Orlando, Florida, is the land of sunshine, amusement parks, and citrus, and for SHARE members it was entertaining and educational. Attendees took a trip down Mainframe Memory Lane, and hosted a 60^th birthday party for the platform, complete with retro party favors, cake, and a plethora of technical sessions. Those sessions included what’s new in artificial intelligence (AI) for real-time inferencing in z/OS and using AI to solve operational issues to cybersecurity concerns in the age of ransomware, as well as live demonstrations of Python.

Keynote speaker Justin Wren, a professional mixed-martial artist, shared his experiences in the Congo and Uganda and offered advice on overcoming obstacles. He also took some time to mingle with members and take a photo with SHARE President Scott Fagen in front of the birthday cake for the mainframe.

Photo: SHARE President Scott Fagen and Keynote Speaker Justin Wren in front of the 60^th birthday cake for the mainframe

SHARE members swapped stories, took photos under the balloon arch, played networking bingo and other games, and relived some of the platform’s evolution and achievements. In honor of the 60^th anniversary, the Mainframe Paladin digital badge was available for attendees who are familiar with the history and capabilities of the platform and who are strong mainframe advocates. Session topics and systems considered core technologies of the platform were among those eligible for the digital badge. Sessions included “A Beginners Primer for IBM MQ” on the message queuing system used to simplify and accelerate application communication and integration, “Introduction to z/OS Communications Server” and its relationship to TCP/IP and more, “REXX Language Coding Techniques,” and “Bridging the Gap: COBOL to Java. Take It to the Next Level With Python, Go and Node.js” on improving operational efficiency with modern and COBOL-based applications.

SHARE members love building applications, which is why the Lego swag was the perfect way for members to have some fun building their very own IBM z16 and LinuxOne 4, though it was not as large as the life-size mainframe made out of Lego on display at the event.

Michael Dickson, head of product marketing for the Mainframe Software Division at Broadcom, says, “The collaborative spirit of the SHARE and the mainframe community around the world is not just a force; it's our driving essence. It was truly inspiring to connect and engage the diverse community of mainframers at the SHARE Orlando conference this year — from customers and practitioners to partners, vendors, analysts, and the media. Together, they bring this venerable platform to life, driving real impact and value for business and our society at large. It's exciting to think about the interconnected future we're building together."

Photo of Ray Mullins from Broadcom wearing a “PJ Who? #SHARE Orlando” t-shirt with Steven Perva from Ensono

SHARE members were sporting mainframe-inspired t-shirts at SHARE Orlando. Ray Mullins, senior software engineer at Broadcom, was wearing a “PJ Who? #SHARE Orlando” t-shirt, making him easy to spot by Ensono’s Steven Perva. Mainframers know the name PJ Catalano, IBM Z and LinuxOne test architect and mainframe influencer, and the t-shirt was a fun way for him to attend SHARE Orlando without being physically present.

Mullins says, “As always, it was great to see old friends and meet online ones in person. I was pleased to see the interest in Python sessions, all the ones I attended were standing room only. It was also great to get together with the IBM Z Champions.”

Photo: 2024 IBM Champions Meetup

Perva adds, “It was another fantastic SHARE event. SHARE Orlando was particularly abuzz with new topics and must-see sessions and so much great conversation around Python this year. There was also a good representation of new and fresh mainframers at this event, which was encouraging and inspiring.”

Photo: SHARE Ambassadors

According to Reg Harbeck, chief strategist at Mainframe Analytics, “SHARE Orlando was truly a gathering of the mainframe brain trust. Packed sessions had excellent audience interaction, and during the receptions and group dinners, as well as the Technology Expo, there were multiple opportunities for spontaneous conversation. The celebrations of anniversaries, such as the mainframe’s 60^th and the Parallel Sysplex’s 30^th, also provided opportunities to participate in, contribute to, and benefit from the great mainframe conversation. The exchange of ideas was limitless — just like the mainframe’s potential and future prospects, and the ever-growing cohorts of new mainframers.”

Networking Informs and Influences SHARE

Photo: (Left to Right) Carla Flores from Broadcom, Nike Ligon-Kembi of IBM, Rebecca Parchman, BMC R&D solutions architect, and Cynthia Overby from SHARE’s Board of Directors

The Women in IT (WIT) panel on “Encouraging Women in IT” explored the milestones of women in the mainframe ecosystem and how those achievements should be celebrated. The panelists — Cynthia Overby, secretary to SHARE’s board of directors, Carla Flores, Broadcom liaison and global cyber security solution advisor, Rebecca Parchman, BMC R&D solutions architect, and Nike Ligon-Kembi, IBM program manager for DevOps — explored how women could encourage and champion other women in the technology space. Each panelist shared their story and how breaking the glass ceiling is just one step along the way and that mentoring other women is equally important.

SHARE Orlando set the bar for networking, fun in the sun, and sharing expertise. Whether new to the platform or a veteran of the technology, there was something for everyone. Whether it was learning about the power of AI or how to keep the platform secure in the age of ransomware, attendees learned more, shared more, and became more resilient to the changes ahead in the next 60 years of the mainframe.

Join us at SHARE Kansas City Aug. 4-8 and submit a session proposal by April 7.