# IBM Cross System Product

> application generator for IBM mainframes

**Wikidata**: [Q1653106](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1653106)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_Cross_System_Product)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ibm-cross-system-product

## Summary
IBM Cross System Product (CSP) is a fourth-generation programming language (4GL) and application generator designed for IBM mainframes. Developed by IBM and initially released in 1981, it enables users to build applications by focusing on *what* the program should accomplish rather than *how* to accomplish it. It operates across multiple IBM operating systems, including z/OS, VSE, and VM.

## Key Facts
- **Developer:** IBM (American multinational technology corporation).
- **Start Date:** 1981.
- **Category:** 4th-generation programming language (4GL) and application generator.
- **Aliases:** CSP.
- **Target Platform:** IBM Mainframes.
- **Supported Operating Systems:** MVS, VSE, VM, and z/OS.
- **Programming Paradigm:** Non-procedural and user-friendly; users define the goal rather than the procedure.
- **Library of Congress ID:** sh91000908.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of programming language is IBM Cross System Product?
A: It is a fourth-generation programming language (4GL). This classification means it is non-procedural and more user-friendly than lower-level languages, allowing developers to specify "what" the program should do rather than detailing "how" to do it.

### Q: Which operating systems can run IBM Cross System Product?
A: IBM Cross System Product runs on IBM mainframe operating systems, specifically MVS, VSE, VM, and the 64-bit z/OS.

### Q: When was IBM Cross System Product created?
A: According to structured data records, the start time for IBM Cross System Product was 1981.

## Why It Matters
IBM Cross System Product matters as a historical example of the shift toward higher-level abstraction in enterprise software development. Introduced by IBM in the early 1980s, CSP addressed the need for faster application delivery on mainframe systems. By utilizing a non-procedural, fourth-generation programming language approach, it allowed users—often with less deep technical expertise than traditional assembly or COBOL programmers—to generate complex applications by defining the desired outputs and logic rather than writing line-by-line procedural code.

This tool is particularly significant for its "cross-system" capability, allowing organizations to develop applications that could run on different IBM mainframe environments (MVS, VSE, VM) without rewriting code for each specific system. In the modern context, its relevance persists in legacy systems where mainframes continue to underpin critical infrastructure, specifically within the z/OS environment.

## Notable For
- **Non-Procedural Design:** Distinguished by a "what" instead of "how" logic, reducing the complexity of coding.
- **Cross-Platform Compatibility:** Specifically designed to function across MVS, VSE, and VM operating systems.
- **Mainframe Optimization:** Built explicitly for the IBM mainframe ecosystem, including modern 64-bit z/OS architectures.
- **Fourth-Generation Language:** Represents an early move toward 4GLs, prioritizing user-friendliness and efficiency.

## Body
### Development and Classification
IBM Cross System Product (CSP) is an application generator classified as a **4th-generation programming language (4GL)**. It was developed by **IBM** and dates back to **1981**.

Unlike 3rd-generation languages (like COBOL or C) which are procedural, CSP is non-procedural in nature. This allows for a more user-friendly experience where the developer defines the data and the desired results (the "what"), leaving the specific execution steps (the "how") to the generator.

### Operating Environment
CSP is built for the **IBM mainframe** ecosystem. It is compatible with a variety of IBM operating systems, demonstrating its "Cross System" utility:
*   **z/OS:** A 64-bit operating system for IBM mainframes.
*   **VSE:** An operating system originally designed for smaller mainframes and a successor to DOS/360.
*   **VM:** A family of IBM virtual machine operating systems.
*   **MVS:** Listed as a specific platform support in structured data.

### Identifiers
*   **Wikipedia Title:** IBM Cross System Product
*   **Freebase ID:** /m/03c157p
*   **Library of Congress Authority ID:** sh91000908
*   **National Library of Israel J9U ID:** 987007549015405171

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "SoftwareApplication",
  "name": "IBM Cross System Product",
  "description": "A fourth-generation programming language and application generator for IBM mainframes.",
  "alternateName": "CSP",
  "creator": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "IBM"
  },
  "dateCreated": "1981",
  "applicationCategory": "BusinessApplication",
  "operatingSystem": "z/OS, VSE, VM, MVS",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_Cross_System_Product",
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17047623"
  ]
}

## References

1. [Source](https://github.com/JohnMarkOckerbloom/ftl/blob/master/data/wikimap)
2. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File