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5 reasons to choose IBM watsonx Code Assistant for Z

By Sindhu GM posted Wed June 11, 2025 01:53 PM

  

End-to-end mainframe application lifecycle developer assistant

If you’re involved in software development at any level, you’re likely familiar with generative AI code assistants. The AI code assistants are rapidly evolving and are now becoming an integral part of a developer’s daily workflows. With mainframes continuing to serve as the foundation for mission critical applications, modernizing mainframe applications is a top priority for many executives [1]. 

A common question though, how is watsonx Code Assistant for Z, IBM’s AI Code Assistant for mainframe application modernization, different from other coding assistants such as GitHub Copilot.

Let’s dive into details!

Understand, maintain, modernize, and transform mainframe applications with IBM watsonx Code Assistant for Z

Deep analysis of application landscape

Unlike GitHub Copilot[2], IBM watsonx Code Assistant for Z helps discover and analyze enterprise applications through in-depth, interactive visual analysis. IBM watsonx code Assistant for Z provides analysis reports, including dynamic application flows, data layers, call routines and APIs.

Fine-tuned Generative AI for mainframe code

IBM wastonx Code Assistant for Z utilizes fine-tuned LLM models for mainframe use cases to generate natural language code explanations and transform COBOL to high-quality Java that is easier to maintain

Incremental and targeted modernization

Developers can visualize application dependencies to identify candidates for refactoring and leverage  automation to slice code and create modular business services. In contrast, GitHub Copilot suggests manual rewrite of a function to refactor code [2].

Prioritized optimization recommendations

IBM wastonx Code Assistant for Z leverages dynamic runtime analysis, detailed performance reports, and prioritized recommendations to help optimize code and improve application performance (CPU). This allows you to focus on the issues that matter most

Transform applications with mainframe Quality-of-service

IBM watsonx Code Assistant for Z can help transform COBOL applications to high quality, object-oriented Java and validate for semantic equivalence with auto-generated unit tests. While other code assistants may support code translation, the watsonx Code Assistant for Z transformed code is designed to handle middleware, database dependencies and maintains data structure integrity for easy integration into the base enterprise application.

Take the next step

If you’re interested in knowing more about what watsonx Code Assistant for Z and how it can help accelerate mainframe application modernization, you can schedule a live demo and speak with one of our product specialists. 

Explore watsonx Code Assistant for Z

Book a live demo to speak with IBM team


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