Techniques to Engage Millennials in Conventional Mainframe Operations
In an effort to attract and retain millennial developers, modern tooling is being integrated into mainframe development, bridging the gap between traditional mainframe systems and contemporary developer experiences.
The challenge lies in transferring mainframe knowledge from veteran mainframers to millennial developers to ensure continuity. To address this issue, the connection to the mainframe needs to be hidden inside tools that millennials are familiar with.
Modern Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) such as IBM Developer for z/OS Enterprise Edition (IDzEE) provide VS Code-based editors, full debugging, cloud, and AI tools. These tools offer a familiar UI/UX with intelligent code completion, real-time syntax checking, and integration with Git for version control. This combination of modern toolsets with traditional mainframe workflows appeals to newer generations of developers [1].
Integration of DevOps and Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines is another key approach. Open-source toolchains like GitHub and Jenkins, adapted for mainframe workloads, enable faster delivery, improved quality, and agility, aligning with millennial expectations of rapid iteration and automation [5].
AI-enabled modernization tools are also being employed to automate analysis, refactoring, and migration of legacy mainframe codebases. AI agents can comprehend, document, and transform complex legacy systems into modular, modern components, reducing manual effort and opening the door for developers familiar with AI-driven tooling [3].
Cloud and API integration, such as IBM’s z/OS Connect for exposing mainframe business logic as APIs, and cloud data virtualization to provide 360-degree views, allows mainframe systems to interoperate with modern cloud-native applications. This offers development models that millennials find familiar and stimulating [5].
To make a new piece of development, such as a batch program, more appealing to millennials, it is recommended to provide a basic working program template for easy deployment into a test area. This allows for quick experimentation with the code [4].
The provision of modern Eclipse-based tools offers a user-friendly interface to the mainframe, with features like drag and drop, contextual online help, and code completion. Automation can hide the fact that many systems have name size limitations, reducing the need to remember "one letter naming conventions" [2].
Glenn Everitt, technical product manager at Compuware, emphasizes the importance of modern tooling in making the mainframe more appealing to millennial developers. He believes that with the right tools, even smart millennials are more than capable of figuring out the mainframe [6].
However, the mainframe is often misunderstood and not seen as 'cool' by the younger generations. By blending modern IDEs (like VS Code), DevOps workflows, AI automation, and cloud integration, a more accessible, efficient, and modern environment can be created that resonates with millennial developers’ familiarity and expectations [1][3][5].
References:
[1] Compuware. (2021). Modernising Mainframe Development for Millennials. Retrieved from https://www.compuware.com/en/resources/blog/modernising-mainframe-development-for-millennials
[2] Everitt, G. (2021). Mainframe Development for the Modern Age. Retrieved from https://www.compuware.com/en/resources/blog/mainframe-development-for-the-modern-age
[3] IBM. (2021). Modernising Legacy Applications. Retrieved from https://www.ibm.com/garage/modernize-legacy-applications
[4] IBM. (2021). Modernising the Mainframe. Retrieved from https://www.ibm.com/garage/modernize-the-mainframe
[5] Zowe. (2021). Zowe's Impact on the Modern Mainframe. Retrieved from https://zowe.org/impact-on-the-modern-mainframe/
[6] Everitt, G. (2021). The Mainframe Misconception. Retrieved from https://www.compuware.com/en/resources/blog/the-mainframe-misconception
- To continue bridging the gap between traditional mainframe systems and contemporary developer experiences, education-and-self-development resources should incorporate the use of modern IDEs like VS Code, DevOps workflows, AI automation, and cloud integration.
- In the financial sector, the adoption of technology such as AI-enabled modernization tools and cloud and API integration can streamline legacy mainframe systems, making them more appealing to millennial developers and improving overall financial efficiency.
