Admittedly, baseball isn’t my schtick. But it’s hard not to notice things like Ohtani’s gazillion-dollar contract playing out, a “World” Series that actually involves two countries, and most importantly, East Carolina University alum Trey Yesavage starting Game 1. Go Pirates!
Still, the real excitement today isn’t on the diamond. It’s in development. We’re rolling out IBM Developer for z/OS 17.0.3, packed with new and improved features that make this release the real October classic.
From IBM ZCodeScan now included with Enterprise Edition, to Installation Manager support on Windows, to smoother p2 host configuration, and smarter Dependency Based Build workflows, this one’s built to play fast and efficiently. You’ll also find new Db2 for z/OS enhancements for Java stored procedure debugging, upgraded editors for COBOL, PL/I, and HLASM, and even macro recording support in the Remote Connection Emulator.
So before we all attempt the 9-9-9 Challenge tonight during Game 1, let’s get our minds right for IBM Developer for z/OS 17.0.3.
If you haven’t seen it yet, we recently shared an announcement highlighting the new IBM Developer for z/OS Select bundling along with a number of exciting updates. You can read the full post here.
New Dev, Who Dis?
I mentioned IBM Developer for z/OS Select, but what is it? Select edition helps development teams quickly modernize their tools, attract new talent, and still support traditional workflows. It’s a single bundle that lets developers choose between Eclipse and VS Code editors. The package includes IBM Developer for z/OS 17.0.3 (Eclipse) and IBM Developer for z/OS on VS Code 6.1.0, and the VS Code option can run locally or in a browser through IBM Developer for z/OS on Cloud. More details on the Select edition will be available on 31 October 2025.
IBM Developer for z/OS Enterprise Edition (IDzEE) 17.0.3
Of course, we have our more robust toolset with IBM Developer for z/OS Enterprise Edition 17.0.3, a key part of the IBM Application Delivery Foundation for z/OS (ADFz). And this release adds something big to the mix: ZCodeScan for the IBM Developer for z/OS Eclipse editor. Learn more about the latest updates and features across our ecosystem below:
Check out our migration guide to move to Enterprise Edition and get the most out of the full toolset.
ZCodeScan
IBM Developer for z/OS 17.0.3 Enterprise Edition now includes IBM ZCodeScan. It helps developers scan COBOL applications for security vulnerabilities and perform code reviews across z/OS projects.
- Detects potential security issues in COBOL source code.
- Includes a built-in rules file that makes it easy to set up code reviews following COBOL best practices.
- Provides real-time code review with linting, giving instant feedback on code quality inside the IDE.
Installation and Configuration Improvements
We’ve added IBM Installation Manager support for Windows users. For those using the p2 method, there’s also a major quality-of-life improvement that lets you define a set of default host connections that automatically load into IBM Developer for z/OS when starting a new workspace. This is especially helpful for shop admins who prepare IDz packages and want every user to start with the same default host connections instead of setting them up manually.
- HOST_NAME: some.host1.com
CONNECTION_NAME: some.host1.com
DESCRIPTION: ""
AUTHENTICATION: USERID
DAEMON_PORT: "1000"
- HOST_NAME: some.host2.com
CONNECTION_NAME: some.host2.com
# DESCRIPTION intentionally left empty
AUTHENTICATION: USERID
DAEMON_PORT: "2000"
To learn more, see Host connection configuration for p2 installations.
Dependency Based Build Integration
This update focuses on improving build efficiency and streamlining common DBB workflows. Each enhancement helps reduce repetitive steps and speeds up development.
- Build multiple programs in the same z/OS project by uploading copybooks in a single zip file with the new Enable Zip upload for copybooks option.
- DBB User Build now automatically picks the matching
.cbl.properties or .pli.properties file for the program you’re building, eliminating manual setup.
- Automatically overwrite existing files when re-triggering zAppBuild to skip confirmation prompts and keep builds moving.
Remote Connection Emulator
The Remote Connection Emulator now supports recording and playing back macros, helping you automate repetitive actions like typing or cursor movements. You can also import macros from your local machine and export them for use in other environments. Together, these updates make it easier to streamline your workflow and stay efficient inside IBM Developer for z/OS.
Db2® for z/OS Development
This release brings a mix of rich features and security enhancements for Db2 developers. From debugging Java stored procedures to improved authentication and export options, everything is geared toward smoother, more secure development on z/OS.
- Db2 connections now support password-less Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) and can dynamically prompt for passwords when required.
- You can now debug external Java stored procedures from
.javaspsql files and run or debug compiled SQL user-defined functions (.udfsql) directly from the catalog, editor, or project explorer.
- Activate inactive stored procedures and UDF versions directly from the catalog, and specify
currentPackagePath in tuning profiles to define multiple collection IDs.
- Export full CLOB and large text column contents from the Remote System Details view.
- New checkboxes let you remove carriage returns, line feeds, and tabs, while controlling maximum column width and wrapping options in the Console view.
Editors
- COBOL, PL/I, and JCL: Errors
CRRZI9501W and CRRZI9502W now show line numbers and a post-truncation preview for lines that exceed maximum length.
- COBOL and PL/I: Updated parsers now support CICS 6.3 syntax, including OpenTelemetry, with improved content assist and keyword coloring.
- HLASM: Added support for Remote Custom Macros in both remote and local property groups, plus new support for z17.
A little this, a little that
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