Authored by Rich Larin, Kelly Paesano, and Husein Shamshudin

IBM watsonx Code Assistant for Z version 2.4 is now available

IBM continues to deliver exciting enhancements to watsonx Code Assistant for Z to enable organizations to accelerate mainframe application modernization.  

Amongst the numerous product enhancements, this latest update introduces four key benefits of note:

• Generate natural language code explanations for PL/I
• Accelerate COBOL refactoring with dynamic program analysis
• Simplify COBOL modernization and transformation with automated removal of GOTO and PERFORM THRU statements.  
• Expanded COBOL support for the Code Optimization Advice feature

Each feature is designed to address specific challenges in the modernization journey, equipping developers with tools to accelerate understanding, streamline refactoring, and improve code maintainability.

Generate natural language explanations for PL/I

IBM watsonx Code Assistant for Z Code Explanation provides AI-generated, natural-language explanations of code, helping developers better understand the code and its functionality. Code Explanation support now includes PL/I, in addition to COBOL and JCL.

• Reduce knowledge gaps by quickly understanding code functionality without requiring deep application expertise
• Enhance documentation and knowledge with less effort by inserting explanations as comments or downloading for documentation
• Accelerate informed modernization decisions by enabling architects and developers to gain a more comprehensive understanding of their applications 

This capability, powered by IBM’s Granite foundation model and built with highly engineered prompts, allows developers to access explanations with the click of a button, making code understanding and documentation seamless and efficient.

Accelerate COBOL refactoring with dynamic program analysis

IBM watsonx Code Assistant for Z Refactoring Assistant enables developers to visualize business programs and data within their IDE and accelerate modernization by automating the creation of new business services.

Now, in addition to using static analysis to visualize the application flow and dependencies in Refactoring Assistant, developers can add layers of dynamic analysis to the flow graphs to more easily identify execution paths for business functions. 

Key Benefits:

• Reduce time to refactor a monolithic application into modular business services
• Quickly understand the application scope of an end user function or business scenarios
• Reduce skill-level needed to determine the programs and data required to create a refactored business service 

Dynamic analysis uses recordings captured from IBM Test Accelerator for Z, which is a prerequisite for this function.

Simplify COBOL modernization and transformation with automated removal of GOTO and PERFORM THRU statements

IBM watsonx Code Assistant for Z Refactoring Assistant now also enables developers to accelerate COBOL modernization by automatically simplifying complex COBOL constructs. Using Refactoring Assistant, developers can reduce the complexity of existing COBOL programs by automatically replacing GOTO and PERFORM THRU statements with standard looping structures. 

Key Benefits:

• Reduce complexity of COBOL programs  
• Enhance comprehensibility and maintainability of COBOL programs 
• Simplify transformation of COBOL programs to Java. 
  

Code Optimization Advice now supports COBOL v4

For clients seeking to enhance the performance of their COBOL mainframe applications, watsonx Code Assistant for Z Code Optimization Advice enables clients to conduct in-depth analysis of COBOL modules, providing recommendations to optimize performance. With this new release, Code Optimization Advice now supports Enterprise COBOL 4, in addition to the existing capabilities for COBOL 6.

Get started today

Get started on your AI-assisted Mainframe application modernization journey today with watsonx Code Assistant for Z.