The Domain Experts in Software Engineering
For more than 4 decades, ColeSoft has enabled organizations running on IBM Z to improve code quality and reduce development time by up to 45%
Who We Are
ColeSoft started with a simple belief: the people who work on mainframes deserve better tools. Over 40 years later, that belief still drives everything we do.
We're a team that speaks your language because we come from your world. We understand the pressure of tracking down elusive bugs in production environments, the complexity of debugging authorized code, and the relief of having a tool that actually works the way you need it to. Our customers have described us as partners who understand not just mainframes, but the importance of their work.
Our approach is rooted in three principles: We act with integrity in every interaction, from how we support our customers to how we build our tools. We operate as one team with one vision, ensuring that every engineer, support specialist, and partner shares our commitment to excellence. And we innovate with purpose, creating solutions that solve real problems for the people who depend on us.
When you work with ColeSoft, you get more than powerful debugging tools. You get a partner that answers the phone, responds quickly, and believes strongly in helping you succeed.
Dave Cole – Founder, Architect, Domain Expert
For nearly five decades, Dave Cole has been the visionary architect behind one of the most well-known and widely adapted application engineering tools. What began in 1978 as "DBC" - named with characteristically modest initials - has evolved into what is known as the XDC suite of debugging tools. Today, industry leaders recognize these products as some of the most powerful and flexible tools available for writing, testing and debugging complex mainframe software. Dave Cole's legacy is measured not in lines of code, but in the permanent impact this suite of tools has had on the IBM Z marketspace.
Our History
1980
The company’s flagship product, Z/XDC, was originally launched as the "DeBugging Controller"
1980
1984
Major product overhaul expanded Z/XDC from 24-bit to 31-bit systems
1988
1988
2016
Support for C/C++ was released
2021
Dump/XDC was released
2021
2024
2025
USS support was added
2025
ColeSoft delivers industry-leading debugging solutions for IBM mainframes. Founded over 40 years ago by mainframe expert David Cole, the company’s flagship product, Z/XDC, was originally launched as the "DeBugging Controller" in 1980 and has since evolved into a full-featured source-level assembler debugger for modern z/OS systems.
David Cole’s extensive experience—from early MFT systems to today’s z/OS—has driven continuous product innovation and earned him widespread recognition as an authority in mainframe development. Over the years, Z/XDC has grown through the contributions of a dedicated team, ensuring it meets the evolving needs of sophisticated software development houses and Fortune 500 companies alike.
Since then, strategic investments in talent and infrastructure have fueled steady growth. The team’s commitment to customer feedback and user community support has been central to enhancing our product’s capabilities.
In 2024, ColeSoft joined forces with Izzi Software, a partnership that leverages shared expertise and resources to further innovate and advance mainframe development tools. This collaboration underscores our continued dedication to helping companies achieve faster market releases, improved product quality, and reduced debugging time.
To learn how Z/XDC can transform your mainframe development process, visit our product page or contact our sales team.
Endorsements
Wondering if Z/XDC will be a good tool for you? Take a look at what these industry leaders are saying about it!
