Matt, Thanks for the extended and detailed response. There are many of us out here who are still wondering what this project really is.
First, a caution: Please, please define your acronyms the first time you use them. E.G., what is JWT? Most of us (well, this application programmer in particular) have no idea what that is. Java Work Tooling? I am left to guess. Another couple of examples: "HTML5 enabled desktop". Does that mean code that runs in a browser on my desktop? "WebSocket enabled APIs"? Same question. I thought I grokked this one: "JES Explorer (GUI to interact with JES much like a Finder or Explorer on Windows would work" until the next sentence: "web interface that doesn’t require 3270 to submit, etc.". Again, does that mean a separate program like Windows Explorer, or just a new browser interface? It would help greatly if there was a video demonstration of these capabilities. Did any of the Zowe presentations at SHARE include live online demonstrations of already-available capabilities, and if so are those video's available through SHARE or on the Zowe website? For the application programmer (not for the systems gurus who maintain the environment) what is the experience intended to be? I'm not from anywhere near Missouri, but I really need to be shown how what Zowe is touting could help me in my everyday work. If I understand it, perhaps I can make a case to my management. But first I have to understand it. Still somewhat confused . . . Peter -----Original Message----- From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU] On Behalf Of Matt Hogstrom Sent: Sunday, January 6, 2019 6:16 PM To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU Subject: Re: Zowe? Not to mention the difference between nappies and diapers. Zowe is an open source project created to host technologies that benefit the Z platform from all members of the Z community (ISV’s and consumers). The initial code base was seeded with technologies from CA Technologies, IBM and Rocket. Each of us had developed capabilities that we wanted to use to enhance the platform but proprietary products were not the way to create an eco-system; creating proprietary products was just BAU. We needed to see if such a community was viable and so each contributed a set of technology and we worked through the legal issues of moving what was new and some long-standing code to an EPL-2.0 license which allows anyone to consume and use the code. The choice of three was more about being able to manage the issues of community formation and not in any way to be exclusive. Three was a lot of work and we now have a good framework (legal, governance, hosting, etc.) to start with. A late addition by CA was the addition of the Mediation Layer which we are using to federate a number of platform services. We have an advanced use of JWT that allows for accessing multiple services only requiring a user to sign-on once. This is ahead of platform goals of using JWT in the Security Managers. Open source allows us to experiment and deliver capabilities faster than traditional development methods and delivery streams on Z. The initial contributions were the CLI and some VS Code extensions from CA, WebSocket enabled APIs from IBM and a HTML5 enabled desktop that allowed for hosting multiple Angular applications. Consider these contributions to be more of the framework for enabling access to Z on-top of which new applications can be built. The applications that are provided as of now and a few more candidates for 1.0 later this month are: CLI plugins (Console, TSO, file, JES interface, etc.) where developers that are not accustomed to Z can interact using their shell of choice (we expect most people to be some bash variant). This interface uses direct z/OSMF APIs for these services. JES Explorer (GUI to interact with JES much like a Finder or Explorer on Windows would work). Simple and familiar web interface that doesn’t require 3270 to submit, retrieve check status on jobs, etc. MVS and USS explorer. Provides access for retrieving / sending files to and from the z/OS system. Again, very Finder / Explorer like. A significant advantage here is the applications run in an HTML 5 framework and eliminate the maintenance of Java and other frameworks on desktops. There are a number of customers that are looking to eliminate Desktop dependencies around Java. Contextual Editor (allows for editing and updating with a context sensitive editor that is extensible with a language server). TN3270 Emulator - fully functional 3270 emulator that runs in the desktop. All models supported. No client install needed. Some applications that I’m working on are an IPL explorer that will interrogate the systems in a Plex and navigate the rats nest of Parmiib members. Doing this at night so going is a bit slow right now. Other products are using Zowe capabilities like the IBM Db2 Dev/Ops experience as well as the OMEGAMON for Storage. Other products are coming as well. The best way I have to describe Zowe is that its like Mac or Windows where they come with a set of APIs and OS capabilities that applications build on and include some applications out of the box like described above. The goal is to innovate faster, in the open under the oversight of a community that vets the code, verifies its source and tests what is delivered. Sorry for the long response to the WTF question but I think it was a fair question that deserved a response. -- This message and any attachments are intended only for the use of the addressee and may contain information that is privileged and confidential. If the reader of the message is not the intended recipient or an authorized representative of the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. 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