z390 Portable Mainframe Assembler and Emulator

z390 Statement of Direction

 Automated Software Tools Corporation
Automated Software Tools Corporation (AST) plans to continue to develop and support the z390 Portable Mainframe Assembler and Emulator Project as an open source GPL tool for the foreseeable future with free downloads and regular updates.  The z390 development and support goals are as follows:
  • Enable z390 users to assemble, link, and execute mainframe assembler problem state programs with minimum source code changes using Windows, Linux, and other platforms supporting the J2SE runtime.
  • Maximize z390 user productivity by maintaining and enhancing z390 tools included such as standard GUI interface, common mainframe compatible  macros, common supervisor call runtime functions, trace options, debugging facilities, and online documentation.
  • Maximize z390 performance by continually searching for ways to enhance the performance of the assembler and emulator such as the addition of macro pseudo support in 2006 yielding a 300% improvement in macro execution speed.
  • Maintain single z390 open source stream with regression tests which are tested on both Windows and Linux prior to each release.
  • Accept, prioritize, code, and test  RPI fixes and enhancement requests as time permits with z390 user contributions and feedback welcome.  AST has established a track record since the initial release of z390 in September 2005 with full InstallShield type releases for Windows approximately at least quarterly along with interim fix overlay releases for over 500 RPI requests completed.
  • AST offers contract programming services to develop specific system interfaces and add additional callable subsystems which may or may not become part of the z390 open source project.
  • AST offers contract support services for companies requiring priority support for development, maintenance, and production systems.
  • AST offers contract training services including: z390 installation and usage, Eclipse Java IDE installation and usage, IBM mainframe assembler language coding, and IBM mainframe assembler program instruction set (12 MB PDF) debugging using z390 interactive debug and trace tools.
  • Pending z390 major enhancements planned for 2007 include:
    • VSAM compatible ESDS, RRDS, and KSDS  macro interface initial support targeted for v1.3.09
      • ESDS and RRDS support available now along with REPRO load/unload
      • KSDS read only beta support available now along with REPRO load/unload
    • Source code GUI debugging tool in addition to current interactive TEST type debugger and GTF type trace facility

Don Higgins
President AST

This page last updated Wednesday January 16, 2008.   Webmaster 
Copyright 2007 Automated Software Tools Corporation