Every time the Winter Olympics roll around, I find myself thinking about a few moments that always stick with me.
Top three Winter Olympic moments for me:
- Watching Cool Runnings as a kid
- United States' Miracle On Ice
- A group of dads who look like they randomly picked up curling as a hobby winning in 2018 (Men's Curling Tournament)
I'm more of a Summer Olympics guy as you can probably tell... but I do know something that'll make you do an apparently not-illegal backflip (my boy, Ilia Malinin); we've released IBM Developer for z/OS 17.0.4!
IBM Developer for z/OS Enterprise Edition (IDzEE) 17.0.4 and Select!
Last time, I mentioned that we've released a more simplified offering bundling, IDz Select. Select edition helps development teams modernize quickly, attract new talent, and still support traditional workflows, all in a single bundle that lets developers choose between Eclipse and VS Code editors. If you missed it, check it out in this announcement.
And as always, we have the crème de la crème of productivity tooling, IBM Developer for z/OS Enterprise Edition 17.0.4, a key part of the IBM Application Delivery Foundation for z/OS (ADFz).
With Enterprise Edition, you get:
Check out this guide on how to migrate to Enterprise Edition: Migration to Enterprise Edition (ADFz) .
Golden Updates in 17.0.4
IBM Developer for z/OS 17.0.4 sharpens productivity across the stack. IBM ZCodeScan now supports PL/I alongside COBOL, expanding static analysis coverage with streamlined ZAPP-based rule configuration. The Remote Connection Emulator adds dynamic macro variable support, allowing values to be resolved at run time instead of hardcoded. DBB integration improves with better error feedback control through the errPrefix option in ZAPP files, surfacing issues directly in the Remote Error List view. And ZAPP-driven property group generation makes it easier to standardize key library and build options while keeping teams flexible where it counts.
Before You Grab Your Medal
SHARE Orlando 🌴 | February 22–26, 2026
We hope to see you at SHARE Orlando. Stop by and connect with our experts to talk about IBM Developer for z/OS and the broader IBM Z software portfolio. Be sure to check out sessions by Peter Haumer and Chris Sayles, where you will learn about Model Context Protocol, IBM Bob, IDz on VS Code, and Zowe, and participate in hands-on labs. Have an idea or enhancement in mind? Submit it directly through the IBM Z Software Idea Portal.
IBM Developer for z/OS Enterprise Edition (IDzEE) Build and Deploy Hands-On Lab
Interested in gaining hands-on experience with build and deploy using IDz across both Eclipse and VS Code? Join our curated Build and Deploy Hands-On Lab to explore IBM Developer for z/OS Enterprise Edition in action. You will work with Eclipse and VS Code editing experiences, full-featured debugging, user build tooling, integrated code scans, and deployment capabilities that help establish and strengthen your CI/CD pipeline, while laying the foundation for AI-enabled development workflows.
Before You Modernize, Read This
If you are considering modernizing your z/OS development practices, take a few minutes to read Rosalind Radcliffe’s blog, Before the First Stitch. She breaks down modernization into practical, manageable steps, starting with inventory and infrastructure, then moving into piloting with the right team and establishing build and deploy pipelines using tools like DBB and Wazi Deploy. It is a realistic look at what it takes to transition from legacy processes to a modern, Git-driven workflow with clear timelines and lessons learned. If you are unsure where to start, this is a great place.
And for Our Closing Ceremony