I'm certainly not at a level of knowledge of z/OS that I would like to be. I'm often in awe at how much people on this and other lists know. I like though that there is still a lot of cool stuff to learn.
I started with IBM mainframes in 1982 when I was at the university. I was a music major and I wanted to learn about computers. They had a smaller room with the micro computers in that was kept locked and you had to be a CS major or have special permission to use those. Next to it though (this was in the data center building) was a bigger open room with IBM 3270 and DEC terminals and a bunch of documentation. (There was also an adjacent room with a machine they called a Widget and was used by CS 101 students. No idea what that was, but I think something by IBM.) I got an account on an IBM 4341 running VM/CMS. I still remember my userid: MULINDY. I didn't know how to program. I managed to teach myself a bit of Waterloo Basic but I couldn't do much. I was so intrigued by these machines that I would stay there all night long just hacking at the OS, learning to write Execs, and so on. I never got to take any CS classes. I belong now to a couple of Yahoo Groups which is made up of mostly people new to z/OS, and I help out and answer questions when I can. If I'm not mistaken, by the names, most of the people are from India. It is not uncommon to see posts like this: <quote> Hi, I have been developing applications for zOS using the USS for some time. Now, I want to learn more about the zOS. Can somebody give me tips where to start learning zOS, TSO, ISPF, SDSF, etc? Soon we will be getting a dedicated development environment from IBM, where I will have to operate everything myself. Thanks for the replies. </quote> (No idea how to answer that. Steve you want to open a branch office in India?) I absolutely do not want to bring up the pros & cons of outsourcing. The fact is, though, places like India are getting a lot of mainframe work. And indeed there are a lot of areas in the world where mainframes still have a chance to take hold. I'm thinking China may be a big up-and-coming market (but I've no facts to back that up). One point I'm making is that it took me years and a lot of difficult study to grow to my current level. Yet there are many people now being handed an MVS job to do and told to "get to it". Do others see this as a challenge? That mainframes are beginning to spread faster than people can properly learn them? And how do you learn what you need to know - things that normally take experience and time - so quickly? Perhaps Steve if he reads this has some answers. I for one am very happy to see so many new (and young) people interested in working with IBM mainframes. Having survived the Microsoft Wars I'm happy our side didn't lose. Remember things like in 1991 when Stewart Alsop wrote, "I predict that the last mainframe will be unplugged on 15 March 1996." (If centralization by virtualization continues to be a better way to go, then people will realize that there are better OS's than MS for this and make the natural switch to Unix and mainframe servers. I predict that the last MS server will be unplugged by 2025.) (-: On a good note, you can't stop people from learning z/OS no matter how hard you try (IBM). z/OS 1.6 ADCD (I've read) is available to download on some of the bittorrent networks. (Well, for all I know IBM actually put them out there, and if so, smart move.) Kind regards, Lindy ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
