Re:Show HN: Connecting an IBM 3151 terminal to a mainframe [...
by miki123211 on Tuesday April 08, 2025 @02:26PM
(#43624949)
Also true about IBM I (AKA AS400), which is also still in somewhat wide use.
Most People seem to at least know that mainframes and Cobol exist, even if they've never seen them. IBM I (and its primary language, RPG) are similar in importance to the global economy and just as different from Nix and Windows systems, but they seem to be far less known.
They're also far easier to get access to, there's a free modern system that you can get an account on at pub400.com. With Z/OS, you're stuck with Hercules emulating some ancient version from the 80's which there's barely any documentation for.
Most People seem to at least know that mainframes and Cobol exist, even if they've never seen them. IBM I (and its primary language, RPG) are similar in importance to the global economy and just as different from Nix and Windows systems, but they seem to be far less known.
They're also far easier to get access to, there's a free modern system that you can get an account on at pub400.com. With Z/OS, you're stuck with Hercules emulating some ancient version from the 80's which there's barely any documentation for.