IBM Dependency Based Build (DBB) is a utility used for building and managing mainframe applications on IBM z/OS systems. It provides a build framework that automates the build process, manages dependencies between source code modules, and generates an executable program or library.
IBM® Dependency Based Build (DBB) is an build tool for traditional z/OS applications written in languages such as COBOL, PL/1, Assembler and CICS that allows the analysis of build dependencies between objects.
In modernization Era, this IBM DBB is to provide automation capabilities that can be used on z/OS application, and combination of z/OS Mainframe Application and Distributed Applications. It has specific framework to simplify the process of combining or building code on z/OS system with Groovy Scripts.
This build system allows developer to choose modern Source Control tools like Git, GitHub and continuous integration tools, such as Jenkins or GitLab, to build traditional z/OS applications written in COBOL, PL/I, Assembler and CICS.
It allows for incremental builds by only rebuilding the necessary components that have changed or are out of date.
DBB provides a configuration file format that defines the build process for the application. This configuration file specifies the source code files, the compiler options, and the dependencies between the source code files. It also allows for the customization of the build process through the use of pre- and post-build steps and the ability to specify build targets for specific components of the application.
DBB also provides a set of command-line tools for executing the build process and managing build artifacts. These tools include the ability to clean up old build artifacts, generate build reports, and manage build output directories.
It provides a convenient way to define and manage the dependencies between different software components, ensuring that the correct versions of components are used and built in the correct order. Key feature of Dependency Resolution allows us to do impact analysis which becomes core key feature of IBM Dependency Based Build solution. DBB allows COBOL copybooks, PL/I files and assembler macros referenced in the SCM repository to be located and automatically copied into the datasets before compiling the program. While including dependencies, it also has ability to identify programs that need to be rebuilt due to a modified build dependency source file.
One of the key benefits of using IBM Dependency Based Build Tool is its ability to track dependencies between components, ensuring that they are built in the correct order and using the correct version. This helps to minimize the risk of errors and ensures that the software is built in a consistent manner, even as components are updated over time.
The tool is designed to be highly scalable and can handle large, complex software projects with ease. It integrates with other IBM tools, such as Rational Team Concert and UrbanCode Deploy, to provide a comprehensive software development and deployment solution.
It also allows you to implement Continuous Integration with Jenkins or GitLab and Continuous Deployment with UrbanCode Deploy for z. While building Continuous Integration Pipeline, we can invoke z/OS Dynamic Test Runner for ZUnit for unit testing z/OS Application. It has ability to run ZUnit tests as part of a CI/CD pipeline by providing a ZUnit test configuration dependency scanner, which will automatically create dependency relationships between the z/OS source program, the test program, and the read required data file, and allows you to automatically trigger the unit tests that validate your change.
The tool also provides an easy-to-use interface for defining and managing dependencies, making it easy for developers to stay on top of the complex relationships between components. Additionally, it offers advanced reporting and analysis capabilities, allowing teams to identify potential issues and make informed decisions about how to resolve them.
Overall, IBM Dependency Based Build simplifies the build process for mainframe applications by automating the compilation and linking of source code modules and managing dependencies between them, allowing developers to focus on writing code rather than managing build processes.
In conclusion, IBM Dependency Based Build Tool is an effective and powerful tool for automating the software build process. Its ability to manage dependencies and provide a scalable, easy-to-use interface makes it an ideal choice for organizations looking to improve the efficiency and consistency of their software development process.
DBB allows you to standardize zDevOps processes or Enterprise DevOps Processes and practices across z/OS and distributed platforms.
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