"if IBM is going to transition the Redbooks into something better"?
It looks like IBM is transitioning to ibm.com/docs, where an isolated piece of documentation is given to you without any of the surrounding related information. This is hardly better. The most expensive part of z/OS TOC is probably labor. If IBM increases the cost of labor by failing to provide easy to access documentation, it's just another blow to the z/OS platform. I thank God that retirement is starting to look feasible. -----Original Message----- From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List <IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU> On Behalf Of Lionel B. Dyck Sent: Friday, November 5, 2021 5:53 AM To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU Subject: Re: Redbooks Rumor CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the Texas Comptroller's email system. DO NOT click links or open attachments unless you expect them from the sender and know the content is safe. I agree with Cheryl that Redbooks have been some of the BEST documentation available from IBM. What I am curious about is if IBM is going to transition the Redbooks into something better. With the web there are many more opportunities to provide documentation that contains the Redbook content but in more usable (and searchable) formats. If that is their plan then I'm on board but if they are going to do away with Redbooks, or make them marketing guides, then the IBM customer community needs to take a stand and let IBM know that they are making a significant mistake that *will* impact their future growth of the platform. Lionel B. Dyck <>< Website: https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lbdsoftware.com%2F&data=04%7C01%7Cmichael.watkins%40CPA.TEXAS.GOV%7C2e3a6dbe5e3c42ad8d0d08d9a04a716a%7C2055feba299d4d0daa5a73b8b42fef08%7C0%7C0%7C637717063875460424%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=kQ5qQ8b69SI%2F0CyUPvczqR%2BOoKhBr31v5Mjd%2BpCMBBk%3D&reserved=0 Github: https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.com%2Flbdyck&data=04%7C01%7Cmichael.watkins%40CPA.TEXAS.GOV%7C2e3a6dbe5e3c42ad8d0d08d9a04a716a%7C2055feba299d4d0daa5a73b8b42fef08%7C0%7C0%7C637717063875460424%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=bF8E7Q2nVxMUbzidS3mxL010xaQuGxC5LQsCyX5qV0I%3D&reserved=0 "Worry more about your character than your reputation. Character is what you are, reputation merely what others think you are." - - - John Wooden -----Original Message----- From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List <IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU> On Behalf Of Cheryl Watson Sent: Thursday, November 4, 2021 9:22 PM To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU Subject: Re: Redbooks Rumor This is really appalling! I hope it's not true, but I have noticed that the lack of books related to z/OS has been steadily declining, and I find it very distressing. I've always found the Redbooks to be the best documentation ever provided by IBM. Unfortunately, most of the Redbooks are now simply marketing guides. The post from Bill Bitner was from a Linux blog post. Is IBM speaking about Linux/Power Redbooks only? Does it also apply to z/OS Redbooks? Why isn't there more outrage on this forum? If you don't complain, IBM will bury these in one more opportunity to save money while leaving customers without the excellent resources they've had in the past. If you want z/OS Redbooks, please make your voice heard here. Thanks, Cheryl ====================== Cheryl Watson Walker, CEO Watson & Walker, Inc. https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.watsonwalker.com%2F&data=04%7C01%7Cmichael.watkins%40CPA.TEXAS.GOV%7C2e3a6dbe5e3c42ad8d0d08d9a04a716a%7C2055feba299d4d0daa5a73b8b42fef08%7C0%7C0%7C637717063875460424%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=Iuq7LFu50LvfLdEt5kL0799mlZa72BAddLk5mtZpz4I%3D&reserved=0 ====================== -----Original Message----- From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List <IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU> On Behalf Of Neale Ferguson Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2021 10:03 PM To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU Subject: Redbooks Rumor I am hearing strong rumors that IBM is about to commit the type of corporate facepalm that is the stuff for future textbooks. Apparently Redbooks are no longer going to be a thing and the organization disbanded. If there's one thing that has differentiated IBM in the mainframe space has been the quality of its documentation and, in particular, the type of HOW-TO information contained within Redbooks and Redpieces. These documents turn a "that'd be nice to do" into a proof-of-concept and finally into production. In doing so, they must be responsible for millions or billions of dollar in revenue to IBM. Many of the topics of Redbooks cover are complex and even intimidating. They provide a step-by-step approach to learning and implementing using a group of people actually doing what they're writing about. This is invaluable. I hope these rumors are untrue but if not I think we should all be shouting from the roof until someone with some sense realizes how shortsighted this decision is. 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