Language Environment® downward compatibility support is provided. 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 higher release levels of z/OS® for use on platforms that are running lower release levels of z/OS. In XL C and XL C++, downward compatibility support is provided through the XL C/C++ TARGET compiler option. See TARGET for details on this compiler option.