.png){kind=logo} SHARE logo as of 2021 | |
| Formation | 1955; 70 years ago (1955) |
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| Purpose | User group forIBMmainframe computers |
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| Website | www |
SHARE Inc. is a volunteer-runuser group forIBMmainframe computers that was founded in 1955 byLos Angeles-area users of theIBM 704 computer system. It evolved into a forum for exchanging technical information aboutprogramming languages,operating systems,database systems, and user experiences for enterprise users of small, medium, and large-scaleIBM computers such asIBM S/360,IBM S/370,zSeries,pSeries, andxSeries. Despite the capitalization of all letters in the name, the official website says "SHARE is not an acronym; it's what we do."[1]
A major resource of SHARE from the beginning was the SHARE library. Originally, IBM distributed what software it provided in source form[2][3][4]andsystems programmers commonly made small local additions or modifications and exchanged them with other users. The SHARE library and the process of distributed development it fostered was one of the major origins ofopen source software.[5]
In 1959 SHARE released theSHARE Operating System (SOS), originally for theIBM 709 computer, later ported to theIBM 7090. SOS was one of the first instances of "commons-based peer production" now widely used in the development offree and open-source software such asLinux and theGNU project. In 1963 SHARE participated with IBM in the development of thePL/I programming language as part of the "3x3" committee.
In 1969, members of SHARE in Europe formed a European Chapter of the organisation, which was formalised in 1966 as the "Share European Association (SEAS)", later SHARE Europe (SEAS).[6] The last meeting of 1994 was jointly held with G.U.I.D.E. At this meeting it was decided to dissolve both SHARE Europe and G.U.I.D.E. and establish the new European IBM users group GSE (Guide Share Europe).
SHARE later incorporated as a non-profit corporation based inChicago, Illinois and as of 2013[update] is located at 330 N. Wabash Ave. The organization produces a newsletter and conducts two major educational meetings per year.
In September 1999,GUIDE International, the other major IBM mainframe users group, ceased operation. Although SHARE did not formally take over GUIDE in the United States, many of the activities and projects that were undertaken under the aegis of GUIDE moved to SHARE, and GUIDE suggested to its members that they join SHARE. In August 2000, SHARE took over the guide.org domain name.
In 2005 SHARE's membership of 20,000 represented some 2,300 enterprise IBM customers.[7]
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