SHARE is an independent volunteer-run information technology association that provides education, professional networking and industry influence. SHARE Washington D.C 2025 will be held from February 23-27, 2025 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, offering access to the latest enterprise IT news, key focus areas, prominent industry leaders, and product highlights on emerging technologies. SHARE is an associate member of the Open Mainframe Project and Open Mainframe ambassadors will be on-site. Check out these Open Mainframe Project -related sessions and register here.
Date & Time: Mon Feb 24, 2025; 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM; TZ: America/New_York; ID: 66901
Abstract: The mainframe is a difficult system to onboard. EBCDIC codepages, Keyrings, Data Sets with Fixed Blocks and more as well as the need to become versant at 3270 dialogs for proficient system programming. To folks at college these are often barriers to entry, not because they’re difficult, but because there is a hill to climb and information disparate and often dated. This talk will provide the skills and tools to quickly summit, from the experience perspective of three mainframers with differing background, sharing what they wish they’d learnt at college and now want to share with the SHARE attendees, both new and experienced, about the tips and tricks, the cheat sheets, and the background behind why, as well as the solutions for, the idiosyncracies of the platform that make the IBMz such a fantastic enterprise computing system
Date & Time: Mon Feb 24, 2025; 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM; TZ: America/New_York; ID: 57615
Abstract: You want it? Open Source has got it. Check out Open Mainframe Project’s COBOL Check, a framework for COBOL to help with test driven development; or GenevaERS, the single-pass optimization engine for data extraction and transformation on z/OS is the tool. If you’re looking for more – there’s the newest project – Galasa, which allows you to test your applications at scale regardless of platform — including z/OS. Join us to learn about these testing tools and how they can bring value into your development process and ask all your testing questions.
Date & Time: Mon Feb 24, 2025; 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM; TZ: America/New_York; ID: 70003
Abstract: This session will offer a comprehensive overview of the Open Mainframe Project Zowe API Mediation Layer configuration options and installation methods to help System Admins understand each and determine what is best suited for their company. We will showcase an installation example using the industry-standard z/OSMF, PSWI and ZWE Command to serve as reference material for when you install on your own.
Date & Time: Mon Feb 24, 2025; 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM; TZ: America/New_York; ID: 39468
Abstract: The speakers will provide information on the Zowe Command Line Interface (CLI) and the NetView plug-ins that extend the CLI interface. Topics will include basics about the CLI, installation of the CLI and NetView plug-ins, and using the NetView plug-ins. A demo will be done.
Date & Time: Mon Feb 24, 2025; 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM; TZ: America/New_York; ID: 70026
Abstract: If your company is interested in Open Mainframe Project Zowe and you are responsible for installing mainframe software don’t miss this opportunity. Participate in this hands-on lab where you will follow instructions to install and configure the API Mediation Layer on our Workshop Systems. We will include an overview of the latest configuration options, discuss “what-if” scenarios and reserve time to discuss potential challenges.
Date & Time: Tue Feb 25, 2025; 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM; TZ: America/New_York; ID: 29997
Abstract: The Zowe Command Line Interface opens up IBM z/OS to non mainframers who want to do anything from ad-hoc scripting, building full DevOps automation pipelines, and everything inbetween. By providing simple easy to use intuitive commands to run commands covering everything from listing data sets, submitting jobs, running REXX, as well working with CICS, MQ and Db2, non-mainframers can become versant at how to become mainframers without needing to leave their familiar PC terminal or command window, and embed scripts in their laptop’s existing technology. This talk will cover 101 getting started with Zowe CLI through to advanced tasks such as console commands, substitution variables, and will cover many scenarios for the audience from beginner mainframe students to advanced system programming.
Date & Time: Tue Feb 25, 2025; 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM; TZ: America/New_York; ID: 61076
Abstract: This panel will bring together users, academics, students, vendors who have benefitted from the Zowe project being part of their modernization strategy. Together topics such as New to Z, empowering existing toolchains to adapt to hybrid cloud, familiar IDEs working with mainframe subsystems, will be discussed together with challenges, use cases, and solutions for rolling out Zowe with success (as well as failures).
Date & Time: Wed Feb 26, 2025; 8:45 AM – 9:45 AM; TZ: America/New_York; ID: 70015
Abstract: What are the Administration expectations and the art-of-the-possible for the Open Mainframe Project Zowe API Mediation Layer? Join this session to understand the day-to-day and future potential. We will include the what, why, and how capabilities like dynamic discovery, high availability, multifactor authentication, single-sign-on, OIDC integration, personal access tokens, and multi-tenancy work and the value they may provide your organization.
Date & Time: Wed Feb 26, 2025; 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM; TZ: America/New_York; ID: 70016
Abstract: In this interactive session, we will develop actionable strategies to enhance communication and knowledge transfer among mainframers of different generations. Participants will be grouped 1-on-1 by experience level for focused discussions on mainframe introductions, “a-ha” moments, lifelong learning, and problem-solving. The goal is to actively foster collaboration to overcome industry wide barriers.
Date & Time: Wed Feb 26, 2025; 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM; TZ: America/New_York; ID: 70037
Abstract: Automation engineers lead with one mission in mind – automate everything. What tools are they using and why? VS Code has again been voted by developers as the preferred text editor, and Python continues to grow exponentially on the mainframe. Join us as we examine what sets these tools apart and how they can be effectively leveraged in automation using OPS/MVS, REST APIs, and the Open Mainframe Project Zowe ecosystem.
Date & Time: Wednesday, February 26, 2025: 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM; TZ: America/New_York; ID: 55125
Abstract: Wondering if Open Source is right for you and your organization? Don’t know what you don’t know? Is it myth or fact? Let the experts from within the Open Mainframe Project help you weed it all out. Fact or fiction, we will help you understand why Open Source IS right for you and your organization.
Date & Time: Wed Feb 26, 2025; 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM; TZ: America/New_York; ID: 16848
Abstract: The open source movement has rapidly become the way code is being developed for today’s smart and agile businesses. This session will cover how an “open mainframe” is the perfect solution for deploying open source on an enterprise computing platform. Open Mainframe Project is home to 18 open source initiatives like Zowe and working groups for COBOL that aim to help overcome the the barriers between mainframes and other infrastructure to make DevOps easier and more efficient. This session will offer a quick glimpse of the challenges each project solves and how to get involved.
Date & Time: Thu Feb 27, 2025; 8:45 AM – 9:45 AM; TZ: America/New_York; ID: 70035
Abstract: Designed for traditional and new Mainframers, this hands-on lab will cover the major tenants for creating mainframe automation: Open Mainframe Project Zowe CLI basics, some Python coding techniques and the use of orchestration tools. We will include a focus on connectivity & establishing the Client configuration file, exporting a mainframe report to a desktop spreadsheet and triggering off-host automation from an on-host REXX application.
Date & Time: Thu Feb 27, 2025; 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM; TZ: America/New_York; ID: 30520
Abstract: Learn more about the benefits and challenges of the IBM z/OS Container Platform using Zowe as an example. Run Zowe in Kubernetes natively deployed on z/OS as shown in the demonstration at the end of the session. Zowe, Kubernetes and IBM z/OS Container Platform can improve your integration into a hybrid environment while retaining the stability and security for which z/OS is renowned. (This needs to be finessed by Chris Hodgins so different to GSE presentation)
Date & Time: Thu Feb 27, 2025; 1:45 PM – 2:45 PM; TZ: America/New_York; ID: 37687
Abstract: Advance your technical skills by contributing to Zowe. From modern to low level languages and frameworks such as: Node.js, TypeScript, JavaScript, Angular, Java, Spring Boot, HLASM, and Metal C, we’ll cover the bulk of Zowe’s underlying technologies and how the project on-boards new Community members. We will conclude by highlighting a recent contribution: the Zowe Java Client SDK.
Date & Time: Thu Feb 27, 2025; 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM; TZ: America/New_York; ID: 69851
Abstract: In this session Joe will discuss how while mainframes are mocked by rival computing architectures as belonging in the 1960s, Hollywood understands us and promotes the mainframe as the superheroes’s IT platform of choice. From Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, and countless others that have saved the world against aliens, dinosaurs or supervillans, these are the true hero in every Hollywood plot! This presentation is either going to get an award for being the funniest thing SHARE has ever presented, or else the speaker is going to get the record lowest score and the most number of social media dislikes for being extremely unfunny. Either way folks seeing it hopefully won’t forget it. With any luck they’ll remember it for the right reasons and come away reflecting on what motived them to enter mainframe computing and have a fresh to-do list of movies to catch up with and music tracks to listen to next time they’re struggling to read a syslog or debug an abend.
Check out the complete schedule for SHARE and register here.
