The New Face of CICS

IBM is coming out with a new Eclipse-based interface for systems programmers, operators, and developers, that it is calling CICS Explorer. It requires Version 3 of CICS/TS (any release) and the CICSPlex WUI server on the mainframe; Windows and Linux requirements have not been announced yet for the client. Since it is stated by IBM to be “a significant step in our commitment and quest for IT Simplification for both CICS and System z,” it is obviously an attempt to appeal to the younger people to make the mainframe look “sexier”. Hey, if it works, that’s fine – but the bottom line on its success will be determined by the functionality provided. It looks interesting. If you missed the preview at SHARE, plan on viewing the webcast in November. If you can’t wait, sign up for the beta program! For details, email Francis Burgess (tell him that The CICS Guy sent you!).