IBM z/OS Debugger delivers another update, 15.0.5! In addition to many fixes (
15 APARs between host and client), this release has some key new features:
Day 1 Support
As always, the debug team remains committed to supporting new compilers, subsystems and hardware,
on day 1. In 15.0.5 we now support:
- the new IBM z16 hardware
- CICS Transaction Server for z/OS 6.1
- Enterprise COBOL for z/OS® 6.4 (both 31 and 64 bit modes)
- Enterprise PL/I for z/OS 6.1 (both 31 and 64 bit modes)
- Automatic Binary Optimizer for z/OS 2.2. Programs compiled with Enterprise COBOL for z/OS Version 5 or later that have been optimized by Automatic Binary Optimizer can be debugged in the same manner as those that have not been optimized.
User Defined Functions
z/OS Debugger can also now handle the newly added user defined functions, which also appear in code coverage reports:
Interoperability
You can now debug 31 and 64 bit hybrid COBOL applications (that's when a 31 bit program calls a 64 bit program, and vice-versa). Don't forget to use delay debug to improve efficiency and have the debugger start up as quickly as possible - exactly where you need it. You can also debug 31-bit COBOL programs called from 64-bit Java programs. In this case, Delay debug mode is required when you debug this type of application.
For more information about delay debug, see Using delay debug mode to delay starting of a debug session.
64 bit support
z/OS Debugger continues to enhance its support in Debug Tool compatibility mode.
Delay debug is now supported, along with the following EQAOPTS commands:
- DLAYDBG
- DLAYDBGDSN
- DLAYDBGTRC
For the remaining limitations, see
Limitations of 64-bit support in Debug Tool compatibility mode.
Host configuration
Security is important to everyone! Now when not run as a started task, Debug Manager queries your security product for explicit permission to start. For more information, see Starting Debug Manager as a user job.
Managing Debug Profiles
As a system administrator of Debug Profile Service, the z/OS Debugger Profile Management web application can be used to identify and delete CICS (DTCN) profiles that might interfere with z/OS system resources. Accessible directly via the URL, or from the z/OS Debugger Profiles view in the Eclipse IDE:
For more information, see Managing profiles with z/OS Debugger Profile Management.
Code Coverage
In 15.0.1, we introduced code coverage filters (see this nifty blog describing them by Alan Boxall), Now you can modify these filter files on the fly in the Eclipse IDE with z/OS batch applications using existing JCL and z/OS UNIX applications launch configurations. Specifying an empty or existing filter list file in the Code Coverage tab in the Compiled Code Coverage Configurations dialog, and click Edit to manager the filters in the file.