In an era characterized by automation and advancements such as System Recovery Boost (SRB), which significantly accelerates Initial Program Load (IPL) speeds, understanding the intricacies behind system initialization is crucial for new systems programmers.

Have you ever gotten lost in the "zone"? SMP/E is a critical skill in managing and maintaining software in the mainframe environment. Whether you are a seasoned mainframe professional or new to the mainframe world, this session will help you streamline your maintenance process and help you to avoid common pitfalls.

In this session, we'll try to demystify z/OS disk storage, starting with discussion of the 'round, brown, spinning' physical hardware of old up to the automated, virtualized, solid-state and cloud environment of today and its importance to applications.

Come and learn about a day in the life of a developer using modern tools

This session will be a tutorial that starts from scratch and builds a python application that runs on z/OS to gain valuable business insights from multiple data sources. It will introduce various methods, tools, and packages that can be used with Python, culminating in an application that can augment or replace existing code.

By now, even those just embarking on a future in IT recognize the untapped value of a career in mainframes. As a young professional, perhaps you're still exploring the vast and fascinating mainframe world and haven't yet found that perfect mix of practical career and fun. You want a skill set that not only provides a rewarding, technical challenge but is equally valuable to executives for its ability to control costs. Outside of work, what if the same skills can save time, money and provide pure fun? Join us as we discuss these untapped, yet surprisingly simple skills. Whether or not it's the right path for you, you're sure to pick up some valuable tips for both IT and life.

Inside your mainframe there are physical CPUs, but in almost all cases z/OS gets logical CPUs to run work on. This distinction is sometimes confusing to people, especially in relation to how it can affect performance and available capacity. In this session we'll discuss logical CPUs, physical CPUs, and the importance of understanding LPAR configuration options that can impact performance. After attending this session you should have a clear mental model of logical versus physical CPUs as well some ideas about how to optimally configure your important LPARs.

Join us for a panel of mainframers, including both new and tenured, to explore the possibilities.

In this session we will be looking at how VS Code helps a new generation of developers more easily embrace the platform and become proficient in making changes. We'll talk about what tasks a developer needs to do, how it is supported in the IDE and we'll be talking to real next gen developers to understand how VS Code made the difference.