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Modern build solution that provides the framework, understanding and tracking for builds that run on z/OS® with the freedom to choose your Git-based SCM
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line illustration of server building on laptop

IBM® Dependency-Based Build (IBM DBB) is a modern build solution for mainframe applications that optimizes and automates dependency tracking and incremental builds, enhancing DevOps efficiency for z/OS® development.

IBM DBB is an intelligent build system for traditional z/OS applications, such as those written in COBOL and PL/I, that analyzes and manages build dependencies between objects. Designed to streamline z/OS development, DBB offers powerful automation capabilities and flexibility, allowing teams to integrate with modern Git-based workflows and popular DevOps tools like Jenkins and GitLab. It provides a stand-alone, framework-independent solution, enabling developers to standardize DevOps practices across platforms while simplifying code builds through a modern scripting language. DBB helps accelerate delivery while maintaining robust mainframe reliability.

The zBuilder is available with DBB 3.0.x and later. The DBB zBuilder is a YAML configuration-based build tool for building z/OS applications with DBB. The zBuilder can be used out of the box and can be customized for specific scenarios. The zBuilder can run various build types, which are named build lifecycles (full build, impact build or personal build for example).

Building z/OS applications with the zBuilder
Upgrading the DBB Db2® or Db2 for z/OS database
What's new

Updates on new features and enhancements

Benefits Boosted efficiency with smart build management

Tracks and manages dependencies automatically, helping ensure only necessary parts are rebuilt. Its Java API lets you run tasks on z/OS, create build scripts and store reports, leading to faster, more accurate builds.

Flexible integration without lock-in

Works seamlessly with popular tools like Git, Jenkins and VS Code, without locking you into specific platforms. Its flexibility allows easy integration with modern workflows, including support for Git migrations, while giving you control over your pipeline.

Automation for faster continuous integration

Automates tasks like testing and quality checks based on code changes, ensuring up-to-date builds. It fits into any CI/CD pipeline, speeding up delivery and helping ensure reliable results across different platforms.

Features
Git-based SCM integration

DBB supports integration with your preferred Git-based source control management (SCM) system, enabling seamless management of mainframe assets in modern development workflows.

Integrate with external tools

Dependency tracking and management

DBB automatically tracks dependencies between source code objects, helping ensure efficient builds by only recompiling the necessary components, reducing build times and optimizing performance.

How to manage build dependencies

Java API for z/OS task automation

DBB enables running z/OS tasks and executing MVS and TSO/ISPF commands. This API supports automation of build processes and integrates with tools to manage dependencies and source code efficiently.

DBB server API reference

Continuous integration and tool agnostic

DBB integrates into any CI/CD pipeline, including Jenkins, Azure DevOps and GitLab CI, via its Command Line Interface (CLI), allowing teams to automate builds and tests in their existing pipelines without being locked into a specific tool.

Usage scenarios GitLab and IBM Z DevOps Solutions; CI/CD Pipeline

Integration with IBM Test Accelerator for Z

DBB integrates with IBM Test Accelerator (TAZ) for z/OS, allowing developers to automate and run dynamic tests as part of the CI/CD pipeline, improving the quality and reliability of builds without the need to deploy artifacts to target environments.

Explore IBM Test Accelerator for Z Execute IBM Test Accelerator for Z unit tests

Build report management and open toolchain flexibility

DBB stores detailed build reports, provides insight into the build process and integrates with open toolchains like GitLab and Jenkins. It does all this without requiring specific source code managers, giving teams flexibility and control over their development environments.

By combining the power of the GitLab Ultimate for IBM z/OS platform with IBM DBB, it offers an intelligent build system tailored for traditional z/OS applications. This integration simplifies the management of diverse toolchains and streamlines software delivery workflows, making it easier to implement continuous integration and delivery.

Build report API
Technical details

IBM Dependency Based Build is a Java API and application that supports both Java 11 and Java 17 IBM JVMs. Before you install DBB, at least one of the following products must be installed and operational on the z/OS environment where DBB is to run:

  • Program Number 5655-DGJ - IBM Semeru Runtime Certified Edition for z/OS, 11.0
  • Program Number 5655-UA1 - IBM Semeru Runtime Certified Edition for z/OS, 17.0
Explore the prerequisites
Resources Fundamentals of IBM Dependency-Based Build

Master IBM DBB at your own pace with this self-guided training, featuring hands-on labs and interactive content to streamline mainframe application management and modernization. Ideal for developers and system programmers, these resources support your journey to proficiency in DBB and modern DevOps practices on z/OS.

Z DevOps Talks

Listen in as Chris Sayles discusses with Z DevOps experts how IBM is embracing open source technologies, making the mainframe more accessible and designing new and better ways of developing and operating for the cloud-native and veteran community.

IBM Z DevOps Guide

Read about how IBM Z DevOps Acceleration Program helps organizations modernize mainframe development as agile DevOps practices are integrated. With resources to enable continuous integration, automated testing and collaboration across environments, the program accelerates innovation and boosts productivity on IBM Z systems.

Take the next step

Explore how IBM Dependency-Based Build optimizes and automates dependency tracking and incremental builds, enhancing DevOps efficiency for z/OS development.

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