Develop high-performing C/C++ applications and system programs on z/OS while maximizing hardware use and improving application performance

The IBM® C/C++ for z/OS® compilers, including the classic z/OS XL C/C++ compiler and the newly introduced Open XL C/C++ for z/OS compiler, are advanced optimizing C and C++ compilers on z/OS that use IBM Z® features to produce high-performing business applications. The z/OS XL C/C++ compiler supports embedded CICS® and SQL statements in C/C++ source, simplifying the operation of C/C++ within CICS and Db2® environments. To expedite the delivery of z/OS® applications, you can use IBM® Application Delivery Foundation for z/OS® in conjunction with XL C/C++.

Open XL C/C++ is fully based on the LLVM open source Clang infrastructure and supports current C/C++ language standards and the latest IBM z16™ servers. Open XL C/C++ is a no-charge add-on feature for users who have enabled z/OS XL C/C++ on z/OS 2.4 or later.

Features

• **New hardware capabilities without code change: **Specify the architectural level for which the executable program's instructions will be generated. This allows for delivering hardware-level capabilities directly through compiler options without modifying source codes.
• **Supports z/OS UNIX System Services and z/OS batch: **Get support for z/OS UNIX System Services and z/OS batch under 32-bit non-XPLINK, 32-bit XPLINK and 64-bit XPLINK compilation modes, which are ideal for existing z/OS applications and porting applications from distributed platforms.
• **Integration with a core set of tools: **Use this compiler to integrate IBM Developer for z/OS Enterprise Edition tools, a robust toolset for developing and maintaining IBM z/OS applications through the implementation of DevOps practices. This suite also encompasses IBM Debug for z/OS, offering debugging capabilities and code coverage for applications written in C/C++.
• **Support for program diagnosis and debug: **Increase programmer productivity and code generation with a cost-effective way of diagnosing potential language semantics adherence, including support for IBM z/OS Debugger.
• **High-performance libraries: **Use the Mathematical Acceleration Subsystem (MASS) and Open Basic Linear Algebra Subroutines (OpenBLAS) libraries for accelerated execution of math and algebra functions used in business analytics.
• **Advanced optimization technology: **Use advanced compilation and optimization technology to improve application performance.

Benefits

• **Increase return on investments: **Use leading-edge compiler optimization technology with modern IBM Z to enhance the performance of C/C++ applications on the highly secure and resilient z/OS platform. This initiative helps expedite return on investments and mitigate both business and IT risks.
• **Reduce migration efforts for C/C++ applications to z/OS: **Open XL C/C++ is fully based on the open-source Clang and LLVM technology framework, adhering to the C17/C18 and C++17 language standards. This approach aims to reduce migration efforts when transitioning C/C++ applications from distributed platforms to z/OS.
• **Enhance emerging technologies on z/OS: **Open XL C/C++ helps extend modern z/OS languages and utilities such as Python, Node.js, Go, Java and IBM Z Open Automation Utilities (ZOAU) to enhance their functionality and build application packages to advance technology adoption.