at FERIT University in Osijek offered me a new and distinct perspective on the future of mainframes. These young people are not concerned with the “politics.” They naturally appreciate the role of mainframes in today’s digital world, seeing a clear path to becoming well-respected and well-paid professionals. And that makes pretty much sense for me.
Mainframe fiesta in Osijek
What a day it was! The atmosphere in Osijek was truly special. I attended the opening of the FERIT Mainframe Academy last Friday. With the help of IBM and CROZ, the academy aims to tackle the growing shortage of skilled mainframe workers by providing students with practical experience and education. This initiative addresses the increasing demand for qualified mainframers, and with the current shortage of young professionals, it couldn’t have come at a better time.
The students, professors, and the dean were all incredibly positive and enthusiastic. You could sense that people were genuinely interested and engaged; they didn’t just show up.
No risk, no fun! Unless it is about #mainframe! Check out the blog to get a sense of the spirit in Osijek.
A Developer’s experience with IBM zDevOps and GitOps
Here at CROZ, we have a new generation of mainframe developers. They quickly pick up PL/I and Cobol, but understanding the full development cycle in mainframe environments is a bit more complex. That’s why we decided to build a sandbox with a simple application that supports typical library business processes. CROZ Library Sandbox allows young developers to explore and experiment with mainframe technology in a dynamic environment powered by IBM zDevOps tools and GitOps principles. In this sandbox, legacy technologies like PL/I, z/OS, CICS, and Db2 blend seamlessly with modern tools like IDz, DBB, and Wazi Deploy, creating a smooth platform for learning and innovation. For more details click here.
Young developers can use CROZ Library Sandbox to interact with complex mainframe technologies in a controlled setting, building the skills needed for the future. It isn’t just about learning; it’s about playing, creating, and growing, turning the world of mainframe development into an exciting, interactive adventure.
Surprisingly, some young developers, after using IDz (or VS code) during their initial learning period, stepped back to ISPF because of its efficiency. Now, they are going hybrid and using both tools at the same time.
Industry Insights
I spoke with Marko Jurman recently about the adoption of 𝐳/𝐎𝐒 3.1. He mentioned that only customers with a keen interest in the new features have already migrated, while the majority are still waiting. As always, I recommend starting to plan for the upgrade at your own pace. This time, however, the new version offers some really cool and valuable features.
Grab a coffee ☕ and read this article, which reviews IBM’s z/OS 3.1, and highlights key upgrades. Notable features include enhanced containerization with z/OS Container Extensions, improved COBOL-Java interoperability, and advanced security with stronger encryption and compliance tools. The update also integrates machine learning for predictive analytics and automation, while expanding support for modern development tools to streamline 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐎𝐩𝐬.
