Introducing Agentic AI to IBM Test Accelerator for Z in 2.2 with Functional Testing Agent
IBM Test Accelerator for Z 2.2 debuts today with some interconnectedness to shift-left further with all new Functional Testing capabilities, including the debut of Agentic AI for Functional Testing.
IBM Test Accelerator for Z announced on 7 October 2025 at IBM Test Accelerator for Z v2.2 introduces functional testing on agentic AI.
That day is here. Test Accelerator for Z v2.2 is now available 24 October 2025.
AI Agent goodness, with the assist from IBM watsonx Assistant for Z.
Functional Testing as an AI Agent is realized through IBM watsonx Assistant for Z, ( release earlier this month → see the announcement ) as one of the premiering agents in the version 3.0 - check out the Functional Testing Agent quote:
"…uses natural language inputs to automatically generate UI-driven functional test cases. By leveraging agentic AI, it transforms written requirements and manual test descriptions into executable Java Galasa tests. Integrated with Microsoft Visual Studio Code (VS Code), the tool enables users to explore transaction screen capabilities and seamlessly generate functional tests for them. "
Read more on IBM watsonx Assistant for Z in the awesome blog post by Wolfgang Schäberle in Increase productivity with System Insights Agents powered by IBM watsonx Assistant for Z
Identify context and see the functional use cases
Contexts go in, and fully formed Galasa Java based tests come out, thanks to that Agentic AI magic.
For this release contexts are BMS and MFS files, the same as the type of files used in the Functional Testing capability that uses recordings.
The user interface for developers stays in the Microsoft Visual Studio Code (VS Code) and operates as configuration for the developer user in the Functional Testing for VS Code on the client to connect and get all of the functionality.
Utilizing Functional Testing for VS Code
The last blog post talked about how in Test Accelerator for Z 2.1.0 the Functional Testing had added capabilities in the VS Code for testing the Galasa testing in VS Code directly from the UI, and without the command line as well as providing capabilities to extend your ZAPP profiles and other settings in to the Galasa flow. ( You don’t remember? Read all about the new Functional Testing in Test Accelerator for Z 2 again for the first time in IBM Test Accelerator for Z 2.0.0 is live! and Test Accelerator for Z 2.1.0 is here! )
The Functional Testing Agent is also integrated directly into the Functional Testing for VS Code interfaces, which means that you can easily generate, without recording, your use cases from your MFS or BMS files into realized Galasa Tests. Functional Testing adds a view that allows for interactions with the supported contexts for the test generation.
Embedded Chat interaction: Test Accelerator for Z Functional Testing has entered the chat...
When connected to watsonx Assistant for Z and the Functional Test Agent, there is also an embedded chat to enable Agentic flow actions on the contexts for generating specific use cases.
Give the request on what to test for the use case. Give the context. Get back tests, with understanding of what they test.
Example:
The chat will generate from the context and the question (which can have specific data if you want)
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- The test step-by-step instructions…
- … and the generated Galasa Java-based test case…
- … with the test downloadable back into your project.
- All within the convenience of your integrated development environment!
Bulking Up
Functional Testing Agent powering the Functional Testing in VS Code allows you to quickly build an initial test bucket and get your test practice started, as well as make sure your business use cases are covered.
Simply scan the project for the context BMS and MFS files, and the Functional Testing Agent will identify the use cases available, and can quickly bulk generate those use cases into Galasa Java-based functional test cases.
It will find the use cases so that you can review them, and create those use cases you want to have tested.
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- Discover Contexts in the Projects to automatically scans for context files to populate into the IBM Test Accelerator for Z tree view.
- Scan the Context(s) for Test Capabilities to analyze each file for possible use cases to build tests around, which will also populate into the tree.
- Select those cases to Test and then Generate All Tests.
Review, run, and happy Testing!
IBM Test Accelerator for Z 2.2 Early Development Testing Updates
That wasn’t all! Test Accelerator for Z 2.2 also includes other new capabilities and updates.
Read up on all of them in the release notes for What’s New in 2.2 .
Early Development Testing, on Eclipse
You asked, we listened.
The IBM Test Accelerator for Z Early Development Testing on Eclipse, in addition to the Eclipse P2 install, can now be installed through IBM Installation Manager.
For more information see Installing Early Development Testing in Eclipse.
Early Development Testing, on VS Code
For the Early Development Testing on VS Code, there is now an added additionally supported test creation scenarios for IMS Batch.
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- Programs that are IMS Batch with IMS DB usage
- Programs that are IMS Batch with DB2 usage
For the Early Development Testing on VS Code there are also several user experience enhancements:
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- The Data Editor search bar now has the capability to allow you to search all mock and assert variables as well as their values.
- The Problems view now shows all of the details for any issues with any .ztest file, convenient for your tracking and resolution.
- The Data Collector now has a nice loading icon while it is populating, and has improved displaying the available data files to make it easier to peruse.
- The Test Point names that are created automatically are now optimized to be both shorter and also less ambiguous.
Make sure to also check out the IBM Developer for z/OS latest releases…
IBM Developer for z/OS Select 1.0.0
IBM Developer for z/OS 17.0.3
IBM Developer for z/OS on VS Code 6.1.0
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- IBM Developer for z/OS on VS Code 6.1.0 released
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For COBOL, data flow graphs was added, to complement the program control flow from last release along with new call hierarchy information. Searching data content using RSE profiles, paging spool file content, archive files support additions, and more!
Extra notes
Accelerate mainframe application test automation with Gen AI Webinar replay
I had fun talking about this and more with Senthil in a Webinar 15 October 2025, and guess what? The slides and replay are now available!
Accelerate mainframe application test automation with Gen AI
Simplifying and transforming the IBM Z Experience with Agentic AI replay
Also don’t miss the watsonx Assistant for Z webinar from 16 October 2025!
Simplifying and transforming the IBM Z Experience with Agentic AI
Everyone talks TAZ! Podcast Episode
Test Accelerator for Z in an audible form! check out the PodCast episode (and Subscribe to Chris and David at Z DevOps talks)
https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/z-devops-talks/episodes/Everyone-talks-TAZ-e3973ta
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