George DeCandio & Peter Wassel from Broadcom

In this blog post, we are joined by two subject matter experts from the Broadcom mainframe software division, Peter Wiesel and George Dicandio. They discuss the challenges and opportunities of adopting DevOps practices in the mainframe space and the potential impact of opening up the mainframe platform.

Challenges of Traditional Application Delivery

Peter and George highlight the challenges of traditional application delivery practices in the mainframe space, which were often waterfall-based and siloed by platform or project. They emphasize the lack of focus on optimizing the delivery model and the need for standardized application delivery techniques and tooling.

The Shift to DevOps

The conversation delves into the shift to DevOps and the impact it has had on mainframe application delivery. They discuss the increase in the frequency of application updates, the standardization of delivery models, and the integration of deployment targets, including the mainframe. Peter emphasizes the importance of automation in continuous delivery and the cultural shift required for traditional mainframe app development shops to embrace DevOps practices.

Opening Up the Mainframe

George discusses the potential impact of opening up the mainframe platform, highlighting the need to leverage open APIs and services for innovation and business opportunities. He emphasizes Broadcom’s open-first strategy and the use of the Zoe project to enable products with APIs that conform to open standards, providing customers with the freedom to leverage open source and open services.

Business Benefits and Opportunities

Peter highlights the business benefits and opportunities that come with opening up the mainframe platform. He emphasizes the use of the open-first approach across the Broadcom portfolio, enabling various use cases for operations, DevOps, and platform management.

The Journey Ahead: 12-18 Months

Looking ahead, both Peter and George provide insights into the next 12 to 18 months in the mainframe space. They discuss the potential impact of the global pandemic on mainframe operations and the shift towards containerization in the mainframe space. They emphasize the need for organizations to leverage the value of mainframe applications and modernize them to continue deriving value.

In conclusion, the conversation with Peter and George sheds light on the challenges and opportunities of adopting DevOps practices in the mainframe space and the potential impact of opening up the mainframe platform. Their insights provide valuable perspectives for organizations looking to embrace modern development and deployment practices in the mainframe environment. As we look ahead, the shift towards containerization and modernization of mainframe applications will be key focus areas for organizations in the coming months.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download