Overview to using Cloud and Browser-based platforms
Z Open Editor and Zowe Explorer can be installed and used with various cloud or browser-based editing environments that utilize VS Code as the editor. Hosting development tools and editors in the Cloud can provide many advantages for developers as well as team leads and administrators, especially for hybrid z/OS development projects that bring together different technologies, require different skill sets and knowledge about development tools:
- Eliminating the need for developers to install and configure all development tools locally: Instead of having every developer in a development organization install tools and prerequisites themselves on their own development machines one lead developer can produce one or many container images with all the prerequisites as well as configuration files that load the correct versions of tools and VS Code extensions that every developer can simply use to get a full development environment. This can save a lot of time, eliminate confusion about versions, ensures that everyone is on the same and latest versions as well as help developers that are not familiar with all the tools and prerequisites and how to correctly install and configure them.
- Rapid context switching between development project using different: When working on multiple development projects at the same time container-based development environments allow easy switching between completed different stacks of development tools, configuration and settings as well as even programming languages and language versions by just switching to different containers and configuration files manged by Cloud-based development tools providing workspace templates that can be customized for the very specific needs of each project.
- Eliminate hardware requirements and work from anywhere: As all tools are accessed via a simple web-browser there is no need for using a specific hardware or workstations to do development work. Organizations can deploy cheaper developer hardware and can centralize and optimize resource usage in their Cloud infrastructure instead. Switching between working from home or the office will be as easy as connecting to a network and then using the browser to sign on and open all tools.
- Standardize connectivity, integrations, and authentication to external systems and applications: Instead of connecting each developer machine to external systems such as z/OS systems, databases, or web servers via technologies such as VPNs making each of these system a potential security risk and target target for external attacks Cloud-based development environments bring control of connectivity and security back to the experts that maintain access for all developers in a central place. As developers will access all tools and systems via the integrated development environment in the browser that is prepared for them and authentication secrets are stored in secure Cloud storage as well, there is less risk of them misconfiguring secure access to sensitive systems.
Quickstart tutorials
The following examples show you how your can get started very quickly with some of the most popular Cloud-based environments from different vendors to evaluate if such solutions work for you. There is more detailed guidance for our preferred solution, Red Hat OpenShift Dev Spaces, in several detailed pages of this documentation section as well.
Red Hat Dev Spaces for OpenShift
Our recommended cloud-based development environment is Red Hat OpenShift Dev Spaces that provides a cloud-based development environment that is fully integrated into Red Hat OpenShift. If you do not have access to an OpenShift cluster you can try Z Open Editor for free by signing up for a 30-day trial of the Red Hat Developer Sandbox. We have a full tutorial for signing up and using Z Open Editor here.
GitPod
GitPod is a cloud-based IDE offering by the GitPod company that can also utilize VS Code as the browser-based editor and integrate with all the major Git service providers such as GitLab, GitHub, and Bitbucket. After you sign in with an account from either of these Git services, you can easily start a workspace with Z Open Editor.
To try it out with our code samples repository, use this link https://gitpod.io/#https://github.com/phaumer/zopeneditor-sample. The workspace will start up and load a custom image prepared by our team that even contains Zowe CLI and Ansible CLI. After the editor is up, you might have to click F1 and select the command View: Focus Activity Bar to bring in the sidebar that allows you to find our sample programs. Z Open Editor was automatically installed for this workspace, so you can just open a program and start editing. Note that this is a paid-for service, but the first hours are free.
GitHub Codespaces
Z Open Editor can also be used with all of its capabilities in Microsoft's GitHub Codespaces. After your start your development environment in Codespaces, you can find and install Z Open Editor from the integrated marketplace. You can also use extension recommendations.
Try it by using this link https://github.com/codespaces/new?machine=basicLinux32gb&repo=160883618&ref=wazi-main&location=WestUs2 that loads our Z Open Editor sample repository. After the editor is up, click Install in the dialog that asks "Do you want to install the recommended extensions for this repository?". Note that this is a paid-for service, but the first hours are free.
Pure web-based editing in vscode.dev and github.dev
Z Open Editor can be used as a pure web extension with limited capabilities when using Visual Studio Code in a browser, such as on vscode.dev or github.dev.
Try it by going to https://vscode.dev/github/IBM/zopeneditor-sample and confirming in the dialog to install the recommended extensions by clicking Install. No language server capabilities will be available, but syntax highlighting for all our supported languages.