---2025-09-26 Test Accelerator for Z version 2.1.0 release---
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Test Accelerator for Z 2.1.0 is here!
Released today, September 26th 2025, Test Accelerator for Z (TAZ) version 2.1.0 provides new and improved functionality, usability, and serviceability to the Test Accelerator for Z VS Code offerings.
For the full update on what's new with the 2.1.0 Test Accelerator for Z release, review the IBM Test Accelerator for Z 2 release notes in the documentation.
On Demand Environments
On-Demand Environments brings the ability to provision instances to emulated IBM z17 hardware on x86-64 Linux systems, as well as the following provisioning performance improvements:
- Decompress the volume files during file transfer while provisioning a new z/OS image from a tooling image.
- Initial (API only) support has been introduced to support a copy-on-write filesystem on the target environment.
- This capability will allow deploying an image from the tooling to this file system, represented as a 'target environment image'.
- Provisioning from a target environment image can significantly improve the time it takes to provision a new instance by simply cloning the file system instead of transferring the image from the storage server each time, like what happens when you provision from a tooling image.
- Note: At this time only Stratis (https://stratis-storage.github.io/) is supported as a copy-on-write file system. Stratis is packaged with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.
Functional Testing
Functional Testing on VS Code added support for Galasa testing in VS Code without command line.
Creating a Galasa Project now creates a project level .galasa directory fully populated with sample files for bootstrap, CPS, credentials, and overrides as well as folders for RAS and logs. This allows for the Galasa project to be complete while also more encapsulated.
Functional Testing on VS Code added command for generating Galasa CPS properties files based on ZAPP profile.
This is an easy way of managing your Galasa connectivity with your project connection information. Yes, it makes backups!
Functional Testing on VS Code added support for Information Management System (IMS) Database Description Block (DBD) files.
The ZAPP file should be set up to reference the desired files for the test.
With the file in place, it will be used in generating the Galasa Java test files.
Early Development Testing
Early Development Testing on Eclipse includes some stability improvements that are work picking up.
Early Development Testing on VS Code added a capability to create unit tests for IMS Batch, with IMS DB and IMS Batch with DB2 programs.
Early Development Testing on VS Code also added less ambiguous test point name generation, and added more usability with a new way to search all mock and assert variables and their values from the Data Editor search bar.
The screenshot …
… and the zoom in to see the test point assertion value search.
Early Development Testing on VS Code enhanced serviceability for error handling of .ztest files.
When a .ztest file contains errors, the details are now displayed in the Problems tab within VS Code.
Capability Spotlight: Data Collector in Early Development Testing for VS Code
The Data Collector is a new product feature first appearing in Test Accelerator for Z 2.0.0 that allows for collection of data en masse from the host system, as an alternate to recording processes. It can collect data for CICS, IMS and batch applications which can be later be used with the Early Development Testing on VS Code component.
The Data Collector setup
The host setup, enabled and deployed with the Data collection REST API server, allows Data Collections to then be retrieved from the system, using the existing Z Open Debug connection profile connected to the system. The Data Collector requires that Debug Profile Service is configured and running.
To use Data Collector Rest Service, you should configure one or more Data Collector started tasks to automatically collect data.
Review Adding support for Data Collector and Data Collector Service as part of the IBM z/OS Dynamic Test Engine Customization Guide for more information on installation and configuration.
The Data Collector User Interface
In Test Accelerator for Z 2.1.0, a new loader icon during Data Collector UI loading and resolved multiple issues related to displaying data files.
A list of available recordings on the host system will be shown in the data table.
The details (such as UUID, recording time, duration, size) of the of the data captures in the collection is shown in each row, along with an expandable section that lists the module details of the recording.
The list of recordings can be filtered by the load module name, by using the text search located above the data table.
The download action will pull the contents of the data collection in to the project as a recording.
To learn more about the Data Collector and the associated VS Code User interface in the Early Development Testing in VS Code, read the Getting started with the Data collector UI page in the documentation.
Upcoming events
TechXChange October 2025
TechXChange | 6 - 9 October 6 2025 | Register Now
The on-site event for developers and technologists with emerging and latest news, hands-on experience, credentials building, networking, and the best and brightest minds across IBM, with free online live streaming for main events!
Make sure to check out Test Accelerator for Z in the following sessions!
IBM Z Day November 2025
IBM Z Day | 12 November 2025 | 8AM - 4PM ET | Register Now.
Free all-day virtual conference for IBM Z and LinuxONE enterprise computing!
Test Accelerator for Z Webinar October 2025
Accelerate mainframe application test automation with Gen AI | 15 October 2025 | 11AM ET | Register Now
Learn how IBM Test Accelerator for Z is accelerating application development and integrating generative AI in your testing practice.
Further exploration
Product Page
Release notes
Documentation
Download from Passport Advantage Online
Recent IBM Test Accelerator for Z blog posts