Planet Mainframe had the opportunity to sit down with Elliot Jalley, Product Manager at Broadcom’s R&D Center in Prague, to discuss Zowe’s pivotal role in mainframe modernization. With over a decade of experience in mainframe and product management, Jalley emphasized Zowe’s evolution as an open-source project under the Linux Foundation, positioning it as a critical tool for organizations pursuing modernization while leveraging the power of the mainframe. He highlighted its fast integration —expected to reach 85% of mainframe organizations by the end of 2024, shifting conversations from understanding Zowe, to instead optimizing its use.
Key insights from the discussion included:
- What is Zowe? A flexible set of modern interfaces for z/OS, enabling adaptation, extension, and integration.
- Zowe V3 updates: Enhancements in durability, stability, and innovation.
- API mediation frameworks, efficient installation processes, and new tools like IntelliJ support and SDKs for Kotlin and Java.
- APIs as a foundation: “APIs open up a range of possibilities for modernization and innovation.”
- Biggest challenges for modernization: Overcoming cultural resistance to open source.
- Misconceptions: Debunking the myth of mainframes being outdated, with Jalley emphasizing their role in powering 75% of global transactions.
- Emerging trends: The impact of AI and platform engineering in driving efficiency and innovation.
Amanda Hendley is the Managing Editor of Planet Mainframe and host of the Virtual Mainframe User Groups. With a career rooted in the technology community, she has held leadership roles at the Technology Association of Georgia, Computer Measurement Group (CMG), and Planet Mainframe. A proud Georgia Tech graduate, Amanda spends her free time renovating homes and volunteering with SEGSPrescue.org in Atlanta, Georgia.