Language Environment compatibility with earlier versions

Language Environment® compatibility with earlier versions is supported. Assuming that you have met the required programming guidelines and restrictions, described in "Downward Compatibility Considerations" in z/OS Language Environment Programming Guide, this support enables you to develop applications on newer version of z/OS® for use on platforms that are running earlier versions of z/OS. In XL C and XL C++, support for compatibility with earlier versions is provided through the XL C/C++ TARGET compiler option. See TARGET for details on this compiler option.

Note: As of z/OS V1R3, the executables produced with the binder's COMPAT=CURRENT setting will not run on earlier versions of z/OS. You will have to explicitly override to a particular program object level, or use the COMPAT=MIN setting introduced in z/OS V1R3.