Learn PLI with Real Code Examples

Access IBM mainframe or compatible PLI development environment

Upload source files to mainframe

Use JCL (Job Control Language) to compile PLI programs

Set up environment variables for compiler paths

Run sample batch programs to verify setup

Access IBM mainframe environment

Upload source files and libraries

Configure JCL for batch jobs

Compile test programs

Execute sample jobs to verify correctness

*.pli - PLI source files

Lib/ - mainframe runtime and libraries

Bin/ - compiled object code

Docs/ - documentation and specifications

Jobs/ - JCL scripts for batch execution

COMPILE file.pli - compile PLI source

RUN program - execute compiled code

SUBMIT job.jcl - submit batch job

DEBUG file.pli - debug procedures

LIST file.pli - view compiled program details

Character data handled via ASCII

No built-in modern localization support

Batch output can be adapted manually

Used primarily in English-language systems

Legacy systems may have custom encoding

Readable procedural syntax

Structured records and arrays

Strong typing ensures fewer runtime errors

Mainframe-oriented workflow learning curve

Educational for understanding legacy enterprise systems

No native GUI support

Text-based output and print handling

Batch reports for formatted results

External visualization requires modern tools

Focus on structured, reliable output

Global and local variables managed in mainframe memory

Record and array structures maintain data state

Procedures encapsulate operations

Batch jobs manage overall program flow

Runtime ensures sequential execution and I/O consistency

Primitive types: FIXED BIN, FLOAT, CHAR

Structured types: RECORD, TABLE/ARRAY

File I/O integrated with mainframe systems

Batch job inputs and outputs handled via datasets

Memory and data accessed efficiently by compiler