Can you use Low Code Frameworks on LinuxONE

Low Code, what does it mean?

I think before I talk about if it can be used on LinuxONE or the Mainframe I need to talk about what it is.

A low-code development platform (LCDP) provides a development environment used to create application software through a graphical user interface. A low-coded platform may produce entirely operational applications, or require additional coding for specific situations. Low-code development platforms can reduce the amount of traditional time spent, enabling accelerated delivery of business applications. A common benefit is that a wider range of people can contribute to the application's development—not only those with coding skills but require good governance to be able to adhere to common rules and regulations. LCDPs can also lower the initial cost of setup, training, deployment, and maintenance. Forrester, 2014

More or less, such an environment will provide "off the shelf" components which could be stitched together to build get faster to a usable solution.

Now as I have a development background I was always suspicious to approaches where something generates code or puts elements together without someone writing the code. On the other side not every thing need to be implemented multiple times. If I look at open source here the big value add is, someone has written it and it can be used to build something different out of it.

Off course there are different frameworks to provide this kind of capability. The area I want to look at is how Applications could be assembled on Kubernetes or Red Hat OpenShift.

Using available open source OCI images or vendor provided solution architectures a Low Code platform can abstract the complexity of the runtime environment and allow customers to start and innovate without the need to be an expert in every layer of the infrastructure.

Getting back to my original question. Can a Low Code Framework run or help build applications on LinuxONE. The answer is Yes.

First - Red Hat OpenShift is a great fit for LinuxONE. The strong capabilities of the LinuxONE Infrastructure combined to the application management capabilities and options of OpenShift provide a customer the best out if two worlds, a dynamic, robust and reliable infrastructure combined to dynamic and fast deployment and management system of applications.

Second - many standard applications are available to run on s390 through OCI containers. Applications like PostgreSQL or Mongo are available as Multi Arch containers to run on x86 as well as s390.

Now how did I learn about it. During the past weeks I talked to the IBM Solution Workbench team on how their value proposition makes sense on LinuxONE. As a Low Code Framework, their goal is to reduce the burden of skills needed to modernise applications or build something new to address market needs. All of this is needed on LinuxONE as well as on any other platform. IBM Solutions Workbench enables customers to build their applications on Red Hat OpenShift using standard components and helps them to deploy, maintain and update these components in an easy fashion. And the good thing is, it works as well on LinuxONE. If you have additional questions feel free to check with Marika Auhuber or Gerald Ga?ner