IBM System z Assembly Language Programming: A Practical Guide to 24, 31, and 64-bit Mainframe Development (IBM Mainframe Series)

Unlock the power of the IBM mainframe with this clear, practical, and surprisingly entertaining guide to assembler programming for the modern era.

Whether you're a systems programmer, performance analyst, or just a brave soul diving into the world of hexadecimal dumps and control blocks, this book is your companion through the arcane (but beautiful) world of IBM System z assembler language .

Written by Dennis J. Stone , a 40+ year veteran of IBM mainframes, this guide covers everything from the basics of 24-bit and 31-bit addressing to advanced 64-bit memory management using IARV64 . It demystifies critical topics like AMODE switching , storage keys , branching logic , macro usage , and modular program design , all with a healthy dose of dry humor and real-world examples.

Inside this book, you'll find: A step-by-step journey from hello world to system-level routines

Detailed coverage of GETMAIN , FREEMAIN , and STORAGE OBTAIN/RELEASE

Practical examples for managing memory above and below the bar

How to write clean, modular code using CALL , ENTRY , and external symbols

Techniques for debugging, diagnostics, and preventing abends before they happen

A complete appendix of code samples and an expanded glossary for quick reference

Whether you’re maintaining legacy code or building new tools for the z/OS ecosystem, this book is designed to make assembler programming accessible, relevant, and even enjoyable .

Perfect for:

Systems programmers and mainframe developers

Students and professionals learning IBM assembler

Anyone supporting z/OS environments at a low level

Programmers migrating from COBOL or PL/I to assembler interfaces

Get ready to level up your mainframe skills—one opcode at a time.