Rocket has moved to a new system – conda – for downloading, installing, and upgrading all z/OS open source ports developed by Rocket.  With conda, a single command can replace dozens of steps and commands previously required to install some open source products.  For example, installing z/OS Git with its dependencies formerly required over thirty steps but now can be accomplished with a single conda command.

Conda is an open source tool ideally suited for delivery and deployment of software on the mainframe due to its channel concept and multiple types of channels supporting varying degrees of security including file channels for air-gapped systems. Rocket has set up two internet channels from which you can download z/OS open source ports using conda – one public and open to all, the other a secure channel server on premise at Rocket available only to Rocket customers on a support plan.

z/OS Miniconda is a free bundle of open source containing everything you need to run conda on z/OS. To get started using conda you need to install z/OS Miniconda on your z/OS system.

To download z/OS Miniconda, complete the following steps:

1. Sign in to the Rocket Community Portal.
   https://my.rocketsoftware.com/RocketCommunity
2. Click Downloads from the navigation menu. A list of available Rocket products for your account appears.
3. Select z/OpenSource.
4. Type 'Miniconda' in the search box to filter the list of available downloads.
5. Click the filtered ID A dialog window appears with the files that are required for setup.
6. Click each file to download them to your system.
7. Using a FTP or SFTP client transfer the setup files to z/OS:
   1. miniconda-py37-zos-<yyyy-mm-dd>.run
   2. app_dev_X.Y.txt

Full documentation on z/OS Miniconda is contained within zOS_Miniconda_Documentation_<date>.pdf.

Learn more about conda here.

Note, Rocket is decommissioning the old download and install system for all open source products except for z/OS Miniconda itself.