Looks like IBM is really trying to eliminate HLASM programming in the user community. Or, perhaps, extend the community to include C "systems" programmers (like with a UNIX background).
http://www-01.ibm.com/common/ssi/ShowDoc.wss?docURL=/common/ssi/rep_ca/6/897/ENUS218-326/index.html&lang=en&request_locale=en IBM Enterprise Metal C for z/OS Trial, V3.1 is an evaluation release of the Enterprise Metal C for z/OS, V3.1 product that is available with a 90-day evaluation license at no charge for non-production use. It is available from IBM Shopz. Enterprise Metal C for z/OS is the newest, stand-alone offering for the IBM family of development tools. Enterprise Metal C for z/OS delivers a high-level language alternative to having to write programs in High Level Assembler (HLASM). The ability to write programs in HLASM is a specialized skill for the z/OS platform and developers with expertise in assembler skills are difficult to find. Developers can use C syntax instead to develop systems programs. This eliminates the need to manage the use of registers and to manually tune assembler instruction sequences. Enterprise Metal C for z/OS does this for developers. Enterprise Metal C for z/OS allows developers to create high-performing, low-level, free-standing applications. The generated optimized HLASM source code is independent of the Language Environment runtime, and the C runtime is not required for execution. The resulting programs seamlessly integrate with the HLASM code base to provide direct access to z/OS System Services. Enterprise Metal C for z/OS takes advantage of IBM optimization technology to generate high-performance, optimized code. Develop applications with Enterprise Metal C once, and then recompile to optimize for future advancements of IBM z/Architecture® systems. -- There is no such thing as the Cloud. It is just somebody else’s computer. Maranatha! <>< John McKown
