May 21, 2007
It appears reports of the death of the mainframe might actually be true--at least, from a certain point of view (okay, I didn't buy that line when Obi-Wan Kenobi tried it either). In any case, today's "mainframes" are so radically different from their predecessors that it may be time to retire their well-worn moniker. At least that's the opinion of Donald Feinberg, VP and distinguished analyst in the information infrastructure practice at Gartner.
After reading the saga of one young mainframe developer seeking out (and supporting) other rebels swimming against the tide of Java programmers poring out of universities each year, Feinberg had this reaction:
The mainframe is dead - this article proves it! The word “mainframe” brings to mind the large, water-cooled room-filling systems of old. Today the System z (the correct name) is a server that competes favorably with other servers on the market. To use a term that brings a negative image to mind is wrong. It should be called a System z server with z/OS.
So, what do you think? Do you agree that the term "mainframe" carries negative connotations? Should the System z be considered just another server (if a heavyweight one)? Does the "mainframe" distinction carry nuances that should be preserved?
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