User requirements
2.1+
In order to use IBM® watsonx Code Assistant for Z Code Optimization Advice effectively, ensure that the files listed in this topic are configured correctly in either the Z Code Optimization Advice launcher or the configuration file.
In order for Z Code Optimization Advice to fully analyze your COBOL applications, it requires the ADATA and LISTING files associated with those COBOL applications. If you typically don't compile your COBOL applications with the ADATA and LIST compiler options, a prerequisite step is to rebuild those applications with Enterprise COBOL for z/OS with these compiler options specified, and save the resulting output in a location or data set where Z Code Optimization Advice can access them.
Only AMODE 31 COBOL applications built with IBM Enterprise COBOL for z/OS V4 or V6 will have a complete analysis. Analysis performed on applications built with V5, or versions prior to V4, or V6 applications built with AMODE 64 will result in a failed analysis. Refer to Problem indicators in an optimization report for more information on analysis states.
Profile
The profiling report is used in Z Code Optimization Advice to determine the performance impact of problems.
The application is run with profiling and analysis is performed on all the programs that show up in that profiling report.
Samples
When using Z Code Optimization Advice, the application is run with profiling enabled. At frequent intervals, the profiler observes, or samples, the instructions currently executing, across all the modules running as part of the application. Instructions that execute more often or instructions that have a longer execution time than others, will be sampled more frequently. The profiler then totals the number of samples for each instruction, for each program, for each module, and for the application. These total numbers of samples are thus an indication of how much time is spent in different parts of the application. A program with a higher number of samples was executing for longer than a program with a lower number of samples.
- Application samples: The total number of times the profile observed the execution of instructions in the application.
- Program samples: The total number of times the profiler observed the execution of instructions in the program.
ADATA
ADATA files are used in Z Code Optimization Advice to detect problems, determine data item names, and gain an understanding of the COBOL source code.
Listing file
Listing files are used in Z Code Optimization Advice to detect problems, determine line numbers in compiled code, and connect the ADATA and profile.
Application or program
Z Code Optimization Advice actively analyzes the executable programs. If they cannot be accessed, analysis cannot proceed.
COBOL source code
Z Code Optimization Advice needs access to the COBOL source files for the application or program being analyzed. Without access to the source, if there are recommendations for changes to COBOL programs to address inefficiencies, Z Code Optimization Advice will be unable to find the source location when you select Open source from a problem. You can still manually open the source code and locate the line numbers where problems are detected.