'Mainframe for the Next Generation’ event hosted by Macro 4

An open day for UK IBM mainframe customers who are planning their strategies for building up the next generation of mainframe development and support staff is being hosted by software and services company Macro 4, on 26th September, 2013.

The ‘Mainframe for the Next Generation’ event is a day of workshops, panel debates and product demonstrations, with a keynote from IBM. The overall theme is how best to support and encourage the next generation of mainframe workers and meet the challenge of demonstrating a valid mainframe based career path in today's IT industry.

Panel debate participants include Peter Siddell, IBM UK Technical Specialist for CICS Tools on z/OS CICS Tools Development and Dr. Herbert Daly, Senior Lecturer in Computer Science University of Bedfordshire.

A key focus of the event will be providing alternatives to the traditional 3270 ‘green screen’ interfaces in order to make accessing the mainframe platform easier and more intuitive for a generation brought up on Microsoft Windows and Apple’s icon based GUIs.

Macro 4 will demonstrate mainframe interfaces based on the Eclipse IDE (Integrated Development Environment) and highlight how Eclipse interfaces:

have a look and feel that is more familiar to a newer generation of mainframe developers and support staff

avoid the need to master everything to do with 3270 ‘green screen’ interfaces before being able to contribute in the mainframe world

provide many productivity and usability improvements over the conventional alternatives for both existing users and those who are new to the mainframe

Macro 4 is a long standing supplier of software solutions to support mainframe developers and operations personnel throughout the application development lifecycle. Phil Mann, Mainframe Solutions Consultant at Macro 4, said of the need for new mainframe interfaces:

“Some people mistakenly think this is about forcing people to change the way in which they work with mainframes. Nothing could be further from the truth. As far as we’re concerned it's about providing flexibility and alternative ways of getting mainframe access. Old timers like myself can stay 3270, ‘green screen' based as long as they like, but that's not going to cut it with younger staff coming to the mainframe for the first time. And we’re finding that even the most dyed-in-the-wool advocates of the 'traditional' ways of doing things are finding some value in these new interfaces when they get to have a look at them and try them out.”

Jim Allum, Director, Commercial and Technical at Macro 4 said:

"A main focus of our product development over the last few years has been providing more flexible access to our mainframe products and in general to the mainframe environment in which they operate. That journey is now coming to an end, and it is the time to show our customers the fruits of our labours."

The ‘Mainframe for the Next Generation’ open day will take place on Thursday 26th September at Macro 4’s headquarters in Crawley which is easy to access by air or train via Gatwick Airport.

For more information or to register to attend the event contact Tanya Fooks (email: [email protected], tel: 01293 872090).