IBM watsonx Code Assistant for Z

Modernize mainframe applications faster, with lower risks and costs with the purpose-built coding assistant

Overview

Accelerate Z modernization with AI

IBM® watsonx Code Assistant® for Z accelerates mainframe application development and modernization with AI and automation. It supports developers in every phase of lifecycle—from application discovery and analysis to automated refactoring, code explanation, generation, optimization and transformation to newer languages and testing. The outcome? Lower modernization risks, enhanced developer productivity and skill sets plus faster time to value.

Features

From code insight to automated transformation

Gain clear insight into your mainframe applications, their relationships and dependencies with automated discovery and analysis. Use AI agents to understand mainframe code and document business logic faster.

Use AI agents to create natural language explanations of code and technical documentation, reducing the knowledge gap, streamlining documentation and accelerating modernization strategies.

Generate new COBOL code with natural language prompts through a chat interface or get real-time in-line code suggestions on the go with AI. Develop with precision and speed as we leverage fine-tuned LLM trained on IBM Z®.

Discover the programs and data needed to automatically refactor your COBOL and PL/I applications into modular business services. Improve accuracy and reduce the developer time and skill required with automated code refactoring. 

Get prioritized insights on performance inefficiencies—identifying issues at the source code level through an in-depth analysis of COBOL modules—to improve application performance and streamline development.

Use generative AI to accelerate COBOL to high quality Java transformations in minutes, not months. Next, accelerate testing with auto-generated unit tests to compare semantic equivalence of new Java service to original COBOL code, gaining confidence in the language transformation and reducing risk. Maintain IBM Z runtimes and quality of services with interoperability, integration and enterprise standardization.

Interactive demo

Use cases

Reimagine mainframe code with confidence

COBOL modernization

Whether you want to understand, manage, modernize or build COBOL applications from scratch, IBM watsonx Code Assistant for Z assists you right in your IDE.

Transform COBOL to Java

Expand your mainframe developer talent pool. Transform COBOL applications with confidence by using generative AI and automated unit testing.

Modernize PL/I applications

Enable deep analysis of PL/I application landscape, code explanation and auto-refactoring to speed-up modernization.

Understand and explain code faster

Gain insights and quickly understand mainframe applications to increase developer skills and accelerate on-boarding.

Case studies

National Organization for Social Insurance (NOSI)

NOSI needed to modernize core applications without risking critical data or disrupting operations. With watsonx Code Assistant for Z, teams gained clear visibility into undocumented code and integrations, automated documentation and simplified modernization. Developers improved productivity while keeping data secure on IBM Z and preparing for future growth.

94%
reduction in time to analyze superfluous COBOL code
Reduced time from 8 hours to 30 minutes
79%
reduction in time to understand complex applications
Reduced time from 24 hours to 5 hours
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Discover how watsonx Code Assistant for Z accelerates mainframe application modernization, powered by generative AI.

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