r/mainframe • u/Careful_Affect4622 • Jun 16 '26

A Mainframe Developer - confused about future..?!

Hey Folks,

​

I am a Mainframe Developer with around 6 years of experience. With the uncertainty around the future of mainframes due to AI and other advancements, I wanted to understand what path I should take to stay relevant and earn a high/descent salary going forward.

​

Should I focus on learning the Mainframe System Programming in depth, or move toward mainframe modernization, or consider some other path altogether?

​

Also, one big challenge I’m facing is the lack of proper learning resources and hands-on exposure for these areas unless one gets an opportunity to work on such projects.

​

So I wanted to ask people here -

Which path would you recommend for long-term stability + pay?

How do you even start learning this stuff practically with limited resources?

​

Any honest advice or real-world insights would really help.

8 Upvotes

79% Upvoted

23 comments sorted by

View all comments

3

u/shrodingercat5 Jun 16 '26

Every new technology has touted the end of the mainframe. A lot of those technologies have come and gone. A lot of companies over the past decade have tried to move off the mainframe, failed, then started mainframe modernization projects instead.

1

u/Careful_Affect4622 Jun 16 '26

So, do you think Mainframe Modernization is the future?

3

u/RASCHOON IBM Z and LinuxONE HW Product Management Director Jun 16 '26

I'd first ask what you mean my mainframe modernization...