IBM z/OS Debugger as a component

IBM® z/OS® Debugger is the next iteration of IBM debug technology on z Systems™ and consolidates the IBM Integrated Debugger and IBM Debug Tool engines into one unified technology. IBM z/OS Debugger is progressing towards one remote debug mode based on Debug Tool compatibility mode. In support of this direction, Debug Tool compatibility mode, when available in the user interface, is selected by default for V14.1.2 or later.

IBM z/OS Debugger is a component of the following products:
IBM Developer for z Systems Enterprise Edition
This product is included in IBM Application Delivery Foundation for z Systems. IBM Developer for z Systems Enterprise Edition provides all the debug features.
IBM Developer for z Systems
IBM Developer for z Systems is a subset of IBM Developer for z Systems Enterprise Edition. IBM Developer for z Systems, previously known as IBM Rational® Developer for z Systems, is an Eclipse-based integrated development environment for creating and maintaining z/OS applications efficiently.
IBM Developer for z Systems includes all enhancements in IBM Developer for z Systems Enterprise Edition except for the debug features noted in Table 1.
IBM Debug for z Systems
IBM Debug for z Systems is a subset of IBM Developer for z Systems Enterprise Edition. IBM Debug for z Systems focuses on debugging solutions for z/OS application developers. See Table 1 for the debug features supported.
IBM Debug for z Systems does not provide advanced developer features that are available in IBM Developer for z Systems Enterprise Edition.
For information about how to install the IBM Debug for z Systems client, see Installation of IBM Developer for z Systems and IBM Debug for z System.
IBM Z Open Development
IBM Z Open Development offers an entry level toolset with the core capabilities needed to link z/OS development seamlessly with an established, open DevOps toolchain. IBM Z Open Development provides remote debug support for high level compiled languages. See Table 1 for the debug features supported.
IBM Z Open Unit Test, extending IBM Z Open Development
IBM Z Open Unit Test is an automated unit testing tool for batch and CICS® programs. It helps minimize the time taken to unit test traditional z/OS applications, and helps businesses respond and deliver with speed.
IBM Z Open Unit Test provides code coverage support for high level compiled languages via IBM z/OS Debugger. It can only be used with the IBM Z Open Development offering and extends IBM Z Open Development to help ensure that no untested code is delivered. See Table 1 for the debug features supported for the combination.
Table 1 maps out the debug features in the products. In this table, the letter X indicates the features that each product supports.
Table 1. Debug feature comparison
  IBM Z Open Development IBM Z Open Unit Test, extending IBM Z Open Development IBM Debug for z Systems IBM Developer for z Systems IBM Developer for z Systems Enterprise Edition
Main features
z/OS Debugger 3270 interface, including z/OS Debugger Utilities     X   X
z/OS Debugger remote debug X X X 1 X 2 X
Debug Tool compatibility mode X X X X X
Standard mode 3     X X X
Debug Tool Plugins     X X 4 X
Code Coverage features
Compiled Code Coverage   X X 1 X 2 X
Headless Code Coverage   X   X X
Java™ Code Coverage       X X
z/OS Debugger Code Coverage (3270 and remote interfaces) 5     X   X
3270 features
z/OS Debugger full screen, batch or line mode     X   X
IMS Isolation support     X   X
Remote debug features
Integration with Language Editors:
  • COBOL Editor
  • PLI Editor
 X X   X X
Integration with Language Editors:
  • System z® LPEX Editor
  • Remote C/C++ Editor
       X X
Visual Debug X X   X X
IMS Isolation GUI interface         X
Integration with CICS Explorer® views       X X
Integration with Property groups X X   X X
Source Entry Breakpoints X X   X X
Team Debug support       X X
Compiler support features
Assembler support: Create EQALANGX files     X X X
Assembler support: Debugging 6 X X X X X
LANGX COBOL support 7     X X X
Support for Automatic Binary Optimizer (ABO)     X X X
IBM COBOL and CICS Command Level Conversion Aid for OS/390® & MVS & VM     X X X
Load Module Analyzer     X   X
Notes:
  1. IBM Debug for z Systems includes z/OS Debugger remote debug and compiled code coverage GUI interface, but does not include Headless Code Coverage and Java Code Coverage.
  2. IBM Developer for z Systems includes z/OS Debugger remote debug and compiled code coverage GUI interface, but does not include z/OS Debugger Code Coverage.
  3. The following features are only supported in standard mode:
    • Support for 64 bit Enterprise PL/I for z/OS Version 5
    • Support for 64 bit C/C++ feature of z/OS
    • COBOL V6.2 Source View
  4. IBM Developer for z Systems includes Debug Tool plugins, but does not include Load Module Analyzer and z/OS Debugger Code Coverage.
  5. z/OS Debugger Code Coverage can only be enabled in the 3270 interface.
  6. Debugging assembler requires that you have EQALANGX files that have been created via ADFz Common Components or a product that ships the ADFz Common Components.
  7. LANGX COBOL refers to any of the following programs:
    • A program compiled with the IBM OS/VS COBOL compiler.
    • A program compiled with the IBM VS COBOL II compiler with the NOTEST compiler option.
    • A program compiled with the IBM Enterprise COBOL for z/OS Version 3 or Version 4 compiler with the NOTEST compiler option.