MainframeZone

01/12/2026

MAINFRAME HISTORY
I feel sure this computer diagramming flowchart template is very familiar to many of the more seasoned mainframe programmers.

Originally developed by Herman Goldstine and John von Neumann as a tool to diagram and plan computer programs, the flowchart quickly became a popular tool for describing computer algorithms.

But, alas, its popularity decreased in the 1970s when interactive computer terminals and third-generation programming languages became common tools for computer programming.

01/03/2026

MAINFRAME HISTORY
Bob Bemer worked with Grace Hopper to produce the specifications for COBOL. In fact, he coined the terms COBOL and CODASYL.

He also helped to define the ASCII text standard; and he was the first scientist to warn of the Y2K problem.

01/01/2026

Available now at https://lnkd.in/gPQxngfW.

12/29/2025

MAINFRAME HISTORY
According to Fred Brooks, manager of the development of IBM's System/360 family of mainframe computers and the OS/360 operating system: “The development of OS/360 was the most ambitious computer programming effort ever attempted at that time, involving over 5,000 man-years of effort.

By the end, more than 1,000 people were working on it, and it had cost $50 million (in 1960s dollars), about five times the original estimate.”

12/26/2025

MAINFRAME HISTORY
The IBM z15 mainframe, first announced on September 2019, wasn’t just an upgrade—it was a turning point for enterprise computing.

With built-in data privacy enforcement, pervasive encryption, and hybrid cloud integration, the z15 introduced a new era of secure, policy-based control over data across the enterprise and the cloud.

Several key firsts of the z15 were:
• Encryption Everywhere — protect data at rest, in flight, and in use
• Data Privacy Passports — revoke access to data, even after it leaves your environment
• Instant Recovery & System Recovery Boost — for faster startup and workload resiliency
• Designed for hybrid multicloud environments

Two of the first recipients of the z15 were Nationwide Building Society (UK), and DBS Bank (Singapore).

12/21/2025

MAINFRAME HISTORY
The first specification for the language we know as Rexx was dated March 29, 1979 by its designer, IBM’s Mike Cowlishaw. It was originally called REX “because it sounded nice,” but the other “x” was eventually added to avoid confusion with other similarly-named products.

According to Cowlishaw, “Rexx borrows most of its features from other languages, especially PL/I and EXEC 2, but these features were modified or expressed in ways that made them easy to use, but not necessarily easy to implement.”

Although the first specification for Rexx happened in 1979, before it was actually written it was made available over IBM’s worldwide internal network so other interested folks could make suggestions for improvements. Rexx was included in the third release of IBM’s VM/System Product that was shipped in 1983.

12/17/2025

MAINFRAME HISTORY
THE IBM z9 mainframe was first available on September 16, 2005. It marked the end of the previously used eServer zSeries naming convention.

The z9 wasn’t just another performance upgrade — it was the system that made security a hardware foundation, cemented Linux on the mainframe as a strategic platform, and paved the way for later innovations in encryption, compliance, and hybrid workloads.

It was also the last mainframe computer that NASA ever used.

12/15/2025

A T T E N T I O N
What: Live Webinar: Advanced Key Management and Innovation on z/OS with
Who: Greg Thomason, ASPG Cryptographic Manager and Product Manager
When: Tuesday, December 16th @ 2pm ET

In this session, Greg Thomason will review several use cases for cryptography key administration and management featuring flexible options for interoperability, portability, and compatibility on the mainframe.

Register Now
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/306604764912541528

MegaCryption is an enterprise file level data encryption software solution that provides encryption, compression, translation and integrity checking for z/OS and distributed systems. Its versatile key storage, management and portability enables the simple transport of secure encrypted data and secure cryptography keys between distinct systems...read more https://aspg.com/product/megacryption/

MegaCryption is an Enterprise & Mainframe Encryption Toolkit provides Cryptographic Services & Encryption Key Management within z/OS Platform

12/13/2025

MAINFRAME HISTORY
Python on the IBM mainframe went from “not even imaginable” to “strategic workload.”

Python’s creator, Guido van Rossum, began working on Python in 1989, and the language’s early philosophy — simplicity, scripting, rapid development — ran counter to traditional mainframe culture.

When System/360 launched in 1964, mainframe programming meant COBOL, PL/I, FORTRAN, and ASSEMBLER — not scripting languages.

The breakthrough wasn’t Python itself. It was UNIX on z/OS in the 1990s, followed by Linux on IBM Z in 2000. Once Linux arrived, Python ran natively and at scale — unchanged.

Today, Python doesn’t replace COBOL. It automates, integrates, and exposes it — powering DevOps, APIs, and hybrid cloud workflows on IBM Z.

12/11/2025

MAINFRAME HISTORY

The book pictured below is terrific. It tells the story of how IBM’s Thomas Watson Jr. bet the entire company on a single, unified family of computers — System/360.

At the time, IBM had dozens of incompatible product lines. Different architectures. Different peripherals. Different software stacks. Customers upgrading often had to rewrite everything. It was chaos!

The investment? Over $5 billion in 1960s dollars — more than IBM’s net worth at the time. Many inside IBM thought it would sink the company.

Officially announced on April 7, 1964, System/360 didn’t just succeed. It redefined enterprise computing and cemented IBM’s dominance for decades. It set the foundation for the entire mainframe lineage that continues to run the world today.

12/09/2025

MAINFRAME HISTORY

Sharp-eyed mainframers might be able to see that we've added 41 more vendors to this Big Z Vendors graphic.

This Big Z Vendors graphic is available on wearables at https://lnkd.in/gH_46KcJ.

11/30/2025

MAINFRAME HISTORY
124 mainframe software vendors are named in this Big Z graphic design. I feel sure that most mainframers have used many of their products and solutions. This isn't meant to be an exhaustive list; I apologize to those that were left out.
Which companies/products were of particularly great help to you or your organization? Any terrific experiences with them?
In the spirit of this past Thanksgiving and upcoming Christmas, please stay positive with your comments. No bashing please!