Open Mainframe Summit – The Open Mainframe EP 12

Hi everybody Welcome. You've joined the open Mainframe show glad to have you here. You probably have guessed.

I'm not Alan Shimmel and don't look anything like them though. He and I've worked together for a long time or business partners friends Etc. But I'm stepping in just filling in for Allen while he's doing some traveling this week and I have a great pleasure because you know, I've been a good part of my career in the Mainframe environment.

It's fun to be talking about what's happening and all the great things and but the best part of it is to get to talk with this panel this group of people and co-host John murtic. How you doing John? I am doing fabulous here and and my lovely office throughouted by all these computers staring at me here.

How could you not be I feel like I'm you know going to the computer Museum almost, you know, I'm not quite really far back, but you're fairly recently. Yeah. Yes vintage stuff.

It's funny, you know awesome how people are collecting and refurbishing and restore. It's kind of like the classic car version of Chemistry, right? Exactly exactly everything everything comes back around in time.

Yes. Absolutely. Well, we've got a great panel here and I again we'll get right to that.

So Stacy, why don't you introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about what you do it Susa. Absolutely. I'm Stacy my arm with Susan.

I'm one of the product marketing managers here. responsible for ourselves on Z product and our rent dressy product and I am also on the this great open Mainframe project board as the marketing co-chair and I get to work with this great panel, and I'm super excited about the conference coming up. Awesome.

Fantastic Elizabeth you kick things in next introduce yourself. yeah, hi my name is Elizabeth K Joseph and I'm a developer. Advoc.

ate BM m open source has always been you know for decades has been incredibly important to IBM and in general in the mains Mainframe space like there's open source has been a thing before open source had a name in the Mainframe space and IBM is always been very deep into that. So it's really exciting to be part of this project and then part of the upcoming Summit. Um in in my role in the open Mainframe project, I do a bit of work on the softer Discovery tool as well as the Linux distributions working group.

Fantastic. How about you Jacob? Oh So within the broth com I'm a product owner a responsible for the APM Edition layer and I'm very excited to present few sessions on the open Mainframe Summit and I'm doing this as a Zoe chair, so I'm responsible for the most popular open source project on the platform at the moment.

And it's exciting work and exciting future coming. Well, I love a conversation. We're talking about Mainframe and open source and Summit so fantastic, you know, we're talking about the open Mainframe Summit that's going to be happening as part of the convene conference coming up and Philly on September 21 and 22 John you I'm sure everybody in our audience may be most everybody's for about convene.

Could you sort of set the stage about what convene is and what we're doing for Vegas for the first time right with open Mainframe Summit is happening as part of that kind of a Meetup as part of the event. Yeah, so on this event, you know, this is actually the third year of the event but the first two years we had this little thing called covid that they kept us having the conference and places like this here. But so for the first time we are all getting together in person in Philadelphia at the convene center.

It's really designed to sort of an event that brings together the the Mainframe community and the open source community and that convergence is what we're seeing more and more is that the future of open of the future of Mainframe is really driving towards open source, and and more importantly we're seeing as Enterprises continue to be very forward thinking they're seeing they already are investing in open source, and they're seeing bringing their Mainframe into that Circle but using open source as that Gateway into it and we see that with projects like Zoe and fail long and a number of other ones we work with here. So it's a really un Opportunity that brings together these great audiences this year is a really interesting Focus for US security has been a huge thing on our Collective radar for the past year or so and particularly when it comes to things like supply chain security and you know, really understanding where your software is coming from and in the Mainframe world, that's really always been a very important concept because you know, these these systems power our society, you know, these mainframes go down less than to see who's our board chair would joke me and say hey John with the mainframes go down planes fall out of the air, you know Commerce stops all of this and he's not entirely wrong because so much of the backbone versus idle infrastructure a lot relies on it. And as as we're starting to see all of that become so more interconnected understanding your software becomes really important understanding best security practices becomes really important.

And so we're seeing that as a really really big Focus event along with things of looking towards the future Workforce great projects like Zoe diversity in a number of other topics. So it's it's a it's a fabulous way. Our community gets to come together build some great networking build some really nice opportunities for co-mingling and you know, it's it's great for us.

We can actually get together in person. We've been waiting for this for three years. Well, it's about time right?

Yes. It's literally too. We are still a virtual component as well.

But we do you can be in person in Philly. and John I was just going to say, you know, it's it's so key that we're talking about security because you know Susan just recently did a survey and 45% of Enterprises. Are said there's it's saying that 45% of Enterprise will have experienced some kind of Cyber attack by the year 2025.

and 53% of decision makers are really they're continuously monitoring their supply chains, especially your software Supply chains for critical vulnerabilities because cyber attacks have just really risen in the last two and a half years. It's yeah the cyber attacks. I love stats like that because my view is probably most of those organizations have already been attacked.

They just don't we don't talk about it. We're being more open about it. I mean it is so prevalent.

You're jumping in I think Jacob. Yeah, it was just wanted to say that this is what we are seeing with Zoe as well like the exact and decision makers are coming and saying Hey, how do you do this security? Is it good enough?

Are these things somewhere visible? How when can we learn? What do you do and why?

So like what you are saying is exactly what we are also saying on the project level. Yeah, and speaking in the open source side of things. There are still questions about the security around open source.

And so I love that. This is the theme this year because we want to just come out in the Forefront with that and say like yes, this is secure where we're making efforts to make sure that the software is secure with some of the new initiatives that the Linux Foundation is having the projects do and I think I think the marriage of one, you know companies like Susan IBM are doing with open source and the hardware that IBM is coming out the Z16 platform. That marriage is really key to the security of these companies.

Interesting. So say a little bit more about the the relationship of Open Source into this kind of software stack of the Mainframe environment. It's because there might be a perception of it's it's kind of a new or add-on.

My view is this much more. It's really a critical part of the stack just as much as it is in virtually any other environment agree. Yeah, and I kind of hinted at this in the beginning it's you know, through our communities and organizations like share which has been around since the 1950s there has always been a collaboration of software and tooling and really development of the software on the Mainframe.

Even if it wasn't necessarily called open source, and some of it was, you know, not open source, but there's always been this collaboration Community there. And then now it's kind of just leveled up where it's like with a lot of the modernization efforts a lot of what's being driven. There is open source software.

Yeah, I don't want to sound like I disagree. But with the NDA is around everything that touches Mainframe like some some parts of a development in open source around Mainframe is really painful occasionally. Yeah, and you know just from a serious perspective again, you see a lot of access been around for a long time and we've been partners with IBM more than 20 years.

So we really been a big proponent of Open Source on the Mainframe. Yeah, that's certainly not new to the Mainframe. I mean it's been been involved with the Mainframe.

I think well, wait at least a better part of my career for sure. I'm curious too. So what were the last two open source Summits like and what do you think will be different in addition to being in person and having the theme be security this year?

Maybe John, that's a good one for you to think. Maybe I'll kick it off and then I I would really like, you know the feedback from All Views. I mean you've been to the the first two editions as well so you can provide some great contexts.

You know, I I think our our first year we were all sort of in a bit of a pandemic year and it was really just highlighting this community was there and what it looks like cuz I don't think anybody's been able to really put a finger on it. And the first time of it really coming together showcasing what it's all about showcasing a lot of the great projects and work that's happening. I think was a really eye-opening for a number of folks and it really it really started Propel a lot continued technical investment by new organizations new projects and things like that coming out of it, which is just very similar that we see a lot of times with events, you know, you get people together you the smart people together and cool stuff happens and and that's really what our goal is to put these sort of spaces together.

And I think last year we just continued to build upon that Trend but also starting to look at how this industry is changing from A diversity standpoint from an age standpoint. We're seeing new people come into this space and really starting to highlight that there's a big transformation beginning to happen. And it's it's one half.

It's one part of the people but it's another part of the tools and Technologies and really starting to kind of take everyone mentally forward to that next area. But then also seeing how that inner connects with other areas of Open Source and we had a great keynote from Tracy Regan who's the executive director for the CD Foundation which really dug into how devops in the main primary connected. We had, you know Keynotes on cloud native in the Mainframe connected together.

Um, and you know, it's it's really funny because you said on the outside and you think oh geez, like, how do these fit together? Well with open source it all does. It together and Enterprises are thinking this way.

So it was a great sort of transformational step forward to how do those other communities? How do these other Technologies play in here? And then I think this year then it builds upon that of like here's the collective thing that we're all wrestling with the security and that's really where that next piece comes in there.

But I I really want to hear from all of you because you've been here since the beginning too. And what do you what would you think I mean was that an accurate representation? Yeah, John, I think one of the things I'm super excited about this conference and being in person is really seeing the generational.

Collaboration because you do have people that I think will become into the conference that have been in the mankind space for you know, 20 30 years and then you've got college kids that are also really interested in the new technologies. Like what's going on in Cloud native. What's going on in containers?

How do you translate that into the Mainframe space? So I think that collaboration of generations is going to be a really exciting part of the conference. I'm also a really looking forward to what we call the hallway track just you know, just getting to see people again in person because the last two Summits they were really Exceptional from a technical level.

Like I learned a lot at the sessions. It was really valuable but it's sort of you know, we we kind of had some chat but it's it's not the same as being there in person and just meeting with people and I had a I had a taste of this because John when I first met you I think was at the open source Summit. There was a mini Summit for the open Mainframe project in 2019.

And that I mean that was one of my introductions to the Mainframe community and it was I mean, it wasn't it wasn't very big but it was it was formative for me because it allowed me to actually sit and meet people and start to get an understanding of what people were looking for in the open source space and I you know that that has been missing in these virtual events. So I'm very excited to see everyone in Philadelphia. Yeah, well, it's a team like the main differences.

We will see each other. We will have time to chat drink a beer together and after finally after a few years working together. Like decisions will be like maybe better maybe worse maybe the same but ultimately differences is gonna be that you will have the time around them and that you will have all the time that indicated to the to the conference.

So like you will see even sessions that you didn't know that there are interesting for you. Yeah, I love Elizabeth the hallway tracks. That's for sure.

Yeah the hallway track idea. That's a perfect description. I think when you get back together you realize how much we miss that and how valuable it really is.

It's great to do things online and virtual but boy, that's that's so valuable. You get so much done make so much kind of progress relationships business all of that stuff. You know, I'd like to kind of tease apart security, you know secures a very wide broad topic and what do you what do you anticipate some of the things that we are going to be talking about?

I mean, you mentioned supply chain. That's a big topic. Of course in security World, maybe Jacob from a Zoe perspective.

What do you think? Some of the conversations are going to be about for security in addition to supply chain? Of internal the team is just left like we are moving an integrating the security in our like development processes.

We are integrating in exploring solutions to make sure that the security is not edit as another layer, but it's just baked in into the process. But and I think that lots of the discussions are going to be about how far is it possible to get in the open source how good the results are and what we can do better. And not just us as a project.

Like I think that within Zoe we are doing quite a good job around this and trying to share all this information. But also what we do around all of our dependencies and whether it be even know what they are and how they are doing their job. so this is definitely the biggest biggest part from my side.

apart from IBM perspective Elizabeth I mean Stacy had already mentioned like the you know the time from from hardware and software in in how that plays into security and and one of the things that I've been seeing increasingly is the Linux distributions themselves, you know tying will even more into that Hardware because I think it's you know, a lot of it was written more with COs in mind, but as the Linux tissue reasons are adding more things to the colonel and more things are being put Upstream. There's just a tremendous amount of support for the Mainframe today for security on Linux as well. And then the other component of this is Really like the modernization story and when companies are looking to the cloud.

What is their security story there? What are their options? And we now have Mainframe offerings in in the cloud.

And so that's that's an interesting story there as well. Yeah, I'm just to play out that. I know the key notes.

is going to be you know about Zero with zero trust in mind so I think just that whole how do you take these? Newer disruptive Technologies and keep them safe. You know container security microservices security all of that cloud native that is a big Topic in general, of course, and then they're talking about doing that in a Mainframe or combined environment, right?

You know, it's interesting when things that I can't remember who mentioned this but maybe it was you Jacob. It's always fun to talk about the least attacks and the threats and the threat landscape and things like that but a lot of security discussions are what you mentioned Jacob just talking about what you are doing from a security standpoint, you know, we're through the development process the distribution of code, even the people Education and Training and skills that right that's super valuable right there. I mean you can walk away with a lot of really good ideas and information to go back to your your team your company your environment say this is something we can do and and frankly I feel much better.

I know even more about all the things that are being done. So I'm you know, instead of a black box. I have an idea what's happening for security and the hardware the software the OS Etc.

Well, great. Let's I'd love to hear some more about the diversity equity and inclusion. It's it's an it's a super important topic is being talked about, you know in the security world, you know how we continue to develop and lift up people and bring people into into the environment.

In their careers and open open up the field to more people. How do you view diversity Equity inclusion in the kind of Mainframe open source environment, you mentioned Stacy that you know, not news that we have some folks that have been doing this for a while. Right?

So we have the age diversity covered. I think pretty well. What is some of the things that Community either is doing or maybe needs to do to help continue to make progress.

but I think you know part of it is is projects like the open Mainframe project really work their welcoming projects we welcome. Women, you know people of color you diverse groups into the society and we give them the tools to learn the technology. So I think you know a conference like the open Mainframe summer kind of Builds on that where You know you it's not just you know.

it is a diverse group that's going on to come and we we try to bring people along with us with some of the newer technologies that appeal to this, you know, the younger generation the the more diverse generation also say that that meeting people where they are has been really important to a lot of the work that I do and I mean this in regards to the type of folks that we Outreach to in things like the Franklin apprenticeship programs and at universities one of the organizations, I recently worked with it works with mothers who are reentering the workforce whether or not they have a technical background and we work with organizations who can help them get onboarded on Mainframe skills. We also work with a veterans group. So we're bringing veterans and getting them training through apprenticeship programs and that it turns out it naturally creates diversity and in terms of gender and and racial diversity and even Geographic diversity and that has been you know, like a key push and I think we're starting to see the impact of that at our events which is exciting to see at places like share.

and I don't really have that much to add like we are trying to build the well-working community in Zoe and I'm rather sure that as far as geographically and in plenty of other race, we are succeeding but That's it. You know more things that's really kind of connected with me that I've heard multiple times is when someone is isn't is in a group that hasn't been represented before and they see someone like themselves and what are their Dimensions that is saying I see someone that they're up there giving a keynote talk who I can connect with because you know, whatever it is or I see someone in a role. I see some starting in open source project.

I see people that are like myself and that tells me tells them that I can do this too. And really it's amazing the power of that. I mean, I think I told never really appreciated the value of that alone of that tells each of us and tell us a larger community that may not know that yet that it is not only possible.

We want it. We we're looking for we want to bring you in to be part of that Community. I mean John I have to believe that's an important part of the Linux foundation and you know your lead That you're bringing through the open Mainframe project.

Oh, absolutely. I mean if you look at all of our projects, you know, we firmly believe that with diverse groups you get better outcomes and you bring a larger Community together and it really starts to Showcase, you know, the power of more and the power of different opinions the power of different backgrounds, you know, a number of our projects have diversity focuses, you know, we participate and the making our strong Community stronger initiative here within the Mainframe space, you know in an additionally even at this event just like all Linux foundation events. We really spend a lot of time making sure it can be a very welcoming place.

You know, we we drive to make sure that all of our panels have, you know diverse people and you know female representation on that, you know, we spend a lot of time looking at our schedule and looking at our speaker lineup and making sure we're getting people from different backgrounds different genders races that Cities last year, we actually achieved the chaos Group, which is what a project Linux Foundation set requirements for, you know diverse events. We actually achieved a gold badge last year. We're applying for it this year.

We're still in the process. I'm hoping we turn out the same way, but we put a lot of effort into it and even on site we were holding a diversity luncheon on the first day, which is hosted by broadcom, which is really an opportunity for those groups to come together. You know, it's not just you know for you know for women minorities, but it's really for everyone who has a ton of interest in really making sure that this space is one that can continue to grow but continue grow to bring others in as a part of it and you know, that's that's really, you know, just what we're seeing out there and it's it's exciting that we're seeing that it's you know, I I love to see sort of communities like this start to see that is really an important facet and this one is shortage of that I think it's a big factor in the growth of the community too.

It's huge. It's a big difference, you know kind of a sort of funny correlation here you think about inclusion this is both an in-person and virtual event. And I know that you're doing some things to make the virtual experience, you know, just as valuable and and part of the entire event.

I mean including things like mentorship talking about what things are happening and open Mainframe project and working groups things like that. Anybody want to just say anything about if you're joining virtually, here's what you might expect to see and and experience there. Well, I could just say from the platform aspect.

The platform we're using is the same one. We use across the number of other Linux foundation events. We've got a lot of great feedback on it and you know.

Being virtually it is not going to be the same as being in person. There's no doubt about it. But we really do try our hardest to help bridge a lot of that Gap making sure that all of our sessions you can watch live through the platform.

You can provide feedback to speakers during it all of our sponsors in addition to having booths there at the event. They will also have virtual booths available. So you'll be able to interact, you know with them as well.

And there's just also just a number of great, you know collaboration, you know forums and things like that that are part of the flat platform that you'll be able to leverage and we actually will probably have a few of our speakers that will actually be presenting remotely two people in person. So there's gonna be a little bit of that dynamic as well. I mean, we're we want to we we really want to make sure that this is an event and I think you know Mitch.

I'm sure you're seeing across a lot of events is the appreciation for that virtual audience not Not really just because a covid but just because it can be very difficult for a number of reasons for people to attend events in person. Whether that would just be a funding aspect a family aspect a number of other you know pieces as well. I I think we're really fortunate to be able to provide this opportunity and we're hoping that just continues to bring in and even greater Community into these events and and with that it's even a little bit of lower cost to be able to tend that way which I know it can be easier on people that might not have a lot of the financial backing.

When I mean this seriously given that the rate of flight cancellations and less last luggage, you may find yourself stuck somewhere and so you can still attend. Right right. I think for some people they might even referred that way.

I hope it doesn't happen. But you know, it's not I hope not I hope not we're here. Alright.

Sorry Stacey. Oh, sorry. Sorry John.

I didn't mean to interrupting but I would just say as a as an intended if you're coming as an attendee and virtually. Go to the sessions. The the speakers will be there.

Ask questions use the chat features. As somebody who's presented some of these virtual conferences we want to hear from you. So if you're coming to the conference virtually please participate it's it's You know, we want to answer your questions we want to.

We want to give you know, give you the information that you need to you take it back to your industry or your your company and be successful. So, you know, don't be afraid to ask the questions that you would ask if you were in person. Take advantage of you what that makes me think of Stacy oftentimes events will have programs or at least some planning around first time attendees.

How do you create that welcome year experience. So there aren't overwhelmed by a big event. And so many things going on.

What should I do? What where do I go? Where should I spend my time?

I haven't done this before given we have so many people joining the community, but why don't we do that as a kind of a wrap-up question what recommendations that each of us have if you're going to be in person you have some great ones for virtual too. If you're a newcomer, either this a first time or you've been to very many of these. How do you get the best experience Elizabeth you mind starting out?

Yeah. I I just want to encourage people to say hello to other people and don't be too shy like I am I'm terribly shy in person and it's, you know, just getting out of my shell and getting out of my comfort zone and you know, sometimes you'll see people talking and like, oh, I don't know if I'm welcome over there, but just Austin and say hello, it's fine and it's even you know, if it is people who are you know work, you know standing there with people from their company like it's it's helpful and everyone is quite welcoming at these events and I think you'll have some really good conversations and it's it's way better than just going back into going into a corner and just being quiet. I mean if that's you that's okay, too.

I just encourage you like don't don't feel like you're being an imposition. We're all there to meet each other and talk. And when you've been on a session with the people in the room, there is at least one topic that you share apart from the fact that you like open Mainframe and the fact that you have something to do with mainframes and open source.

So just go there ask talk. Yeah, I mean I would I would just Third that right? I mean you're going to the event make, you know, make the best use of your time go talk to people talk to.

You talk to your colleagues talk to your friends, you know talk to people you don't know use the hallway track and talk to people that as you walk down the hallway. Yeah, you never know where you're gonna pick up and I think people are just a lot more welcoming than you might think they are. Yes, and and if and if you're not sure look at their badge everyone we do this on all of our elf events, which I think is a really cool thing.

You can have a little tag on it. That is like green yellow or red green means. Yeah talk to me.

I love to talk to people yellow is, you know a little bit I guess stranger danger. If you know me talk to me about otherwise not in red is, you know, please leave me alone. Um, so, you know, definitely make sure you respecting people's communication, but also know that if you're coming there and you're a little shy there's a way to communicate that without, you know, being rude or kind of getting yourself into an uncomfortable position.

You know, the thing I would add is I think at least I do I think many of us approach these things feeling a little bit inadequate. Like I'm I know I'm not smartest one there. I don't want to ask a dumb question.

I don't want people to know what I don't know some, you know certain things or whatever but but everybody's going there to learn right, you know, it's going there to to have fun. Yes, we're having fun and connect with people but you're you're going to learn stuff whether you're the keynote expert guess what the keynote expert is in an expert at everything they're there to learn too or you're you're new to it. And one of the things I found is I've been surprised to find is that when you ask a question, there's probably a dozen other people who have the exact same or very similar question and they like you were not sure confident about asking it.

So, you know, it's if the the fear of not knowing don't worry about it. We all don't know a lot of things that were there to learn so and they'll be other people appreciate by you bringing it up. Talking to the speaker going to the microphone or putting it in chat.

It's it's like a speaker and art when you ask easy questions. Well, you know the speaker secret if you don't know the answers like I talk to me after that. That I've used before Mike because I don't really know the answer to that but I will find out and talk to you about just kidding a little bit.

You know, I'd actually did have one more question and maybe maybe John at the at the end here you can kind of take us out with a message to folks that we hope will attend there if there been surprises something you didn't expect to happen that maybe one of the last conferences that we went to, you know, I went to expecting this to happen and I met up with these people. I worked with 10 years ago or you know, I got involved in a project. They had no plans on doing any any sort of you unexpected pleasant surprises that might have happened.

Oh, I don't really know what to say. That's why I was quiet. Yeah, okay.

Anybody have one I think I'll repeat what I said before about like just talking to people and remembering how valuable it is just to meet people in person at the event and I'm always surprised by the conversations. I have the connections that I make that I didn't expect. It really is tremendously important thing and I'm just gonna second that that the you know again, I'm gonna use the word the term hallway hallway track because I think that really is some of the most important conversations I've had been walking down the hallway and just, you know, having that five-minute conversation and Spark something and you're often running.

Yeah. You know, but I've also been surprised it. I forgot that I walk away with action items and to do's and things I was gonna follow up on right whether it's I'm talking to you for years and let's go to this or new new communities new people or vendors or whatever.

It might be. There's always there's always stuff after the event that that help carry forward whatever you got from it as well. Well John open Mainframe Summit Philadelphia, September 21st and 22nd, right?

Yeah. org you can head right to the website. You can see the full schedule.

You can register if you're a company. We have three great sponsors represented here IBM broad common suse which we'll have boots at the event. There's some of our leading sponsors and we really thank them, you know for that stewardship and that, you know, they're commitments to these communities, but we also have sponsorship opportunities available.

If you're a company that's thinking this might be an audience for you. We got places for you, but more important. Really?

We really we just want to see you whether you know, it's in person would be great. And if it's virtual that that's even great too. Um because there's some amazing content that's going to be driven here.

There's gonna be some great connections and some likely some pretty fun announcements too that we're working on. So keep an eye towards September. Yeah some new news.

Yeah, that's exciting, too. Well, great. It's been fun doing this open Mainframe session with all of you show with each of you.

I was real privileged to get to fill in for Alan. I'm going to kind of keep him busy more welcome back you'll have me, but I Mitch it's okay. Great.

You've been very very gracious, too. Thanks for kind of keeping me going guide me. Keep me on track here with with our conversation.

So really really appreciate everybody joining us and listening in watching in today, and we do hope you will participate in the summit either online or in person you will be surprised the Great Value that you'll get from it, and I doubt you'll be disappointed. I know you won't be so join us there and please join us for our next episode of the open Mainframe. Thank you John.

Thank you links Foundation. Thank you to all your companies for Your sponsorship of that event and help you come back and be on a panel with us again, too.