The Open Mainframe Project, an open source initiative that enables collaboration across the mainframe community to develop shared tool sets and resources, has announced the launch of Zowe’s Long Term Support (LTS) V3 Release.

Zowe, the integrated and extensible open source framework for z/OS, comes with a core set of applications out of the box in combination with the APIs and OS capabilities future applications will depend on. It offers modern interfaces to interact with z/OS and allows you to work with z/OS in a way that is similar to what you experience on cloud platforms today. Developers can use these interfaces as delivered or through plug-ins and extensions that are created by clients or third-party vendors. For example, Zowe V3 offers new support for the IntelliJ Zowe Explorer plugin as well as the simplified install wizard.

Some of the benefits of the LTS V3 include:

• Durability: A refreshed number of core components that make up the software stack to give a secure stable shelf life, which ensures years of use with continued updates and support.
• Stability: The installation and configuration have been stabilized through V3. Organizations can confidently adopt the technology for enterprise use and upgrade when appropriate for their environment, minimizing the risk of disruption.
• Enhanced Security: An enhanced security posture by actively monitoring dependencies and upgrading them proactively. This helps mitigate risks associated with outdated or vulnerable dependencies, offering more robust security features compared to earlier versions​.

“Zowe V3 is the culmination of five years of work by volunteers from around the world,” said Bruce Armstrong, IBM Z Principal Product Manager at IBM and member of the Zowe Advisory Council (ZAC). “I am particularly proud of the fact that Zowe has revolutionized access to z/OS-based services for thousands of next-generation developers and system programmers that will continue the platform’s success for decades to come.”

Zowe is a contributor-led community with participating vendors such as, but are not limited to, Broadcom, IBM, Phoenix Software, Rocket Software, and Vicom Infinity. As a result of their extensive collaboration, the following Zowe extensions have been transformed in Zowe V3:

• Explorer for Intellij provides the developers within the IntelliJ IDEs with the capability to work with the z/OS platform.
• Kotlin and Java SDKs are Generally Available Extensions simplifying interaction with z/OS from the Java and Kotlin applications.
• The IMS service and the current CLI extensions are archived. IBM is working on replacements.

The Zowe Conformance Program is Updated with LTS V3 Guidelines

Aimed to build a vendor-neutral ecosystem around Zowe, Open Mainframe Project’s Zowe Conformance Program launched in 2019. The program has helped Open Mainframe Project members incorporate Zowe with new and existing products that enable integration of mainframe applications and data across the enterprise.

To date, 77 products have implemented extensions based on the Zowe framework and earned these members conformance badges.

Zowe will also be featured in several sessions at Community Day at IBM’s TechXchange on Monday, October 21.