Authored by: Maha Masri, Kevin Bowkett, Bill Alexander, Rich Larin
In the rapidly evolving landscape of enterprise IT, understanding and modernizing mission critical applications is a critical task for many organizations. IBM watsonx Code Assistant for Z helps address this challenge by providing developers, architects, and system programmers with advanced generative AI capabilities designed to accelerate application modernization. One of the standout features of this product is COBOL Code Explanation, which is designed to simplify the often complex task of understanding COBOL code by providing real-time, natural language explanations.
Demystify COBOL Code with watsonx Code Assistant for Z
COBOL Code Explanation helps teams working with mainframe applications address one of the most significant challenges in application modernization: the steep learning curve associated with understanding and documenting COBOL code. Whether you are a seasoned developer or new to the mainframe environment, this feature is designed to reduce the time and effort required to decipher COBOL code. With the help of generative AI, COBOL Code Explanation allows developers to understand the COBOL application more easily and quickly with natural language explanations. Developers are then able to insert the generated explanations directly into the code as comments or download them for documentation purposes, thereby streamlining the process of knowledge transfer and ensuring that code is easier to maintain and modernize.
On-Premises LLM Deployment: Flexibility and Control for Regulated Industries
Based on market needs for hybrid cloud deployment and aligned with IBM’s hybrid cloud strategy, the 2.2 release of watsonx Code Assistant for Z introduces the option for on-premises deployment of the large language model (LLM) used for COBOL Code Explanation. This additional deployment option offers customers the freedom and flexibility to choose the best-fit solution for their specific needs, whether it be on-premises or in the cloud.
Empowering Organizations with Hybrid Cloud Flexibility to Enhance Security and Compliance
For every IP-driven enterprise, but especially regulated industries such as banking, insurance, and public sector organizations, the ability to deploy AI capabilities on-premises is crucial. As enterprises in these industries often handle sensitive data, they must comply with strict data privacy, sovereignty, and regulatory requirements. By offering an on-premises deployment option, IBM watsonx Code Assistant for Z helps to enable organizations maintain control over their data, ensuring that important intellectual property and sensitive information remain within their own infrastructure.
Integrating Seamlessly into your Enterprise Data & AI Platform with watsonx
Built on IBM’s watsonx.ai Granite large language model hosted on IBM’s watsonx.ai on-premises stack, which includes Cloud Pak for Data and Red Hat OpenShift, this deployment option provides a consistent, scalable foundation for developers seeking to modernize their applications while keeping the data on-premises. This flexibility in deployment aligns with IBM's hybrid cloud strategy, giving clients the ability to tailor their AI infrastructure to their unique operational and regulatory requirements. Moreover, it can be seamlessly integrated into an enterprise's broader AI & Data platform based on watsonx, enhancing the overall value and coherence of their AI initiatives.
Experience IBM watsonx Code Assistant for Z
The 2.2 release of IBM watsonx Code Assistant for Z empowers organizations with greater control, flexibility, and efficiency in their application modernization efforts. Whether you are looking to leverage COBOL Code Explanation on-premises or in the cloud, this capability is designed to help you accelerate the modernization of your mission-critical applications while staying compliant with industry regulations.
To see COBOL Code Explanation in action, schedule a demo today or talk to an IBM expert to get guidance on the best deployment strategy for your organization.