Even as spending on digital transformation continues to skyrocket, mainframes nevertheless have major advantages for global enterprises. These systems still process huge amounts of information and allow for highly secure transactions. In this practical book, author Tom Taulli shows software developers how to pursue a hybrid approach by integrating traditional mainframes and applications with modern digital systems.
By the end of this book, you'll have a solid understanding of the mainframe architecture and ecosystem, including core concepts and technologies such as COBOL, REXX, JCL, Db2, VSAM, and CICS. You'll also learn how to blend in newer technologies such as the cloud, AI and machine learning, and microservices. This handbook is indispensable for enterprises looking to thrive in the new digital world.
• Learn strategies and approaches for mainframe DevOps
• Create, update, and maintain existing mainframe code, and analyze and resolve common errors
• Apply modern approaches to the mainframe, including microservices, APIs, cloud, and AI and machine learning
• Work with datasets and databases and put together effective reports
• Understand how to work with modern cloud systems, like AWS, for pursuing data migration
Author(s): Tom Taulli
Edition: 1
Publisher: O'Reilly Media
Year: 2022
Language: English
Commentary: Vector PDF
Pages: 345
City: Sebastopol, CA
Tags: DevOps; Artificial Intelligence; Databases; Mainframe; COBOL; Db2
Cover
Copyright
Table of Contents
Foreword
Preface
What’s Covered
Who Is This Book For?
The Approach to This Book
Conventions Used in This Book
Using Code Examples
O’Reilly Online Learning
How to Contact Us
Acknowledgments
Part I. Fundamentals of the Mainframe
Chapter 1. Why Be a Mainframe Developer?
Fear of Disruption
Software Is Eating the World
COVID-19
Government Modernization
Future of Mainframe Development
Career Opportunities
Conclusion
Chapter 2. World of the Mainframe
What Does “Mainframe” Mean Anyway?
A Brief History
What Are Punch Cards?
Growth of the Mainframe
Mainframe Innovation
The Terminal
Mainframe Challenges
Why Have a Mainframe?
The OS
z/VSE
z/TPF
z/VM
Linux
KVM
Processor Architecture
LPAR
Disks
Batch and Online Transaction Processing
Mainframe Trends
The Mainframe “Shop”
Conclusion
Chapter 3. The Development Environment
Accessing a Mainframe
TSO
ISPF
Datasets
Main Types of Datasets
Sequential File
Partitioned Dataset
Virtual Storage Access Method
Catalogs
ISPF and Datasets
Creating a File with ISPF
System Display and Search Facility
Job Control Language
Unix System Services
Mainframe Tools
Modern IDEs
IBM Developer for z/OS
BMC Compuware Topaz Workbench
Che4z
Visual Studio Code
Standardizing on Visual Studio
Simple IDEs
Web-Based Editors
Development Process
Conclusion
Chapter 4. The COBOL Language
COBOL’s Background, in Brief
COBOL Versions
Why Use COBOL?
COBOL Program Structure: Columns
COBOL Program Structure: Divisions
IDENTIFICATION DIVISION
ENVIRONMENT DIVISION
DATA DIVISION
PROCEDURE DIVISION
Conclusion
Chapter 5. File Handling
Records and Files
Sequential File
File Errors
WRITE to a File
JCL for File-Handling Programs
Inventory Update Program
File with Multiple Records
Variable-Length Records
Indexed Files
Updating an Indexed File
VSAM Files
Conclusion
Chapter 6. COBOL Tables and Reports
Introduction to Tables
Tables and Reading Files
Multilevel Tables
Indexes
Searching a Table
Binary Search
Reports
The PROCEDURE DIVISION for Reports
Testing a Report
Reporting Tools
Working with Characters and Strings
STRING
UNSTRING
INSPECT
Conclusion
Chapter 7. Other Languages and Programming Techniques
What Language to Use?
Assembler Language
Memory
Registers
Base Displacement Addressing
Sample Assembler Language Code
Java
C and C++
PL/I
CLIST and REXX
REXX Variables
REXX Comparisons
Control Structures
Calling Functions
Arrays
Object-Oriented COBOL
Programming Techniques
Copy Member
Subprograms
Conclusion
Chapter 8. Databases and Transaction Managers
Information Management System
IMS Database Manager
IMS Transaction Manager
IMS Services and Tools
IMS Programming Language
Db2 and the Relational Database
Benefits of Relational Databases
Using Db2
Structured Query Language
Joins
Database Administrator
Application Development with Db2
Db2 Ecosystem
Customer Information Control System
Working with the CICS Platform
Programming in CICS
Conclusion
Part II. Modern Topics
Chapter 9. DevOps
Advantages of DevOps
Waterfall Method Model
Agile Method
Scrum
Kanban
Lean
Agile: It’s Not All About Speed
Mainframes and the Challenges for DevOps
DevOps Best Practices
Configuration Management
Issues with DevOps
Metrics
Mainframe DevOps Tooling
Automation
CI/CD
Zowe
BMC Jenkins Plug-ins
Zigi
Conclusion
Chapter 10. Artificial Intelligence
What Is AI?
Why Use AI?
Downsides of AI
Machine Learning
Binary Classification
Multiclass Classification
Multilabel Classification
Imbalanced Classification
Types of Machine Learning
Supervised Learning
Unsupervised Learning
Reinforcement Learning
Deep Learning
Data
Big Data
Data Management
Log Data
Data Wrangling
The AI Process
Accuracy
An AI Demo
AI on Z
AIOps
Conclusion
Chapter 11. Robotic Process Automation, and Low-Code and No-Code Systems
What Is RPA?
The Disadvantages of RPA
Macros, Scripts, and APIs
Types of RPA
Process Methodologies
RPA Roles
Evaluating RPA Software
Process Mining
How to Create a Bot
Creating a UiPath Bot
Creating a Bot for the Mainframe
RPA Issues with Mainframes
Low-Code and No-Code Systems
Conclusion
Chapter 12. Mainframe Modernization Strategies
Why Modernize?
Using a Hybrid Cloud
Setting Goals
Encapsulating
Rehosting or Replatforming
Refactoring or Rearchitecting
Replacing or Rebuilding
Working with the Hyperscalers
Amazon Web Services
Microsoft
Google Cloud
Automation Tools
Heirloom Computing
EvolveWare
Advanced’s Automated COBOL Refactoring
Astadia
Data Migration
Conclusion
Chapter 13. The Future
Innovation of the Mainframe
Enterprise Integration
The Hybrid Model
Mainframe as a Service
Conclusion
Additional Resources
Glossary
Index
About the Author
Colophon
