by Sonja Soderlund | May 19, 2026 | Trivia, Unix
Like so many transformative innovations, the creation of UNIX was the unintentional outcome of a failed experiment—specifically with a time-sharing operating system called Multics for the GE-645 mainframe. While it was originally developed as a side project with...
by Sonja Soderlund | Apr 20, 2026 | influential-mainframers, Trivia
For the month of April, Planet Mainframe puts the spotlight on influential mainframers, and this week our trivia quiz is all about mainframe trailblazer Eleanor Kolchin. Kolchin built her career at a pivotal moment in computing, when computing machines were...
by Sonja Soderlund | Apr 3, 2026 | influential-mainframers, Trivia
At Planet Mainframe, April is dedicated to honoring influential mainframers past and present. This week’s quiz dives into the life and times of Bob Evans (1927–2004), who played a central role in shaping modern enterprise computing during his career at IBM. ...
by Sonja Soderlund | Feb 25, 2026 | Arcati Navigator 2026, Industry Insights, Trivia
Welcome to this week’s Planet Mainframe trivia quiz! On the heels of the 2026 Arcati Survey Results release, this round of trivia focuses on changes underway. Workforce demographics are shifting, new generations are entering mainframe computing fields (and through...
by Sonja Soderlund | Feb 9, 2026 | Programming, Python, Trivia
We often describe Python as a “modern” language, but its story spans decades of technological change, cultural shifts, and unexpected platforms. What began as a small side project in the Netherlands evolved into one of the most widely used programming languages in the...
by Sonja Soderlund | Jan 26, 2026 | Mainframe Skills, Trivia
Our last trivia quiz explored the legacy of mainframe pioneers, and this week we’re going to continue looking into the lineage of skills in mainframe professional practice, examining how early design and operational decisions shaped the way mainframe expertise is...
by Sonja Soderlund | Jan 13, 2026 | Trivia, Workforce Training
Happy 2026—and welcome to a whole new year of Planet Mainframe Trivia! As our January theme focuses on Workforce and Training, this quiz looks at mainframe pioneers and the early decisions that shaped how mainframe skills are learned and passed on. Mainframe expertise...
by Sonja Soderlund | Dec 31, 2025 | Industry Insights, Research & Surveys, Trivia
As the year closes, and the year-end reflections roll in, we’re taking a closer look at key findings from the latest BMC, Kyndryl, and Planet Mainframe Arcati surveys. The results point to a platform that is evolving in response to cost pressures, skills gaps,...
by Sonja Soderlund | Dec 22, 2025 | Trivia
As the year draws to a close (whether your days are growing shorter and darker or longer and brighter), December tends to invite a little reflection. Over the past year, Planet Mainframe Trivia has dished out a veritable smorgasbord of topics, from the early days of...
by Sonja Soderlund | Dec 15, 2025 | Trivia
Mainframe environments come with their own vocabulary, much of it precise, legacy-rich, and completely opaque to anyone who hasn’t spent time in the ecosystem. And there really is no end to the alphabet soup. Even seasoned professionals pick up new terms over the...
by Sonja Soderlund | Nov 28, 2025 | Artificial Intelligence, Trivia
November at Planet Mainframe is all about AI, and you don’t need us to tell you that artificial intelligence has now been integrated into many of our daily routines. But long before AI became a household term, IBM was shaping the foundations of this increasingly...
by Sonja Soderlund | Oct 27, 2025 | cyber security, Penetration Testing, Trivia
Mainframes have long been known for their unmatched reliability and security—but even the most trusted systems can hide surprises beneath the surface. As technology evolves, so do the tactics of those trying to exploit it. Penetration testing (pen testing), or...
by Sonja Soderlund | Oct 13, 2025 | cyber security, Trivia
For many of us, October is about falling leaves, shorter days, and cooler weather. It also happens to be Cybersecurity month, the time when we dial in on the never-ending (and ever-evolving) task of securing the mainframe. Mainframes have a reputation for being...
by Sonja Soderlund | Sep 29, 2025 | COBOL, Trivia
In September, Planet Mainframe pays tribute to the programming language that has formed the backbone of many mission-critical workloads — COBOL. Considered by some to be a relic of early computing, COBOL continues to play a vital (if often overlooked) role in the...
by Sonja Soderlund | Sep 15, 2025 | Observability, resiliency, Trivia
At Planet Mainframe, September is the month that we pay special attention to two critical pillars of modern mainframe operations — observability and resiliency. Observability goes beyond traditional monitoring by providing deep insights into applications,...
