In the ever-evolving landscape of software development, Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) have become indispensable practices for ensuring efficiency, reliability, and speed in the development lifecycle. While CI/CD is often associated with modern web and mobile applications, it’s equally vital for mainframe development. In this article, we will explore the intricacies of setting up a robust CI/CD pipeline with Jenkins specifically tailored for mainframe development.

Introduction to CI/CD and Jenkins

What is CI/CD?

Continuous Integration (CI) is a development practice that requires developers to integrate code into a shared repository multiple times a day. Each integration is then verified by automated builds and tests to detect and address integration errors early in the development process.

Continuous Delivery (CD) takes CI a step further by automatically deploying the integrated code to a production environment, making it ready for release. Continuous Deployment, a subset of CD, goes a step further by automatically releasing the code to production without manual intervention.

Why CI/CD for Mainframe Development?

Mainframe development, known for its large-scale and mission-critical applications, can benefit significantly from CI/CD practices. By automating the build, test, and deployment processes, mainframe development teams can achieve faster time-to-market, reduce errors, and enhance collaboration among developers.

Jenkins as a CI/CD Tool

Jenkins, an open-source automation server, has gained immense popularity for its flexibility and extensibility in building CI/CD pipelines. It supports the automation of various tasks, from building and testing to deploying applications. Jenkins integrates seamlessly with a wide range of plugins and tools, making it an ideal choice for diverse development environments, including mainframe systems.

Setting Up Jenkins for Mainframe Development

Installing Jenkins

Before diving into the specifics of mainframe development, you need to set up Jenkins on a server. You can install Jenkins on various operating systems, including Linux, Windows, and macOS. Follow these general steps to install Jenkins:

1. Java Installation: Ensure that Java is installed on the server.
2. Download Jenkins: Visit the official Jenkins website (https://www.jenkins.io/download/) and download the appropriate version for your operating system.
3. Installation: Follow the installation instructions provided on the website.

Jenkins Plugins for Mainframe Integration

Jenkins supports a variety of plugins that extend its functionality. For mainframe development, consider installing the following plugins:

1. IBM Z Open Editor Plugin: Integrates Jenkins with IBM Z Open Editor, providing support for COBOL and PL/I languages.
2. Zowe CLI Plugin: Enables interaction with mainframe systems using Zowe Command Line Interface (CLI).
3. GitHub Plugin: If your mainframe code is stored in a GitHub repository, this plugin allows Jenkins to integrate seamlessly with it.

Configuring Jenkins Jobs

Jenkins jobs are the building blocks of a CI/CD pipeline. Let’s create a basic Jenkins job for mainframe development:

1. Create a New Job:
   • Open Jenkins and click on “New Item.”
   • Enter a name for the job (e.g., Mainframe_CI_CD) and choose “Freestyle project.”
2. Source Code Management:
   • Configure the source code repository (e.g., GitHub or any version control system).
3. Build Environment:
   • If your mainframe code requires specific build tools, configure the build environment accordingly.
4. Build Triggers:
   • Define when the job should be triggered (e.g., after every commit).
5. Build Steps:
   • Add build steps based on your mainframe build process. For example:

//Sample JCL (Job Control Language) for compiling COBOL program 
// Compile COBOL program JOB EXAMPLE,CLASS=A,MSGLEVEL=(1,1) 
// Compile step EXEC COBOLPGM 
// COBOL compile command SYSIN DD * COBOL MYPROGRAM 
/*

Note: Please note above is JCL, not Bash.

1. Post-Build Actions:
   • Specify actions to be taken after the build, such as archiving artifacts or triggering downstream jobs.

Integrating Automated Testing

A robust CI/CD pipeline for mainframe development should include automated testing. Depending on your testing tools and frameworks, integrate them into your Jenkins job. For example:

1. JUnit Plugin: If you use JUnit for unit testing, integrate the JUnit plugin into your Jenkins job to publish test results.
2. Selenium Plugin: For automated GUI testing, use the Selenium plugin to execute tests and generate reports.
3. SonarQube Integration: Incorporate SonarQube for static code analysis to identify and fix code quality issues early in the development process.

Orchestrating the CI/CD Pipeline

Now that we have set up a basic Jenkins job, let’s orchestrate a complete CI/CD pipeline for mainframe development:

Stage 1: Code Compilation and Unit Testing

In the first stage, the Jenkins job compiles the mainframe code and runs unit tests.

pipeline { agent any stages { stage('Compile and Unit Test') { steps { // Checkout code from version control checkout scm // Compile COBOL code sh 'cobol-compiler -src src -output obj' // Run unit tests sh 'run-unit-tests -obj obj' } } } }

Stage 2: Automated Testing

In the second stage, the pipeline executes automated tests, ensuring the code’s functionality and stability.

stage('Automated Testing') { steps { // Start Selenium server sh 'start-selenium-server' // Run Selenium tests sh 'run-selenium-tests' // Stop Selenium server sh 'stop-selenium-server' } }

Stage 3: Code Analysis and Quality Checks

The third stage focuses on code analysis and quality checks using SonarQube.

stage('Code Analysis') { steps { // Run SonarQube analysis sh 'sonarqube-analysis' } }

Stage 4: Deployment to Mainframe Environment

In the final stage, the pipeline deploys the code to the mainframe environment.

stage('Deployment to Mainframe') { steps { // Deploy code to mainframe sh 'deploy-to-mainframe -obj obj' } }</code>

 

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Conclusion

Implementing a CI/CD pipeline for mainframe development with Jenkins is a crucial step towards enhancing efficiency, reducing errors, and accelerating the development lifecycle. By automating the build process, integrating testing frameworks, and orchestrating the deployment to mainframe environments, development teams can ensure the reliability and quality of their mainframe applications.

Remember that the examples provided are illustrative, and you should tailor them to fit your specific mainframe development environment, tools, and processes. Regularly review and update your CI/CD

pipeline as your mainframe development practices evolve. Jenkins, with its extensive plugin ecosystem and flexibility, offers a powerful platform for automating and streamlining mainframe development workflows.

By embracing CI/CD for mainframe development, organizations can achieve faster time-to-market, improve collaboration among development teams, and ensure the reliability and quality of their mainframe applications. The integration of automated testing, code analysis, and deployment processes enhances the overall development cycle, making it more efficient and resilient to changes.

As you embark on implementing CI/CD for mainframe development, keep in mind that cultural and organizational changes are also essential. Encourage collaboration and communication among team members, and foster a culture of continuous improvement. Regularly review and optimize your CI/CD pipeline to adapt to the evolving needs of your mainframe development projects.

In conclusion, the combination of Jenkins and CI/CD practices holds immense potential for modernizing and optimizing mainframe development processes. By automating key aspects of the development lifecycle, teams can deliver high-quality mainframe applications with increased speed and efficiency, meeting the demands of today’s dynamic business environments.