The last time I wrote about what I find interesting in tech, it was winter. Now it’s anything but, and I have lots of things I’ve been studying in IT. Lots of material on COBOL and mainframes since I am working on mainframe modernization. But there’s stuff regarding Python, cloud, Apple computers and so much more. Let’s see what we have here….

Software: this section is so big I need to break it up! First up, COBOL:

• Why you should  brush up your cobol, a is a 60 year old language (it’s suddenly in demand)
• How to make static and dynamic calls in COBOL
• Here’s  7 cobol examples with explanations 
• A good argument: face it, there nothing that can replace COBOL
• How to run  COBOL on Kubernetes
• How to  run COBOL on aws lambda
• Some good  Cobol Code samples
• A good tutorial on  modern cobol and microservices
• Another cobol.microservice example
• How to  write docker microservices in cobol

Next, here’ some good stuff on Python:

• How to manipulate XML with pythons here and here
• How do I check which version of python is running my script
• Something on the openpyxl package for excel spreadsheets
• how to read pdf files with python using pypdf2 also this
• Something on python and yaml here and here and here

And lastly here’s some general software links:

• How to use the gitignore file in git 
• How to run multiple version of  nodejs with node version manager 
• Ohoh!  Many of todays top passwords can be cracked with brute force in less than an hour 
• A bunch of links on Docker and podman,  here and here and  here and  here.
• How to do n2G coding
• This tool is great Make your own flowise
• This is a good sample program to talk to Slack APIs
• How to work with  rest something something full api stack 
• On  microsoft windows 11 start menu ads app recommendations 

Mainframe

• A good run down on Z/OS and USS and how Java plays out: zos – How to distinguish Java on z/OS from Java on Linux on z/OS? – Stack Overflow. Key to note: Java applications are not binaries, so the same Java byte-code runs on any Java JVM (with exceptions).
• More for my benefit: Install and configure EGit for IBM Explorer for z/OS – IBM Developer
• A reminder that there is a version of Liberty that runs in CICS: Develop a JMS application for CICS Liberty – IBM Developer
• A very good tutorial on automating your CI/CD whereby you use Jenkins with Zowe to run things on the mainframe. It uses groovy scripts but no UCD. Worth trying: Create a fully automated CI/CD pipeline for IBM z/OS testing using Jenkins and Zowe – IBM Developer
• Why you should use Java on the mainframe: Harnessing the Power of Java on Z Mainframe: Advantages and Relevance in the Era of Watson Code Assistant for Z | by Vikas Pujar | Medium
• On Setting up JNI for calling Java from COBOL on z/OS – Mainframe, MVS and zOS Discussion
• Angular on Linux. Note their is a program listening on port 4200, which is ng. ng is the CLI for angular. Not sure if it works on Z: Angular CLI – How to Create a New Angular Project in Linux
• Node.js runs on Z. It runs on USS, CICS and in BATCH (though this looks like USS too). Lots of good info here: Node.js on z/OS: How Real Is It? – TechChannel
• How to connect node.js with IBM Open Enterprise SDK for Node.js
• Might be useful: Running Angular without a Server: A Local Setup Guide
• Not sure if this will work on USS on Z, but: Guide to Deploy Angular App for Production on Linux Servers
• Useful Develop a Java Application for z/OS with IDz 15.0 in Minutes – IBM Z and LinuxONE Community
• Good piece on the software technology for testing on Z: Introducing the IBM Test Accelerator for Z – IBM Z and LinuxONE Community
• Intro to IDz: IBM Developer for z/OS
• How to try out Z software like ADF: IBM Z Software Trials | IBM
• On Application Delivery Foundation for z/OS | IBM
• Good intro on using Zowe with REXX: Zowe CLI: “Hello World” w/REXX. {Core} Running REXX on a mainframe in… | by Dan Kelosky | Zowe | Medium
• A good discussion of WAS on Z. It “competes” with CICS and IMS. Also you don’t need WAS to run Java:Websphere Application Server – Now An Essential Part of z/OS – Planet Mainframe
• Java and CICS: Try Java in our sandbox – IBM Documentation
• Good intro: Getting Started with Zowe CLI. Zowe CLI is for z/OS like the AWS CLI… | by Sujay Solomon | Zowe | Medium
• How to Example: invoking Java from a batch COBOL program – IBM Documentation
• How this company does the migration – it’s a combination of Liberty for online and plain Java for batch: Natural/ADABAS migration | Application conversion | FreeSoft. Here’s something on their technologies: Modernization tools | Legacy modernization | FreeSoft
• A really good redbook:  Practical Migration from x86 to Linux on IBM Z – 
• Also good, an  application modernization assessment.
• How to  use python with jcl and rexx
• Beef up your  mainframe skills here
• Good:  uncovering mainframe seams for mainframe modernization
• In case you were wondering:  the ibm mainframe – how it runs and why it survives 
• More on modernization  automated refactoring from mainframe to serverless functions and containers with blu age 
• More on blu age:  how to migrate mainframe batch to cloud microservices with blu age and aws 
• Out of the blue: set up automation populate watsonx code assistant database here
• Something on  challenges and patterns for modernizing a monolithic application into microservices 
• The mainframe is just old cobol right? wrong
• Some  application modernization patterns 
• Here’s  a modern jcl editor
• A list of JCL utilities, here
• Modernize your mainframe with Azure here

Apple…a few good links:

• Can  apple save the vision pro. I think so. More on that device,  here
• Some history: the imac g3 unveiling. More on that here.
• Apple secures patents for future foldable iphone and ipad. Could be interesting.
• No longer interesting (for Apple):  apple ends electric car plan
• Also interesting:  try old versions of mac os in your browser 
• Here’s  how to resize or reduce photo size on mac 

Some helpful cloud pieces:

1. Getting start with the Container Registry,  here
2. On  deploying a simple http server to ibm cloud code engine from source code using python node and go 
3. Provisioning on ibm cloud using terraform with a sample_vpc_config 
4. On  how set or restore remote access windows vsi 
5. How to create a single virtual server instance (VSI) in a virtual private cloud (VPC) infrastructure on IBM Cloud, here.
6. File Sharing through RDP from MacOS  here 

And finally, here’s a good set of Random links that were too good to pass up:

• three things to know about the white houses executive order on ai. Worth knowing.
• A cool retro terminal here. Likewise, this  cool retro term makes the mac terminal look like an old crt monitor here
• More history,  Revisiting the old web. And microsoftgraveyard.com.On the Rise of the Internet with a focus on 1980s here.
• It’s seems  google has made find my device improvements 
• On  motorola’s low cost moto g 5g which is appearently good.
• Here’s  a nice way to run linux vms on mac.
• What’s the diff between  ext4 vs ext3? Read that.
• How to  find your linux filesystem type 
• If you are  adding a new disk drive to an ubuntu system read this.
• Here’s how to  mount a drive in ubuntu 
• Linux on the mainframe:  get started with ibm linuxone 
• What are the  golden signals for kubernetes? Relatedly, sla metrics.
• A bunch of links on crowdstrike bsod issue, here and  hereand here 
• On the 6 cs of devops adoption.
• On  deployable architecture on ibm cloud 
• Here’s how to make classes and packages clickable in html pages here
• Check out these animated interactive flowchart diagrams for documenting case scenarios
• On  domain drive design
• Very fun:  macos sequoia wallpaper using classic macintosh icons from susan kare here
• On ibm and the transformation of corporate design 
• Yay: microsoft minecraft chromeos chromebooks release. More, here.
• Like geocities, but new:  neocities.org.
• On  microsoft word font Aptos
• The future: IBM’s big picture roadmaps 
• The past: a bunch of stories on Japan and floppy disks,  here and  here and  here and here.