IBM launches watsonx Code Assistant for Z to assist with modernizing COBOL purposes


IBM has launched its watsonx Code Assistant, which targets a number of use circumstances: IT automation and utility modernization.  The product consists of two essential parts at launch: watsonx Code Assistant for Crimson Hat Ansible Lightspeed and watsonx Code Assistant for Z

Watsonx Code Assistant for Crimson Hat Ansible Lightspeed makes use of generative AI to help IT groups with issues like community configuration or code deployment. Watsonx Code Assistant for Z makes use of the know-how to assist with mainframe utility modernization and might translate purposes from COBOL to Java. 

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Watsonx Code Assistant for Z may also help with utility discovery, enterprise companies refactoring, and code transformation. It plans so as to add automated validation testing to the software sooner or later. 

IBM defined that the objective right here isn’t to utterly flip all of the COBOL purposes into Java purposes, however slightly allow a world the place the 2 are used optimally collectively. 

“Merely put, every language brings their very own distinctive strengths and purchasers ought to have full management over which language they need to use for his or her enterprise wants. Unbiased of shopper selection, IBM helps interoperability and optimization for IBM Z capabilities, and you can also leverage your current utility investments,” Kyle Charlet, IBM Fellow and CTO of Z Software program at IBM, wrote in a publish.  

The corporate is exploring find out how to increase the software to further programming languages sooner or later. 

Watsonx Code Assistant relies on the Granite basis mannequin, which is IBM’s personal mannequin. IBM is within the means of engaged on determining new alternatives to coach the mannequin to include domain-specific data in order that it may increase the generative AI capabilities to extra areas, resembling code era and code rationalization. 

“With this launch, watsonx Code Assistant joins watsonx Orchestrate and watsonx Assistant in IBM’s rising line of watsonx assistants that present enterprises with tangible methods to implement generative AI,” mentioned Kareem Yusuf, Ph.D, senior vp of product administration and progress at IBM Software program. “Watsonx Code Assistant places AI-assisted code improvement and utility modernization instruments immediately into the fingers of builders – in a naturally built-in manner that’s designed to be non-disruptive – to assist deal with expertise gaps and enhance productiveness.”