Technology is always changing, and those who use and work with it must adapt. This applies to application development as well. With the growing popularity of Open-Source tools, many developers are gravitating towards specific favorites. In my case, I find VS Code to be the ideal code editor for several reasons. It comes with plugins that boost productivity and code readability. Many modern developers share this sentiment and opt for similar tools. While I don't consider myself a developer, this technology area has been a significant part of my exposure.
Now, let's explore how DevOps is enhancing developer experiences and business processes on the mainframe. “DevOps outlines a software development process and an organizational culture shift that speeds the delivery of higher quality software by automating and integrating the efforts of development and IT operations teams – two groups that traditionally practiced separately from each other, or in silos” - (https://www.ibm.com/topics/devops.)
Here's how DevOps has advanced development processes on the mainframe:
1. Embracing CI/CD Pipelines:
Mainframe enthusiasts often take pride in the technology's history and evolution. Traditional application development on IBM Z typically involved production control tools, a method that remains reliable in many organizations. However, certain tasks benefit greatly from automation, improving efficiency and reducing errors. DevOps leverages pipelines to automate processes like code quality checks, security validation, testing, software builds, and deployment. These automated processes are completed more swiftly. Popular tools in this domain include Git, Maven, Jenkins, Ansible, Chef, Splunk, and Urban Code Deploy.
2. Leveraging Familiar Tools:
Learning new tools is enjoyable, but productivity soars when you use tools you're already familiar with. Implementing DevOps on the mainframe often starts with tools developers have used previously, such as VS Code and Git. Git, with its long history, helps manage source code versions, enabling remote collaboration and real-time code sharing among developers. It records who made changes for reference and error tracking. Utilizing familiar tools is crucial for training the next generation of mainframe professionals and preventing a knowledge gap when experienced developers retire.
3. Embracing Multi-Language Support:
While JCL and Rexx are valuable scripting languages, a DevOps environment provides additional scripting language options like Python, JavaScript, and Bash. These augment the multiple languages already available on IBM Z. Beyond scripting, you can work with Java and COBOL in your CICS environment.
Open-source technologies underpin most of the software applications we use today. They benefit from large communities of users, contributors, and maintainers who ensure their smooth operation and ongoing improvement. As organizations adopt this modern software development approach, finding new talent and developing tools to address various challenges becomes more accessible and efficient. DevOps is one methodology that the mainframe Open Source Software (OSS) community is actively supporting to promote its adoption. The journey to modernize the mainframe requires our collective support, as the mainframe becomes even more influential in the IT landscape with a larger community behind it.