The Open Mainframe Project has announced Zowe, an open source software framework that bridges the divide between modern applications and the mainframe, intended to provide easier interoperability and scalability among products and solutions from multiple vendors. Zowe is the first open source project based on z/OS.
Zowe's mission is to enable delivery of a more integrated environment for z/OS systems through an extensible open source framework and the creation of an ecosystem of independent software vendors, system integrators, clients and end users. This new framework will help engender a simpler, more 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. In addition, it will include 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. The framework will also incorporate an interactive and scriptable command-line interface that enables new ways to 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, the project's spokespeople said. 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.
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.
Key contributors to the Open Mainframe Project include IBM, CA Technologies, and Rocket Software.
Learn more about the project at www.openmainframeproject.org