What's new and changed in watsonx Code Assistant for Z Code Explanation

watsonx Code Assistant for Z Code Explanation updates can include new features and fixes. Releases are listed in reverse chronological order so that the latest release is at the beginning of the topic.

You can see a list of the new features for the platform and all of the services at What's new in IBM Software Hub.

Installing or upgrading watsonx Code Assistant for Z Code Explanation

Ready to install or upgrade watsonx Code Assistant for Z Code Explanation?

  • To install watsonx Code Assistant for Z Code Explanation along with the other IBM® Software Hub services, see Installing IBM Software Hub.
  • To upgrade watsonx Code Assistant for Z Code Explanation along with the other IBM Software Hub services, see Upgrading IBM Software Hub.
  • To install or upgrade watsonx Code Assistant for Z Code Explanation independently, see watsonx Code Assistant for Z Code Explanation.
    Remember: All of the IBM Software Hub components associated with an instance of IBM Software Hub must be installed at the same version.

IBM Software Hub Version 5.2.2

A new version of watsonx Code Assistant for Z Code Explanation was released in October 2025 with IBM Software Hub 5.2.2.

Operand version: 2.7.10

This release includes the following changes:

New features
This release of watsonx Code Assistant for Z Code Explanation includes the following features:
Forward model requests to a new model that is not deployed on IBM Software Hub using Model Gateway
You can now forward model requests from the watsonx Code Assistant for Z Code Explanation service installed on IBM Software Hub to a new model that is not deployed on IBM Software Hub using Model Gateway.
Generate explanation for selected HLASM code within VS Code and Eclipse based IDEs
You can generate an explanation for an entire program, a selection of lines within the program in the editor, or outline any code element by selecting only the relevant variable, procedures, or blocks. For selected assembler source code, the code explanation service provides two levels of code explanation: simple and detailed.
Get explanations by including comments in the source code
From Chat Experience, when you request an explanation, you can now include comments in the source code to generate better explanation.
Expand PL/IINCLUDE files
Now you can use Z Open Editor to expand PL/I INCLUDE files and system macros.

IBM Software Hub Version 5.2.1

A new version of watsonx Code Assistant for Z Code Explanation was released in August 2025 with IBM Software Hub 5.2.1.

Operand version: 2.7.0

This release includes the following changes:

New features
This release of watsonx Code Assistant for Z Code Explanation includes the following features:
Enhancements for code explanation capabilities
You can generate explanation for an entire JCL job and generate or insert code comments for HLASM.
Proxy server support to access watsonx™ services
You can configure proxy server in your Eclipse IDE settings to access watsonx services over the internet. For more information, see Configuring proxy server.
Added support to expand COBOL copybooks and JCL INCLUDE files
You can expand COBOL copybooks and JCL INCLUDE files that are resolved by Z Open Editor

IBM Software Hub Version 5.2.0

A new version of watsonx Code Assistant for Z Code Explanation was released in June 2025 with IBM Software Hub 5.2.0.

Operand version: 2.6.0

This release includes the following changes:

New features
This release of watsonx Code Assistant for Z Code Explanation includes the following features:
Get explanations for REXX code

You can now get summaries and explanations for REXX code. You can generate an explanation for an entire program, a selection of lines within the program in the editor, or outline any code element by selecting only the relevant variable, procedures, or blocks. To learn more, see REXX code explanation in the watsonx Code Assistant for Z documentation.