As promised, I’m here to bring good fortune and great news with IBM Developer for z/OS 17.0.2 despite the release landing on this superstitious day. And what better way to flip the script than by highlighting everything we’ve packed into this update: enhanced COBOL and PL/I language support, expanded Db2 tooling capabilities, and official packaging of Java 21 for the latest in security and performance. This release is loaded - and by the end, you might just be hoping we drop every IDz update on a Friday the 13th. Let’s ride!
In case you missed it, we published an announcement a couple of months ago covering a range of exciting updates to IBM Developer for z/OS and Dependency Based Build. You can check it out here.
IBM Developer for z/OS Enterprise Edition (IDzEE) 17.0.2
As always, let’s start with IBM Developer for z/OS Enterprise Edition 17.0.2, a critical component of the IBM Application Delivery Foundation for z/OS (ADFz). In this release, we’re excited to introduce a new addition to the Enterprise bundle - ZCodeScan! ZCodeScan helps developers identify security vulnerabilities and perform comprehensive code reviews across COBOL and other z/OS applications. It’s designed to integrate seamlessly with the latest features in Visual Studio Code, empowering development teams to deliver higher-quality software through built-in security and code quality analysis. Learn more about the latest updates and features below:
Check out our guide to learn how to migrate to Enterprise Edition and get the most value from our toolset!
Java 21
IBM Developer for z/OS 17.0.2 now packages Java 21, bringing modern performance, security, and scalability to the platform. With features like Virtual Threads and the Foreign Function & Memory API, Java 21 improves concurrency and native code integration. It also enhances security with stronger cryptographic protocols and TLS support. By adopting Java 21, you're future-proofing your applications and ensuring compatibility with upcoming technologies while benefiting from greater stability and reliability today.
Editors
The COBOL and PL/I language parsers have been updated to support syntax checking, highlighting, and content assistance for new programming language statements and keywords. These updates maintain programming language currency:
- Enterprise COBOL for z/OS: Support for version 6.5
- Enterprise PL/I for z/OS: Support for version 6.2
COBOL 6.5 Language Enhancements
- User-defined type support: Define reusable type structures using the
TYPEDEF clause. Type instances are created with the TYPE clause.
- Index name qualification: Index names can now be qualified with associated table names and ancestors, particularly useful in user-defined types.
- High-Low qualification support: Use the
:: operator to qualify data items from highest to lowest level in the hierarchy.
- VSAMDB support: Enables JSON document storage and retrieval through VSAM in COBOL.
- SMARTBIN suboption: New
(NAMES|NONAMES) controls inclusion of user symbol names in binary metadata.
- ULENGTH enhancement: Two new arguments improve calculation of character length for UTF-8 items.
- JSON GENERATE COUNT BYTE-LENGTH: New
COUNT BYTES phrase simplifies and speeds up byte-length determination.
- ARCH changes:
ARCH(15) is accepted; ARCH(11) is now the default. ARCH(10) is no longer accepted.
- TUNE changes:
TUNE(15) is accepted. Default is TUNE(11) if ARCH is not specified. TUNE(10) is no longer accepted.
- OMITTED class test and OPTIONAL parameters:
BY REFERENCE parameters can be marked OPTIONAL and tested using OMITTED.
- Non-OO COBOL/Java interop DLL naming: The
cjbuild utility no longer prefixes DLL names with LIB, allowing full use of 8-character member names.
Learn more about COBOL 6.5 updates here: What's New in Enterprise COBOL for z/OS 6.5
PL/I 6.2 Language Enhancements
- Performance improvements: Vector instructions are now used for inline hex and base64 encoding/decoding; more built-in functions (like
REPATTERN and VALIDDATE) are inlined for performance.
- New compiler options: Five new options help developers catch errors earlier in the development cycle.
- Language enhancements: Includes support for 16-byte integers and five new built-in functions to simplify date-time calculations.
- Usability enhancements: More sample programs, improved documentation, and better compiler diagnostics for potential storage issues.
- ARCH(15) support: Allows applications to take advantage of the latest IBM zNext hardware without requiring source code changes.
Learn more about PL/I 6.2 updates here: What's New in Enterprise PL/I for z/OS 6.2
Remote Preprocessor Support for Local Files
You can now configure and run a remote preprocessor (REXX or CLIST-based) on a z Systems® server for local COBOL or PL/I files within IBM Developer for z/OS. This enables local source files to be preprocessed remotely using z Systems® capabilities before compilation.
Db2® for z/OS Development
- Tuning profiles are now optional when tuning SQL statements for certain connection mechanisms.
- You can now generate DDL scripts for Db2 objects such as Databases, Indexes, Tables, Table Spaces, and Views.
- Apply multiple filters of the same column type in Catalog Navigation for more refined results.
- Support added for deploying User-defined Functions (UDFs) from
.udfsql files using the Deploy Routine wizard.
- Improved SQL error messaging:
- Db2 for z/OS connections now display a default JDBC property
retrieveMessagesFromServerOnGetMessage, providing more detailed and readable SQL error messages.
- A one-time migration adds this property to existing connections, if needed.
- Save and reload stored procedure parameter values when calling or debugging routines.
- A new Db2 for z/OS preference allows toggling the display of result sets as plain text in the Console view.
To learn more about what's new, see Developing with Db2 for z/OS.
Remote Connection Emulator
A new Hotspot setting allows users to click on areas of the terminal screen to interact with fields, menus, actions, options, and more using the mouse.
Property Group
In IBM Developer for z/OS 17.0.2, a limitation from version 17.0.1 has been removed - if the Include and Procedure Search Libraries field in the Remote JCL property group is left blank, the JCL editor now correctly recognizes include members defined by the JCLLIB ORDER statement in the JCL file.
MOREEE!!!
A Case Well Studied!
We’re thrilled to announce a major success story from Australia and New Zealand Bank (ANZ) - a Git transformation case study you won’t want to miss: http://ibm.biz/ANZDevOps.
- First published case study showing developers using both IDz on Eclipse and VS Code together
- Highlights the value of Dependency Based Build (DBB)
- Showcases how the DevOps Acceleration Team (DAT) enabled their success
Have a transformation story of your own? We’d love to hear it! Reach out to your IBM contact or drop us a comment.
Hints, Tips, and Tricks for z/OS Developers
Want to get more out of IDz on Eclipse, VS Code, or the cloud? Join us Thursday, June 26, 2025 at 9:00 AM EDT for a fast-paced webinar that covers:
- Latest Db2 for z/OS data tooling in IDz
- Support for debugging and deploying stored procedures
- Using IDz in browser-based IDEs like GitHub Codespaces and OpenShift Dev Spaces
Don’t miss it - sign up here to level up your z/OS development game.
GS UK In-Person Conference 2025
Will be held from November 3–6, 2025 at Whittlebury Hall, Northamptonshire. 📣 Call for Papers is open! Submissions are due by June 30. 👉 Learn more and submit your proposal!
IBM Z Day 2025
A free, one-day virtual conference that brings together the global IBM Z and LinuxONE community. Join thousands of professionals, students, and thought leaders for 80+ expert-led sessions across multiple tracks. 📣 Call for Papers is open! Submit your session proposal by July 1 at 11:59 PM PT to be part of this signature global event. 👉 Learn more and submit your talk!
And from the Great Canadian Heroine, Celine Dion – It’s Hard to Say Goodbye