Zowe CLI — A Faster Experience (Made Better)
Follow these steps to try Zowe CLI daemon mode!
{Core} We previously shared how The Open Mainframe Project’s Zowe CLI response time can be improved greatly with a new daemon mode (e.g. some zowe command response times went from several seconds to <1 second).
Feedback
Because we released this version of Zowe CLI under our @next tag, we were able to receive community feedback and make adjustments. Below are three updates to our daemon mode in Zowe CLI based on user input.
#1 Native Binary Shipped w/Zowe CLI
There is no longer a need to separately download the daemon client from GitHub releases. If you install a new copy of zowe/cli@next it contains a prebuilds directory with binary releases for your OS:
#2 `zowe` is the New Binary Name
The old binary was zowex but this meant that you likely would have to change your existing automation scripts from zowe to zowex to use daemon mode. Now, you can use zowe commands as you did before with faster response time.
#3 Auto Start
This enhancement came thanks Gene Johnston. The first time you use Zowe CLI, the command line will detect whether a daemon is started or not. If not, it will start the daemon so subsequent commands run faster:
You can also disable this behavior by setting the ZOWE_USE_DAEMON environmental variable to true|false.
Tip: Debugging & Colorization
For now, this version of daemon mode disables colorization you may be used to in Zowe CLI. To work around this or troubleshoot daemon mode:
- stop the daemon (close terminal windows)
- in a terminal prompt type
set ZOWE_USE_DAEMON=false - run
start zowe --daemon(for windows, use equivalent for other OS’s) set ZOWE_USE_DAEMON=true
You’ll have a separate, debugging command window here and also restored colorization for zowe commands.
Summary
Please continue to provide feedback on Zowe CLI or contribute here.
Find out more
If you enjoyed this blog check out more Zowe blogs here. Or, ask a question and join the conversation on the Open Mainframe Project Slack Channel #Zowe-dev, #Zowe-user or #Zowe-explorer. If this is your first time using the Open Mainframe Slack Channel — register here.
