IDE - Integrated Development Environment

Enhanced Definition

An Integrated Development Environment (IDE) in the z/OS context is typically a client-side graphical user interface (GUI) application that provides comprehensive facilities to mainframe developers for software development. It integrates various tools like source code editors, build automation tools, debuggers, and SCM interfaces, offering a modern alternative to traditional green-screen interfaces like `ISPF`.

Key Characteristics

- Client-Server Architecture: Most z/OS IDEs run on a workstation (e.g., Windows, Linux) and connect to the mainframe via network protocols, utilizing host components like z/OS Explorer (formerly RDz Host Components) for access to z/OS datasets, USS files, JES, and other services.
- Multi-Language Support: Provides specialized editors and tooling for mainframe languages such as COBOL, PL/I, Assembler, REXX, JCL, C/C++, and Java (for z/OS Java applications), often with syntax highlighting, code completion, and outline views.
- Remote Debugging Capabilities: Enables developers to debug batch jobs, CICS transactions, IMS transactions, and z/OS UNIX System Services (USS) applications interactively from their workstation, setting breakpoints, inspecting variables, and stepping through code.
- Integration with z/OS Services: Offers direct access to z/OS datasets (sequential, PDS/PDSE), JES queues for job submission and output viewing, TSO commands, and z/OS UNIX System Services (USS) files and commands.
- Source Code Management (SCM) Integration: Typically integrates with popular mainframe SCM systems like CA Endevor, Broadcom PDM, Compuware ISPW, or IBM Engineering Workflow Management (EWM) (formerly RTC) for version control, change management, and build automation.
- Database Tooling: Includes features for interacting with mainframe databases like `