When I first heard about Zowe CLI, I was curious. Mainframes always sounded like massive, complex systems reserved for experts, and I wondered how I could possibly interact with one. That’s when I learned that Zowe, an open-source project under the Open Mainframe Project, was created exactly to bridge this gap.
How Zowe CLI Started
Traditionally, working with mainframes required specialized knowledge, green-screen interfaces, and tools that were not always beginner-friendly. This made it challenging for developers who were used to modern DevOps tools and workflows. The idea behind Zowe was to create a more open, accessible, and developer-friendly way to interact with mainframes.
Zowe CLI (Command Line Interface) emerged as one of the key components of the Zowe project. The goal was simple: provide developers with a command-line tool that feels familiar, much like Git or npm, but tailored to IBM Z systems.
What is Zowe CLI?
Zowe CLI is a command-line tool that allows you to interact with IBM Z mainframes using modern, easy-to-use commands. Instead of navigating through complex interfaces, you can:
- Submit JCL jobs and view outputs
- Interact with datasets
- Work with USS (Unix System Services) files
- Connect with z/OSMF (z/OS Management Facility)
All of this can be done directly from your local machine’s terminal.
Why Zowe CLI Matters
For someone new to mainframes, Zowe CLI lowers the entry barrier:
- It brings familiar developer workflows to mainframe environments.
- It integrates with tools like VS Code, Jenkins, and GitHub.
- It supports automation, making mainframes part of modern CI/CD pipelines.
My Takeaway as a New User
When I started with Zowe CLI, the biggest surprise was how much it felt like working with any other developer tool. The commands were intuitive, the documentation was helpful, and the community support made it easier to get started.
Zowe CLI shows that mainframes are not outdated systems hidden behind complex UIs—they are evolving, and open-source contributions like this are making them more approachable than ever.
If you’re new to mainframes, Zowe CLI is one of the best starting points. It’s open-source, community-driven, and designed to make mainframes accessible to modern developers.
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