Pacific Mainframe Community

January 2008 - Posts

• Have Pacific Businesses been neglectful of the Mainframe in Preference to "Toy Computers"?!

  Alex asked for a discussion topic on this theme.  His opening gambit is "I believe a topic that would raise interesting discussion is the change we have all seen over the past year or two of the non-stop reduction of "costs", seemingly regardless of the inevitable and disastrous impact this will ultimately have on services. With all the focus being on distributed systems ("toy computers"), management appear to have forgotten that it really is mainframes that provide the basis for the modern world we live in. Take away or reduce the stable and reliable mainframe services and much of what we rely on will cease to function.Why don't they understand this and what do we need to do to make them realise the danger they are playing with?Alex" .  Nice opening delivery Alex.  I actually think perceptions are turning around for the better.  It may be happening slower in some shops than others, but I reckon we are in for a fun ride over the next few years.  Oh - and if your own management are losing touch, suggest they visit this blog as it gets more active and we could revise their thinking eh?      Share this post: Email it! | bookmark it! | digg it! | reddit! Posted Jan 29 2008, 02:59 PM by Bruce with 2 comment(s) Tags: Pacific, mainframe, management

• Developing applications in REXX and CLISTs

  Gary from SA has also asked for this topic to be opened.  I suspect this may get some interesting responses - ranging from "Don't" through to the benefits of REXX over Clist or vice-versa. Personally, I love REXX - it's quick, flexible and powerful - since moving to REXX from Clist I've never looked back.  But use it for a production application?  Hmmm  Share this post: Email it! | bookmark it! | digg it! | reddit! Posted Jan 18 2008, 12:38 PM by Bruce with 4 comment(s) Tags: REXX, CLIST

• Web Services and the Mainframe

  A friend of mine in South Australia has asked if I could open up this topic.  Gary is an IDMS guru (bless his heart) and I suspect is going to be a regular contributor to Bruce.  Gary is interested in knowing how much interest there is around our community in Web Services (or SOA) on the Big Iron, who is doing it, success stories, difficulties, which CA products (or other) are being used, security issues, etc.  So - over to you share your knowledge... Share this post: Email it! | bookmark it! | digg it! | reddit! Posted Jan 18 2008, 12:24 PM by Bruce with no comments Tags: mainframe, SOA, Web Services

• Bruce on Bruce

  G'day and Welcome to my blog!    I'm glad you've found your way here and I hope this will be the first of many visits for you.  This blog is provided specifically for mainframers in Australia & NZ to discuss issues that concern you, and to share ideas and help each other.   With something new like this, it will take a little time to build up the interaction .  Your contributions will help of course.  If you don't see a topic you care to comment on, you can ask me to start up a new topic of your choosing (provided it's about mainframes) and I'll happily do that for you.  It doesn't have to be about CA products - CA simply host this site for the mainframe community here in the Pacific region.   Do you like my mug?  I've got some to give away to the most interesting and active contributors to my blog.  So rip into it!  :-)     I'd like to hear from you and really hope you get involved.  This blog is for you, so enjoy it and get value from it.  Oh, and please, keep yourself nice hey?   Cheers now, Bruce Share this post: Email it! | bookmark it! | digg it! | reddit! Posted Jan 14 2008, 10:51 AM by Bruce with 1 comment(s) Tags: Pacific, Bruce, mug