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Mainframes and open-source software

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Monday, 19 June 2023

I’ve known people who use open-source software all the time, and I’ve also known people who say that they will never allow open-source software on their mainframe. They feel that their reasons are almost too obvious to be worth stating. You are just never sure about the security of open-source software. After all, lots of people will have had a hand in the development of the software and you never know what sort of backdoors they’ve put into the software. Or, they may, needing to finish something quickly, not have made that part of the software as secure as it needs to be for use on a mainframe.

Other people will argue that the very fact that open-source software is being used on other platforms has given hackers a chance to really understand its workings. So, if that software becomes available on the mainframe, those hackers will be able to break into an otherwise very secure platform, using the knowledge and techniques that they have developed on those other platforms.

That all seems quite damning. For reasons of safety and security, it’s best to keep your mainframe free of open-source software. But is that true? Or is there a grain of truth in it?

One argument for using open-source software on a mainframe is the very fact that it has often been available on other platforms, and there are a number of people who are familiar with using it. That helps get over the promised staff shortages at mainframe sites. Another argument is that the price of open-source software makes it very competitive against other sources of mainframe software – basically because it can be free. However, there will be the cost of running the software as well as the cost of training staff to use it.

Perhaps the best-known piece of open-source software is Zowe, which is an open source software framework that allows mainframe development and operation teams to securely manage, control, script, and develop on the mainframe. Initial development came from IBM, Rocket Software, and Broadcom, three heavyweight software houses for mainframes. The advantage for sites using Zowe – and there are many – is that it has the look and feel of software developed off-mainframe. By that I mean it is easily accessible by people with no mainframe training, who are empowered to work productively and successfully on a mainframe. Again, this solves the mainframe skills shortage that we often hear about. Since its original launch, Zowe has extended in the facilities and features that it offers.

Part of the Linux Foundation is the growing Open Mainframe Project, whose mission is to eliminate barriers to the adoption of open-source software on the mainframe. To that end, the project has announced the launch of a Call for Proposals for its fourth annual Open Mainframe Summit. This year, the event will be collocated with two industry conferences: IBM TechXchange Conference 2023, hosted in Las Vegas on 11-14 September, and Open Source in Finance Forum, hosted in New York City on 1 November.

“As mainframe technology and events evolve and mature, it becomes a more natural evolution to align Open Mainframe Projects and activities with other industry events”, said John Mertic, Director of Program Management at the Linux Foundation and Executive Director of the Open Mainframe Project. “This year, by partnering with IBM and FINOS, we are offering attendees the opportunity to enhance their experience with unique presentations and targeted conversations with industry experts.”

“As open source becomes the default development model for many enterprises, mainframe customers are looking to embrace community-developed code for their mainframe environments”, said Steven Dickens, Vice President and Practice Leader at the Futurum Group. “The Open Mainframe Project has established itself as the go-to community for mainframe developers, enterprises and vendors alike. The events announced today are a key part of how the community will gather to advance code on the mainframe.”

Open Mainframe Summit aims to connect and inform all those interested in growing the use of mainframes and related technology in dynamic technical and educational sessions. It is open to students, developers, corporate leaders, users, and contributors of projects from around the globe looking to learn, network, and collaborate. It will feature content tracks that tackle both business and technical strategies for enterprise development and deployment.

The IBM TechXchange Conference offers technical breakout sessions, hands-on experiences, product demonstrations, instructor-led labs, and certifications, and the Open Mainframe Summit will be featured as part of IBM’s TechXchange Community Day on 11 September.

The Open Source in Finance Forum is dedicated to driving collaboration and innovation in financial services through open-source software and standards. This event brings together experts across financial services, technology, and open source to engage in stimulating and thought-provoking conversations about how to best (and safely) leverage open-source software to solve industry challenges. Open Mainframe Summit will be featured as part of a 6-session track and a 10-minute keynote presentation.

The Call for Proposals will be accepting submissions until Friday 30 June. Interested speakers for either event can submit proposals with options for 20-minute talks, 30-minute sessions, 60-minute panel discussions, or a 60-minute workshops or labs. All topics that benefit the Open Mainframe ecosystem are welcome and can include (but are not limited to) AI, machine learning, building the next workforce, cloud native, COBOL, Java, hybrid cloud, diversity and Inclusion, z/OS and Linux on Z, and security.

I just think that we are going to see more open-source software running on mainframes moving forward.

If you need anything written, contact Trevor Eddolls at iTech-Ed.
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