IBM Watsonx Code Assistant for Z 2.1
With actionable advice, IBM Watsonx Code Assistant for Z 2.1 can assist you in improving the quality of your code, and Watsonx Code Assistant for Z as a Service improves code explanation to support JCL.
IBM Watsonx Code Assistant for Z 2.1 Introduction
With Code Optimization Advice, IBM Watsonx Code Assistant for Z 2.1 expands its capacity to help businesses modernise their applications more quickly. Watsonx Code Assistant for Z has a feature called Code Optimization Advice that helps COBOL developers write better and more efficient code. Using the VS Code user interface, it conducts comprehensive runtime analysis on mission-critical COBOL code, locating performance bottlenecks and providing a prioritised list of actionable recommendations. By navigating to the precise line of code and applying the required patches, developers may maximise development resources, improve efficiency, and assist reduce costly performance issues that arise after deployment. Watsonx Code Assistant for Z’s basic component now includes Code Optimization Advice.
In addition to COBOL, IBM Watsonx Code Assistant for Z as a Service now offers JCL code explanation capabilities. Code Explanation for JCL is intended to close knowledge gaps and speed up operational tasks or modernisation initiatives by aiding system programmers who are not familiar with particular applications in their learning process. Early career system programmers’ training, development, and independence are also accelerated by Code Explanation for JCL.
Watsonx Code Assistant for Z Code Explanation uses generative AI to produce natural language explanations of JCL, which helps system programmers comprehend JCL code and support them in their daily and modernisation operations. By minimising the amount of manual labour needed to generate current code documentation, which can be stored or included as comments straight into the application code, these explanations also make the process of updating and maintaining documentation easier.
Organisations can alleviate knowledge bottlenecks and perhaps free up specialists for advanced modernisation work by implementing code explanation capabilities. Making better judgements about troubleshooting, maintenance, and other day-to-day operational actions that include JCL is made possible by the code explanation for JCL.
Businesses are using generative AI more quickly now than they did in the past. An IBM report states that 83% of C-suite executives believe that modernising apps is essential to the business plan of their company. Furthermore, according to 89% of respondents, using generative AI to application modernisation initiatives will spur growth by enhancing current goods and services and creating new ones.
Code Optimization Advice
Code Optimization Advice can help you analyse, prioritise, and fix COBOL performance issues more quickly.
Code Optimization Advice is intended to improve performance and expedite the development of COBOL applications. With the help of this capability, developers working with COBOL programs can overcome obstacles and produce code that is both current and efficient.
Client teams using Code Optimization Advice are able to:
- Determine which performance issues to prioritise and address them quickly by thoroughly analysing COBOL modules and optimising their code.
- Utilise a line-by-line analysis to obtain precise insights into areas that need to be improved.
- Boost productivity by prioritising and rating performance issues according to their impact on Z.
Watsonx Code Assistant for Z
Watsonx Code Assistant for Z designed to help architects, developers, and system programmers leverage automation and generative AI to modernise their mainframe programs.
Watsonx Code Assistant for Z can be used by clients to expedite the process of application modernisation by helping them comprehend, clarify, rework, optimise, transform, and validate their COBOL code.
IBM Watsonx Code Assistant for Z 2.1 is currently available and helps system programmers and developers better comprehend JCL code (Code Explanation for JCL) and optimise COBOL application performance (Code Optimization Advice).
Code explanations for JCL make it easier to comprehend and document the code, and they also help system programmers onboard more quickly.
IBM made the COBOL code explanation available in June. The IBM Watsonx Code Assistant for Z Code Explanation has been improved with JCL support, allowing system programmers to learn Z automation assets and JCL more quickly. Code explanation for JCL uses generative AI in conjunction with a large language model (LLM) that has been specially trained to generate explanations in plain language in real time. This process streamlines and expedites the process of comprehending and documenting applications.
Client teams can use Code Explanation for JCL to:
- With the explanations given, facilitate modernisation strategy with greater insights into programs.
- By explaining the JCL stages to a less experienced user in English, you can lessen the dependency on senior system programmers and speed up the user’s understanding of the application.
- Simplify documentation by providing code explanations, adding JCL explanations as comments, and using leverage to enhance documentation. This will enable smooth updates and improved retention of knowledge.
Watsonx Code Assistant for Z is intended to speed up the modernisation of mainframe applications, and generative AI can help business executives remain ahead of the competition. Watsonx Code Assistant for Z’s most recent version adds JCL code explanation and suggestions for code optimisation.
With these improvements, users can now quickly identify, prioritise, and fix COBOL performance issues. They can now obtain real-time, natural language explanations for JCL, which makes application documentation and comprehension easier. As a result, businesses may become more agile and productive, move more quickly, and hire more system programmers and mainframe developers.
