In a new three-part webinar series, PopUp Mainframe explores how SysProgs, training leaders, developers, and QA professionals tackle the challenges of modern z/OS environments.Mainframe teams rarely experience the platform in the same way. A systems programmer focused...
The mainframe is often referred to as the "backbone of the global economy". Although that’s true, the mainframe is more than a tired phrase. Its true strength lies in the diverse, global community of experts who push the platform forward. This year, the 2026...
Geoffrey Decker Instructor, Northern Illinois UniversityCo-Founder and Lead Instructor, Eli Madison Memorial Apprenticeships (EMMA) DeKalb, Illinois, USA This piece is part of the 2026 Planet Mainframe Influential Mainframers series.The Maestro of the Mainframe...
2026 Planet Mainframe Influential Mainframers Nominations Now Open The search for the next class of Influential Mainframers starts now. Nominations for the 2026 Influential Mainframers award are officially open. We’re looking for practitioners, leaders, educators, and...
I’ve always been a bit obsessed with computers—especially niche hardware. Growing up, I recall my dad having a collection of old systems from companies that no longer existed. They were different from the standard beige DOS and Windows boxes that had taken over, and I...
AI-driven development tools have arrived on the mainframe. They analyze existing code, support refactoring efforts, structure decades-old applications, and promise productivity gains that many organizations urgently need. For CIOs, the key question is no longer...
Mainframe careers aren’t disappearing. They’re narrowing, deepening, and becoming more demanding. If you spend any time in tech conversations, you’ve heard the claim that mainframe careers are fading, the talent pool is aging, and the jobs tied to IBM Z won’t survive....
Career resilience in the mainframe world sounds like jargon—until change hits. Reorgs, new technologies, leadership shifts, or surprise opportunities don’t reward the fastest scramblers. They reward the people who were already ready. That’s the core idea Darren Surch,...
Mainframe careers rarely follow a script. Rather, they grow through curiosity, mentorship, and a willingness to keep learning. This trifecta is especially necessary as tools, platforms, and expectations evolve. Planet Mainframe caught up with Chris Muncan, Lead DB2...
Mainframe talent is in demand. Broadcom reports that 91% of organizations plan to hire mainframe system administrators or application developers within two years. For IT leaders, the need for skills development, mentorship, and knowledge transfer is urgent. In this...
