DEVOPSdigest

The Open Mainframe Project announced Zowe, a new open source software framework that bridges the divide between modern applications and the mainframe, providing easier interoperability and scalability among products and solutions from multiple vendors.

Zowe is an open source project based on z/OS.

With the ever-increasing deployment of hybrid architectures, a dynamic workforce that spans millennials to baby boomers and rising expectations in user experience, companies need more intuitive, productive and better integrated capabilities for z/OS. The Zowe mission is to enable delivery of such an environment through an extensible open source framework and the creation of an ecosystem of independent Software Vendors (ISVs), System Integrators, clients and end users. This new framework will enable an ecosystem of software solutions intended to provide a simple, intuitive environment for a variety of IT professionals performing administrative, development, test and operation tasks on z/OS, and help onboard the next generation of mainframe users.

Initial Zowe modules will include:

- An extensible z/OS framework that provides new APIs and z/OS REST services to transform enterprise tools and DevOps processes that can incorporate new technology, languages and modern workflows.

- A unifying workspace providing a browser-based desktop app container that can host both traditional and modern user experiences and is extensible via the latest web toolkits.

- An interactive and scriptable Command Line interface (CLI) allowing new ways to seamlessly integrate z/OS in cloud and distributed environments.

These modules, including more that will be developed over time, will enable development teams to manage, control, script and develop on the mainframe like any other cloud platform. Additionally, the modules reduce risk and cost by allowing teams to use familiar, industry-standard, open-source tools so that they can accelerate mainframe integration into their enterprise DevOps initiatives.

"The mainframe continues to be a critical platform offering new possibilities for next generation applications. We are excited to participate with the OMP and Zowe community members to streamline the development process for applications leveraging the platform," said Greg Lotko, GM, Mainframe, CA Technologies. "We are committed to the Zowe initiative as it provides simplified and familiar infrastructure services for the mainframe benefiting both experienced and newer developers and will help our customers accelerate the time-to-market as they deploy their mission critical digital transformation strategies."

"This strategic collaboration enables clients that rely on the mainframe for running their core business to simplify and speed application development, deployment and operations on z/OS," said Barry Baker, Vice President, Z Software, at IBM. "This initiative brings together industry experts to drive innovation for the community of next-generation of mainframe developers that are new to the platform."

As an open source project under the Open Mainframe Project, any enterprise or solution developer can participate in the development of Zowe. All code from the Zowe project will be made available under the Eclipse Public License 2.0.

Hosted by The Linux Foundation, the Open Mainframe Project was created to increase collaboration across the mainframe community and champion shared tool sets and resources. A core part of the project's mission is to involve academic institutions to assist in teaching and educating the mainframe Linux and open source engineers and developers of tomorrow.