APT version 3.2.00: New features that increase productivity, reduce costs and greatly enhance DevEx

Infotel and Eccox are announcing the biggest investment of the last decade, to make available new features, capacities and resources for our key product APT (Application Environment Management for Parallel Testing), greatly enhancing DevEx (Developer Experience) by using all SELF SERVICE testing capabilities from the WEB interface to go directly inside the Mainframe Environment, therefore increasing its leadership in Mainframe Test Environments Modernization. This new APT version from JUNE 2025 is the result of strategic new functions, totally inspired by our clients, that reinforce the four pillars of our testing Strategy:

1. Agility;
2. Scalability;
3. Security;
4. Integration with Best in the market products;

The implementation of this new strategy resulted in better cost savings, bigger reduction in project hours, better TIME TO MARKET for the CI & CD pipelines for our clients, aligning with Market Best Practices and modern DevSecOps products like, for example, GitHub Actions and Jenkins.

APT Evolving with our clients: Eccox Commitment with clients and Innovation

Clients operate highly complex testing scenarios, where speed and reliability dictate the pace and routes to successful IT operations. APT is becoming an essential TOOL for enterprises that operate mission-critical apps under the z/OS 3.1 environment. Our new features and capacities were designed to resolve real-life enhancements or bottlenecks that were experienced by our client teams from Development, Quality, Security, or Infrastructure – to prepare the Mainframe for current or future challenges.

Key new features coming with APT 3.2.00 or previous versions, starting JUNE 2025:

• APT SNAPSHOT with RESTORE via APTWEB Panel: Using this new version, we can restore database images saved with a few clicks using the panel interface provided by APTWEB, enhancing the power of the developer and reducing the time to resume the tests after a bug is found, function very useful to update/develop JOBs for the BATCH window.
• APT DATAMOVER with advanced validation for all database structures: Automatic integrity check of data moved between different environments, including between LPARs, with alerts and detailed logs to ensure quality and consistency across test environments.
• APT EDGE for DDF: Support has been added for new types of Distributed Apps (Node.js,.NET), besides enhancements for test performance when using JDBC/ODBC with isolated access to Db2 tables.
• Integration with CI/CD Pipelines for DevSecOps: Support for REST-API inside APT now may allow activation and execution for TEST TRACKS by using pipelines CI & CD like Azure DevOps, Jenkins and GitHub Actions.
• TEST TRACK control and Test Environments: feature that allows Dev Users to restore complete APP functional states inside Test Environments — ensuring better Traceability, Governance, and Audit/Compliance processes.
• Support extended for Multiple LPARs and Distributed Workloads: Enhancements for isolation between TEST TRACKs that span over multiple LPARs, with complete Resource Optimization.

Expected results and Benefits have been expanded for DevEx upgrades

APT version 3.2.00 and its innovations allow enterprises to achieve greater savings and better results for the entire Development cycle:

• Increase productivity by up to 50% for REAL Integrated and Functional Tests.
• Reduce up to 70% of the rework caused by test data failures during tests, which occur due to simultaneous and conflicting use by different Developers or inconsistent environments.
• Easily integrate Best Practices under DevSecOps standards into their pipelines, including Hybrid environments.
• Scalability for the creation of isolated TEST environments for multiple simultaneous projects.
• Regression Tests may be Agile, on-demand, and Self-Service, thereby reducing risks and issues when transitioning to production.

Inspiring Vision from Eccox Leadership into Mainframe Testing

“We are fully committed to the continuous Evolution of Eccox APT as a catalyst for the Mainframe Digital transformation. With each new version, we amplify the potential for our clients to achieve Agility, Governance, and Quality — maintaining the Mainframe not only relevant, but essential for their Business.”

— Product Team Leader | Eccox Technology

Please check the complete list of new features available with APT 3.2.00, JUNE 2025:

Besides the key features described above, Eccox APT received a lot of new upgrades intended to enhance Usability, Security, Traceability, and integration with other market products as below:

• DevEx: SELF-SERVICE capacities, enhancing Developer Experience by using our distributed app named APTWeb.
• Web Panel for monitoring and management of all TEST TRACKS
• Graphical exhibition showing the execution flow for all CICS, IMS and Jobs transactions – APT CALL TREE as a new feature.
• Now the Integration between APT with GIT® (Azure DevOps®, GIT LAB®, GITHUB®, BIT BUCKET®) has new features for APT Cross Reference, starting with GIT Branches.
• The REST-API feature is now available for use by pipelines in DevSecOps during app development, utilizing orchestrators such as Jenkins or GitHub Actions.
• Audit Logs, which save user login information and some of their actions during testing.
• Capacity to duplicate any TEST TRACK, allowing for reutilization of the same or similar existing configurations.
• Enhancements for the rollback process for Snapshots, now with automatic verification for complete integrity.
• TEST TRACK creation with data (Db2® tables, VSAM® or QSAM®) coming from any other TEST environment of LPAR (DATAMOVER Command Across different LPARs)
• TEST TRACK utilization reports.
• APT kernel enhancements for better performance, as well as easier maintenance patches.
• Reduced TEST environment setup for Mainframe applications by up to 65%

APTWEB allows for User Authentication to be performed directly by IBM RACF and is fully integrated with LDAP functions.

When creating CLONED databases, users can define selection criteria using the new WHERE clause for SQL queries.

• Configuration that allows the Db2 VALIDATE Command during BIND or RUNTIME
• APT Discovery module automatically generates the CRUD matrix (Create, Read, Update, and Delete) for each database accessed by the programs. Now it is possible to select the programs that will be included in a particular TEST TRACK, starting with the CRUD Matrix.
• Support for databases stored in IBM TAPE DRIVE, IBM VTS, or IBM Tape Robots.
• FULL Isolation for CICS applications that receive data from a Distributed platform via software IBM z/OS Connect®, Channel, or data container.
• Support for Mainframe Programs which use COBOL, Assembler, PL/1, etc., while doing Dynamic SQL calls.
• Integration with BMC CONTROL-M®
• Support for z/OS® 3.1 + CICS® 6.1 and 6.2 + Db2® 13 + MQ® 9.4 + IMS® 15.5 Compatibility with BMC ARC®
• Support for parameter AUTOEXPORT=NO When using IMS/TM®

All above PROGRAM ENHANCEMENTS and CONTINUOUS EVOLUTION are an integral part of the strategy to maintain APT as The Leading solution, Unique, Robust, Agile, self-service, and aligned with BEST PRACTICES and modern development tools and applications inside the IBM Mainframe Ecosystem – IBM mainframe®.

® Software marked has exclusive copyright rights for IBM® Corporation and BMC® Software Inc.

Learn more, experiment, and reduce costs.

Please discover how APT version 3.2.00 can revolutionize your test, development, and maintenance processes within your Mainframe Environment for z/OS 3.1.

For more information:

www.eccox.com

www.infotel-software.com