Workflows

The IBM Bob Premium Package for Z includes structured, guided workflows for mainframe modernization. Each workflow is designed for a specific task and can be run independently or as part of a larger modernization pipeline.

The Generate data dictionary workflow maps COBOL and PL/I variables to business-meaningful descriptions, scans the program, selects key variables, and generates DD.json.

The Generate program documentation workflow produces structured documentation for COBOL, PL/I, Assembler, and JCL programs including business rules.

The Refactor COBOL or PL/I program workflow modernizes legacy mainframe applications by extracting discrete business logic into reusable, standalone service programs. It transforms monolithic codebases into modular components, improving maintainability, scalability, and readiness for modern architectures such as APIs and microservices. The workflow accommodates both discovery-driven and targeted refactoring approaches.

The Generate refactored service program workflow completes the refactoring lifecycle by transforming extracted code segments into fully functional, standalone service programs. Building on the output of the Refactor workflow, it automates the creation of production-ready COBOL or PL/I services, including structure, dependencies, and interfaces. This workflow eliminates the manual effort of reconstructing extracted logic and delivers consistent, standards-compliant components ready for testing and deployment.

The Explain code workflow translates complex mainframe source code into clear, audience-specific explanations. It analyzes full programs across multiple languages to uncover logic, business rules, data usage, and dependencies, presenting the results in a format tailored to architects, developers, or business users. This workflow is suited for gaining deep insight into legacy systems and supports onboarding, documentation, and pre-refactoring analysis.

The Generate application documentation workflow produces structured HTML application documentation with diagrams and cross-referenced pages for COBOL, PL/I, Assembler, and JCL programs based on the program documentation Markdown files.

Identifies, highlights, and documents business rules embedded in COBOL, PL/I, or HLASM source code — transforming low-level procedural logic into structured, human-readable business documentation.

Analyzes IBM Enterprise COBOL for z/OS programs for performance bottlenecks and optimization opportunities — delivering prioritized, actionable recommendations for a single COBOL source file.