I think Intercomm is bundled in the TK5 distribution of MVS 3.8 now. They got clearance from the owners a while back as I recall.

I'm assuming it's the same Intercomm you're talking about.

It is, and that's how I learned about it!

The s390x Linux install under z/VM boots from a virtual card reader, from cards generated by a virtual card punch from the installation files.

Me too. Status page predictably claiming 'All systems operational'!

A good summary from the UK IT trade publication that broke the story:

https://www.computerweekly.com/feature/Post-Office-Horizon-s...

Not sure if this requires sign-in/subscription, so apologies in advance. I did neither and have access to the full article.

Paywall removed: https://archive.ph/OZeED

Wow, Kilostream. There's a name I never thought I'd hear again :-)

There's a bunch of documentation for MVS 3.8J (or OS/VS2) on Bitsavers.

IBM provide free 1-year Z access via the Zxplore program.

Haven't used it for a couple of years, but I think it's still a free login ID with 1-year validity. You can re-apply every year.

Are we to assume you want it to run on actual hardware? I imagine there are a number of OSes that qualify if emulation is acceptable. One I like:

http://www.vm370.org/

Full S/370 assembler source included.

Indeed. Very alien to Unix users. Also, the idea of virtual machine is totally different from what we currently use in KVM.

Seems to be replicating mainframe JCL and in-stream data sets. Processing instructions and input are combined in a single file. Used all the time for compiling, running utilities etc.

I'm guessing that this (IBM) example is setting the delimeter to '@@' to avoid problems with the comment - JCL also understands the '/*' sequence. I've not seen it used with other languages (Cobol etc.)

    //jobname    JOB   acctno,name...
    //COMPILE    EXEC  PGM=CCNDRVR,
    // PARM='/SEARCH(''CEE.SCEEH.+'') NOOPT SO OBJ'
    //STEPLIB    DD    DSNAME=CEE.SCEERUN,DISP=SHR
    //           DD    DSNAME=CEE.SCEERUN2,DISP=SHR
    //           DD    DSNAME=CBC.SCCNCMP,DISP=SHR
    //SYSLIN     DD    DSNAME=MYID.MYPROG.OBJ(MEMBER),DISP=SHR
    //SYSPRINT   DD    SYSOUT=*
    //SYSIN      DD    DATA,DLM=@@
      #include <stdio.h>
      ⋮
      int main(void)
      {
      /*  comment   */
      ⋮
      }
    @@
    //SYSUT1     DD    DSN=...
    ⋮
    //*

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Job_Control_Language#In-stream...*

Yes and Yes. Though there are options to get to the Unix shell via tn3270 too.