Subject: CM First Group September 2025 Newsletter

Modernization news fit to print

September 2025

In this issue...

  • Featured: Rethinking AI and Developer Careers: From Threat to Superpower - CM First Group

  • CA Communities: Register for the Third Quarter 2025 Update

  • Video: Latest Advances in Code Analysis and Transformation with CM evolveIT 11.7 - CM First

  • Article: RPA Isn't Dead - Automation Anywhere

  • Listen: Catching and Climbing Out of Tech Sprawl - InformationWeek Podcast

  • Watch: CM First Video Series

  • Intelligence: Further Reading on the Web

Heads Up

Rethinking AI and Developer Careers: From Threat to Superpower


The headlines keep screaming about AI replacing developers, but the smartest companies are writing a completely different story. They're discovering that AI can make the perfect pair programming partner, available 24/7, endlessly patient, and armed with the knowledge of millions of codebases.


While some coder productivity numbers are surprisingly dim (see the recent METR study), many organizations forge ahead undaunted with the aim to transform their development cultures by training developers to become "AI-enhanced" rather than "AI-threatened."


The results? Teams reporting faster delivery, better code quality, and surprisingly, higher job satisfaction. Junior developers are accelerating their learning curves, seniors are tackling previously impossible challenges, and entirely new career paths are emerging.


Maybe we don't have to choose between humans and AI, but unleash them together as a team for a win/win.


Read our recent article for a full breakdown  →

CA Plex/2E Community

Third Quarter 2025 CA Communities Update


The CA Plex/2E quarterly event is a key opportunity for developers and community members to connect, learn, and share their expertise. Community Lightning Talks, which take up the second half of each quarterly session, is a much-anticipated part of these gatherings, considered by many members to be the most useful and inspiring part of the meeting. Whether you want to improve your skills or learn something new, this event is a must-attend for CA 2E and CA Plex professionals.

Register now →

Announcing CM evolveIT 11.7


Available for Streaming: Join us for informative, hands-on sessions focused on the new CM evolveIT 11.7 release. 


Tailored for future-minded developers, these sessions showcase groundbreaking enhancements aimed at revolutionizing your code analysis and transformation workflows. Expect hands-on demonstrations that you can take to your development workflows right away.

Watch a webinar now...

Mainframe COBOL

Latest Advances in Mainframe COBOL Code Analysis and Transformation

Learn about cutting-edge artificial intelligence tools that promise streamlined analysis and transformation processes, automated tools that convert legacy COBOL code to Java, and advanced code slicing.


Watch Now

IBM i

Latest Advances in IBM i Code Analysis and Transformation

Learn how to cut your analysis costs by up to 80% with new capabilities. We'll demo new CA 2E (Synon) and CA Plex superpowers, AI and Code slicing innovations, and improved support for DB2 and COBOL and more.


Watch Now

Heads Up

RPA Isn't Dead


RPA is in a confusing place in the age of AI and Agents, so we looked for a strong positive viewpoint. We found it at Automation Anywhere, in a post arguing that despite newer technologies grabbing headlines, RPA remains a critical foundation for effective business automation.


The piece explores how RPA has matured from simple task automation to become an essential component of comprehensive automation strategies, working alongside AI to deliver enhanced business outcomes.


The article highlights how modern RPA platforms now integrate with generative AI, process mining, and intelligent document processing to create more powerful end-to-end solutions that combine the reliability of rules-based automation with the adaptability of AI—proving that rather than becoming obsolete, RPA continues to evolve as a cornerstone of enterprise digital transformation.


Read the article at Automation Anywhere  →

Listen

InformationWeek Podcast: Catching and Climbing Out of Tech Sprawl


Even with the best intentions, software, AI, and other IT tools can really get out of hand in an organization. New platforms can pile up in unexpected ways, sometimes going unnoticed until everything gets totally stuck.


So, where should CTOs even start to untangle all this tech that was once necessary but has now just turned into digital clutter? And how can business and operations leaders explain to the tech team what's truly essential and what's just junk?


Listen in at the InformationWeek Podcast (45:04 min) →

Video Vault

Next-Gen Pair Programming: AI Collaboration on IBM i and IBM z Systems


Join us for a cutting-edge webinar that merges the art of pair programming with the innovation of AI for both IBM i and IBM z systems. This session is dedicated to COBOL developers working on IBM's midrange and mainframe platforms, offering a deep dive into how AI can amplify coding collaboration and efficiency.


In this webinar:

  • Discuss the integration of AI-driven pair programming in IBM i and IBM z COBOL development.

  • Address the unique challenges of maintaining and evolving COBOL applications with AI support.

  • Showcase a live demonstration of AI tools tailored to IBM i and IBM z developers.

  • Share actionable strategies for embedding AI into the pair programming workflow on both platforms.

Whether you're involved in IBM i or IBM z development, this webinar will equip you with the knowledge to leverage AI for better code quality, faster problem-solving, and more productive pair programming sessions. Engage with our experts and take the first step towards a smarter, AI-assisted development future.


Watch the video now →

Are you tired of time-consuming manual testing software applications? Fortra's Automate Plus RPA is here to help. Join us for a webinar where we review the features of this powerful tool and show you how it can revolutionize your software testing processes, making it better, more accurate, and quicker to get results.


Watch the Webinar →

Frightened about the prospect of your legacy IBM i and z application developers leaving? We have a solution that can put your fears to rest. In this webinar, we demonstrate how you can “refactor” your legacy app developed in COBOL, RPG, or CA 2E (Synon) directly to maintainable runtime-free Java and JS.


Watch the Webinar →

 Broadcom Support 


Many enterprises struggle with obtaining Broadcom support for their CA 2E (Synon, COOL:2E) or CA Plex systems


If you're working with an older unsupported release, upgrading your IBM OS, or otherwise under the shadow of lapsed maintenance, we can get you back on Broadcom support based on your unique situation. We specialize in all sizes of customers.


Fill out our 2 minute form and schedule a no-commitment fifteen minute conversation with a CM First Group technical rep.

Get rock solid Broadcom support

CM First Support

Current CM First Group customers can access tutorials and submit support tickets at support.cmfirstgroup.com.

Current Releases


CM WebClient 1.8.8 (with nightly builds) For details, go here.

CM Matchpoint ALM 7.0 Build 004. For details, go here.

CM evolveIT 11.7, last supported 10.6
CM M3 2024 Edition
CA Plex 7.3, last supported 7.2.1 (as of October 31, 2024)
→ Details can be found here at Broadcom (login required)
CA 2E 8.7.4, last supported 8.7 (as of October 31, 2024)
→ Details can be found here at Broadcom (login required)
Contact CM First to learn more: info@cmfirstgroup.com

Intelligence

CM First Group, 7000 North Mopac Expressway Suite #200, 78731, Austin, United States

You may unsubscribe or change your contact details at any time.

    This is an online snapshot of a newsletter created by the owner of CM First Group (CM First Group, 7000 North Mopac Expressway Suite #200, 78731 Austin, United States) and sent via GetResponse on 2025-09-30. Report abuse