As many of you are aware, support for Db2 for z/OS in Data Studio will officially end on March 31st. This transition was announced a year ago, and you can find the original announcement here: (IBM Data Studio support for Db2 for z/OS ends on March 31, 2025).
This blog post provides further context and insight.
For years, Data Studio has been an important tool for both administration and application development. However, given the limitations of the existing design and the introduction of Db2 13 for z/OS, finding a suitable alternative became essential.
The strategic replacements for Data Studio are Db2 Administration Foundation for z/OS and Db2 for z/OS Developer Extension for Visual Studio Code. Separating the administration and developer roles and building on a modern architecture offer a number of advantages:
- Administration Foundation is a browser-based design, meaning no installation requirements for the database administrator once the server-based components are installed and configured.
- Administration Foundation, built on Zowe, allows for integration of many z/OS administration products to operate on the same Zowe Desktop. Beyond Db2 for z/OS administration, the administrator can access IMS administration, File Explorer, JES Explorer, 3270 Terminal and other functions today, with more to come.
- The design of Administration Foundation reflects our Db2 modernization strategy by integrating Db2 administration tools like Db2 Admin Tool for z/OS, Db2 Query Monitor for z/OS, Db2 Automation Expert for z/OS and more. We began delivering this integration last year. Our goal is to provide a more intuitive and streamlined approach to administration from a single application.
- Developer Extension is built on the popular Microsoft Visual Studio Code. A 2023 developer survey indicated Visual Studio Code is used by 74% of developers. The adoption of this approach has resonated strongly with users, as evidenced by over 230,000 downloads to date.
Our primary goal from the start has been to ensure Db2 Administration Foundation and Db2 Developer Extension serve as effective successors to Data Studio. Rather than replicating Data Studio exactly, we have focused on delivering its core functionality whilst setting the stage for future enhancements. Given the accelerated timeline for this transition, we are committed to continue expanding usability beyond what was previously possible with Data Studio.
We recognize the migration to Administration Foundation is a significant effort. There are prerequisites that can be challenging to address. To ease this transition, we have implemented several enhancements to simplify the installation process. Additionally, extensive resources are available to support you, and our experts are ready to assist as needed. For further details, please refer to the linked articles or contact your representative for additional support.
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