Generic - General purpose
Enhanced Definition
In the context of IBM mainframe systems and z/OS, "generic" or "general purpose" refers to a component, utility, language, or system designed for broad applicability across a wide spectrum of tasks, applications, and industries, rather than being specialized for a singular function or domain. These elements provide foundational capabilities that can be adapted and combined to meet diverse enterprise computing needs.
Key Characteristics
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- Broad Applicability: Not confined to a specific business function (e.g., finance, manufacturing) or technical domain (e.g., database management, network communication) but usable in many.
- Flexibility and Adaptability: Can be configured, programmed, or extended to perform various operations, often through parameters, scripting, or custom code.
- Foundation for Specialization: Often serves as the underlying layer upon which more specialized applications or systems are built.
- Standardization: Typically adheres to widely accepted standards or conventions within the mainframe ecosystem, promoting interoperability and consistency.
- Robustness and Scalability: Designed to handle high volumes of transactions and data, characteristic of enterprise-level computing on z/OS.
Use Cases
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- Programming Languages: Languages like
COBOLandPL/Iare general-purpose, used for developing a vast array of business applications from batch processing
- Programming Languages: Languages like