In the 1970s, TV ads for Martini featured Mediterranean scenes and jazzy music with a female singer promising, “any time, any place, anywhere.” The vermouth was marketed as a versatile drink for all occasions. Martini was depicted as a modern choice for confident, affluent adults, enjoyed at home, on vacations, bars, even yachts. The campaign promised endless good times and was prominently featured in the world of motor racing. Essentially, the message was simple: you can enjoy Martini anywhere, and it’s available to anyone. The campaign is still studied today as an illustration of aspirational advertising.

Construction Ahead

Let’s set aside the consumer drinks market of the 1970s and look at another enduring brand – the IBM mainframe. Known for its performance, power, and reliability, it processes vast amounts of data for major organizations, supporting billions of transactions globally. The brand-new z17 mainframe boasts even greater potential, positioning itself as a leading AI engine.

But if we consider this from our 1970’s perspective, where do mainframes stand in terms of being available anytime, anywhere?

• “Anytime? Not if it isn’t your slot, buddy,” is a common response when discussing mainframe time. Mainframe availability is limited and valuable; you can’t just start a session without permission and waiting in line. According to the 2025 PopUp Mainframe market survey, 88% of mainframe leaders believe their current environments don’t meet their delivery needs. Despite DevOps and agile methods, teams are still hindered by environmental restrictions. There’s no sandbox environment—you code only when it’s your turn. So, anytime means “only when you have access”.
• Anywhere? Not exactly. You can use this or that. Using a mainframe used to require ISPF/TSO and specialized skills (COBOL, CICS, Db2, IMS, etc.). The non-mainframe world adopted more productive methods, gaining traction. Today, you can use Java or Python on the mainframe, store your source in Git Repo, and develop with VS Code. However, someone needs to set up the environment, and others need to know the tools, plus – of course – it all must be paid for. Market data shows that staffing limitations and inadequate tooling (both 79%) hinder business results.
• Anyone? Hardly. Access is restricted to those whose names are on the access list and who have the necessary expertise. Having the appropriate skills to operate the mainframe is crucial, yet often there are too few individuals proficient in mainframe usage. The survey highlights this point, with nearly all respondents (95%) indicating that modern tools and capabilities would help bridge skill gaps.

The mainframe faces significant challenges related to bottlenecks. The costs and complexity associated with operating and managing the environment can render it inefficient, limiting, and frustrating when attempting to implement rapid changes. Availability is limited, access is strictly controlled, software and tools are rigorously managed, and data access is closely monitored. Mainframe applications have long development cycles, typically measured in months rather than days. Unfortunately, the mainframe industry often accepts this situation because the financial and time investments required to achieve an unlimited supply of LPARs, tools, or skills are not economically feasible.

As Gary Thornhill, CEO of PopUp Mainframe, puts it, “The cost per transaction of the IBM mainframe is famously low, making it a great production engine. But the time, effort and cost of change on the mainframe, that’s not such a good story – and to continue to deliver value, the mainframe environment needs to be more responsive, more flexible when it comes to delivering change. Simply put, mainframe change needs to change”.

Celebration Day

The concept of the “Martini Moment” is now achievable. PopUp Mainframe’s idea was to provide users with immediate access to a mainframe environment whenever they needed it. Utilizing approved IBM technology, the PopUp Mainframe solution offers an IFL-based or x86-based version of a mainframe LPAR, providing an instantly available environment for mainframe teams. It truly is an unprecedented martini moment for mainframers.

• Anyone can set up their preferred environment on PopUp Mainframe, supporting anything on z/OS. Traditionalists can use ISPF tools and COBOL, while modern users can implement CI/CD processes with Git and debug using VS Code.
• Anywhere is possible, as PopUp Mainframe runs on-premises in x86 servers, in Azure cloud, or under Linux on Z with the new PopUp Mainframe Z Edition. The user experience remains consistent across platforms.
• Anytime means instant access without filling forms, seeking permissions, contacting administrators, or negotiating charges. Your virtual mainframe environment is available as immediately as you need it.

Using flexibility to gain an advantage, rather than being limited by inflexibility, leads to success. Mainframe teams are overcoming bottlenecks to accelerate processes that once took months into mere days. They are leveraging existing machinery and skills to create ready-to-use environments to accelerate what they need to do, when they need to do it.

The PopUp Mainframe solution offers new possibilities previously out of reach for mainframe teams. Inspired by the speed of those timeless Martini-branded race cars, this solution accelerates the delivery of enhanced mainframe value. See you at the podium.

Learn More

• PopUp Mainframe Z Edition and PopUp Mainframe X Edition product page
• PopUp Mainframe 2025 Market Survey page
• Book your place for the Techstrong / DevOps.com Webinar “Beating Bottlenecks – A Revolutionary Solution for Mainframe Delivery” featuring PopUp Mainframe (June 18^th)
• Read our Martini Moment article on Planet Mainframe