Recommendation system for software updates

1. A computer-implemented method for recommending software updates for a mainframe computer system, the method comprising:

receiving a request to find software updates from a requesting mainframe computer system;

analyzing specifications of the requesting mainframe computer system, wherein analyzing specifications of the requesting mainframe computer system comprises:

determining hardware components of the requesting mainframe computer system;

wherein determining hardware components comprises determining performance of the hardware components;

wherein determining performance of the hardware components comprises using counters to determine existence of performance issues; and

wherein using counters comprises:

grouping a software update into one or more code sections (CSECTS),

determining a number of counted execution instances (clicks) used to process each CSECT, and

using the number of clicks to determine existence of performance issues; and

determining software installed on the requesting mainframe computer system;

determining similar mainframe computer systems that have installed software updates;

determining a subset of software updates for recommendation based on the specifications of the requesting mainframe computer system and the software updates installed on the similar mainframe computer systems;

presenting, to a system administrator of the requesting mainframe computer system, the subset of software updates to the requesting mainframe computer system;

installing at least one software update of the subset of software updates; and

storing each installed software updates in a database.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein:

using counters further comprises determining dependencies between CSECTS.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein:

the existence of performance issues is used to determine the subset of software updates for recommendation.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein:

determining a subset of software updates based on determining the similar mainframe computer systems comprises determining software updates installed on similar mainframe computer systems.

5. A computer system for recommending software updates, the system comprising:

a memory; and

a processor system communicatively coupled to the memory;

the processor system configured to perform a method comprising:

receiving a request to find software updates from a requesting mainframe computer system;

analyzing specifications of the requesting mainframe computer system, wherein analyzing specifications of the requesting mainframe computer system comprises:

determining hardware components of the requesting mainframe computer system;

wherein determining hardware components comprises determining performance of the hardware components;

wherein determining performance of the hardware components comprises using counters to determine existence of performance issues; and

wherein using counters comprises:

grouping a software update into one or more code sections (CSECTS),

determining a number of counted execution instances (clicks) used to process each CSECT, and

using the number of clicks to determine existence of performance issues; and

determining software installed on the requesting mainframe computer system;

determining similar mainframe computer systems that have installed software updates;

determining a subset of software updates for recommendation based on the specification of the requesting mainframe computer system and the software updates installed on the similar mainframe computer systems; and

presenting, to a system administrator of the requesting mainframe computer system, the subset of software updates to the requesting mainframe computer system;

installing at least one software update of the subset of software updates; and

storing each installed software update in a database.

6. The computer system of claim 5 , wherein:

using counters further comprises determining dependencies between CSECTS.

7. The computer system of claim 5 , wherein:

the existence of performance issues is used to determine the subset of software updates for recommendation.

8. A computer program product for recommending software updates for a mainframe computer system comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, wherein the computer-readable storage medium is not a transitory signal per se, the program instructions readable by a processor system to cause the processor system to perform a method comprising:

receiving a request to find software updates from a requesting mainframe computer system;

analyzing specifications of the requesting mainframe computer system, wherein analyzing specifications of the requesting mainframe computer system comprises:

determining hardware components of the requesting mainframe computer system;

wherein determining hardware components comprises determining performance of the hardware components:

wherein determining performance of the hardware components comprises using counters to determine existence of performance issues; and

wherein using counters comprises:

grouping a software update into one or more code sections (CSECTS),

determining a number of counted execution instances (clicks) used to process each CSECT, and

using the number of clicks to determine existence of performance issues; and

determining software installed on the requesting mainframe computer system

determining similar mainframe computer systems that have installed software updates;

determining a subset of software updates for recommendation based on the specification of the requesting mainframe computer system and the software updates installed on the similar mainframe computer systems;

presenting, to a system administrator of the requesting mainframe computer system, the subset of software updates to the requesting mainframe computer system;

installing at least one software update of the subset of software updates; and

storing each installed software update in a database.