BMC AMI DevX vs IBM InfoSphere Optim comparison

BMC and IBM are both solutions in the Database Development and Management category. BMC is ranked #17 with an average rating of 7.7, while IBM is ranked #16 with an average rating of 7.0. BMC holds a 2.1% mindshare in DDM, compared to IBM’s 2.2% mindshare. Additionally, 90% of BMC users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 75% of IBM users who would recommend it.

BMC AMI DevX

Read 19 BMC AMI DevX reviews

4,427 Views
443 Comparison Views

90% willing to recommend

IBM InfoSphere Optim

Read 4 IBM InfoSphere Optim reviews

726 Views
661 Comparison Views

75% willing to recommend

BMC AMI DevX

IBM InfoSphere Optim

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 14, 2025

IBM InfoSphere Optim and BMC AMI DevX are competing in data management and application development. BMC AMI DevX holds the upper hand due to its advanced development tools and higher productivity potential.

Features: IBM InfoSphere Optim provides effective data masking, test data generation, and database archiving for comprehensive data lifecycle management. BMC AMI DevX includes innovative debugging tools, application development enhancements, and workflow streamlining.

Room for Improvement: IBM InfoSphere Optim could enhance its application development capabilities and user interface for managing data workflows. BMC AMI DevX might improve its deployment process to be more user-friendly and better integrate with existing systems, emphasizing ease in data management.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: IBM InfoSphere Optim offers straightforward deployment and strong integration capabilities, which can shorten startup times. BMC AMI DevX, while having a more complex setup, provides tailored solutions with dedicated customer support for customized implementations.

Pricing and ROI: IBM InfoSphere Optim is known for reasonable setup costs with a solid ROI in data management. BMC AMI DevX, despite higher initial fees, offers significant long-term value through development speed and efficiency. IBM may suit cost-sensitive organizations, whereas BMC appeals to those prioritizing development.

To learn more, read our detailed BMC AMI DevX vs. IBM InfoSphere Optim Report (Updated: December 2025).

Buyer's Guide

BMC AMI DevX vs. IBM InfoSphere Optim

December 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

BMC AMI DevX

Ranking in Database Development and Management

17th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Software Configuration Management (1st), Debugging (6th), Mainframe Application Development (1st), Test Data Management (6th), Mainframe Testing Tools (1st), Data Masking (7th)

IBM InfoSphere Optim

Ranking in Database Development and Management

16th

Average Rating

6.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Database Development and Management category, the mindshare of BMC AMI DevX is 2.1%, up from 0.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of IBM InfoSphere Optim is 2.2%, down from 2.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Database Development and Management Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
IBM InfoSphere Optim	2.2%
BMC AMI DevX	2.1%
Other	95.7%

Database Development and Management

Featured Reviews

Brian Westerman

Director of R&D at Syzygy Inc.

Helps to make mainframe data management process easier and saves manhours

We plan to replace BMC Compuware File-AID due to its price. Two years back, we paid 11,000 dollars. However, the current price is 27,900 dollars. The price has increased to at least eight times its initial cost. We would need to pay around 60,000 dollars to have all three products together. We also encountered issues during version updates.

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Kenneth Estanislao

Solutions Designer at a insurance company with 10,001+ employees

Backups become efficient while cost concerns remain

I am still working with IBM and we are transitioning to other tools rather than using IBM InfoSphere Optim. We use other tools, but I cannot recall the name because I am not the one currently handling it. It has transitioned to other architects. For IBM InfoSphere Optim, we are still currently using it, but we have transitioned to the newer version, the latest one with support for AWS S3. I cannot identify a main competitor for IBM InfoSphere Optim because we have transitioned to other architects, and they are the ones looking for other tools. The last comparison I did was almost 4 years ago. I am not using any AI technology with IBM InfoSphere Optim. I rate IBM InfoSphere Optim a seven out of ten. The tool is good, but the price is not favorable as it is the most expensive part. I can recommend IBM InfoSphere Optim for enterprises.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"We had parallel development before, but the way ISPW implements it is better. It has more control and oversight of the process, whereas before, it was like the Wild West. Everybody could have their own package with their own version of the component in it... ISPW is constantly aware of it. It notifies when someone else is using or has a different version of that component."

"We can develop in parallel today on ISPF, but it's giving us the advantage of the newer interface into the mainframe programming languages that younger programmers can use and are familiar with, rather than using the ISPF green screen."

"It's a modernized development portal and helps reduce the learning curve for younger people coming in to work on the platform,"

"Once we got the configurations and deployment rolled out, it was very stable. I haven't had any major issues with Eclipse or the Topaz Workbench plugins."

"The product has made our mainframe data management process easier. It has helped us save manhours. The tool's most valuable feature is the ability to edit tape files. Its ability to clone files is beneficial in application development."

"I like the ability that it has to format copy books in a presentable manner. So, you will be able to see the starting offset in length of each field within the layout."

"The most valuable feature of Topaz is Xpediter. It's more flexible than Xpediter through MVS."

"Test data management capabilities are good."

More BMC AMI DevX pros

"We like that we can easily restore the database with just a few clicks. The database is linked as well."

"I feel the solution to be a bit faster than the traditional methods, which makes it easy to customize."

"The compression feature is valuable because it achieves around 80% compression."

Cons

"When you're setting up the parameters for how ISPW will work in your shop, there are a lot of questions that have to be answered... BMC Compuware should have more in-depth explanations about what the choices in each question mean. If you pick A, what does that mean has to happen? What does that impact? If you pick B, what does that mean? What does that impact?"

"Better discussions to identify inventory prior to the start of any migration would be helpful for potential clients that have applications with code that is not modified often."

"It's a very complicated tool."

"The ability to edit source code that has special characters is limited. The ability to incorporate or convert REXX into macros that are usable under the Topaz software is not there. And the REXX macros that I have developed over 40 years of work are useless, so I have a toolbox I can't use or deploy using the Topaz technology, while I can use it under MVS."

"One thing I would really like to see some improvement on is the promotion diagnostic messages. It invokes utilities "under the covers" to copy components, and it does not echo back any of the error messages from those utilities."

"There are some features that are not well documented, so documentation could use a little help, on things like setting up deployment and which structures in the database correspond to which tables."

"Technical support has gotten better over the years, though there's always room for improvement."

"I'm waiting to see what 19.2 for Topaz looks like, but I have a problem with the JES Explorer right now. It limits you to a certain prefix for job names and there are some groups that have multiple prefixes that they'd like to see all at once in their job names, because of how they work in a group. And they can't see that in the JES Explorer."

More BMC AMI DevX cons

"We're looking for a solution that can be implemented on AWS. IBM InfoSphere Optim can be implemented on AWS, but it costs more than double what we're currently paying. So, it's not really of good value for us."

"While the solution is very supportive of Db2, it is not so friendly when it comes to IMS databases."

"The potential room for improvement for IBM InfoSphere Optim is usually its cost, as it is too expensive."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The only thing I would mention related to the licensing and/or the pricing, is that they have some visualization features in there that are licensed by concurrent users. We're starting to trip up on that. We're looking to probably increase the number of concurrent licenses that we have. But those types of licensing strategies, where they license by concurrent users or the number of seats is confusing for some people. They don't understand why it works sometimes and doesn't work other times."

"I like the seat-based licensing much more than MSU-based licensing, and that the cost has been competitive."

"The price point is great."

"In terms of pricing, there isn't an extra charge for the parts of it we use. It comes with the licenses we purchased for other products, so no complaints there. The licensing is built in with the other products that you purchase from Compuware."

"It has saved our developers time and effort when working on documentation, which is now more readable and fluent."

"In general, Compuware tools are very competitive."

"IBM InfoSphere Optim is a very expensive solution. Actually, it's the most expensive archiving solution that we have."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

33%

Insurance Company

13%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Financial Services Firm

20%

Insurance Company

10%

Retailer

University

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	6
Large Enterprise	16

No data available

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Compuware File-AID?

The product has made our mainframe data management process easier. It has helped us save manhours. The tool's most valuable feature is the ability to edit tape files. Its ability to clone files is ...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Compuware File-AID?

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Compuware File-AID?

We use the solution clone test files.

See all answers

What needs improvement with IBM InfoSphere Optim?

The potential room for improvement for IBM InfoSphere Optim is usually its cost, as it is too expensive. Currently, there are no issues with IBM InfoSphere Optim; the only problem is the cost, whic...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for IBM InfoSphere Optim?

My current use case for IBM InfoSphere Optim is just for doing backups. We are using IBM InfoSphere Optim specifically for backup purposes.

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering IBM InfoSphere Optim?

See all answers

Comparisons

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Compared 20% of the time

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Compared 11% of the time

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Compared 7% of the time

IBM Debug for z/OS vs BMC AMI DevX

Compared 6% of the time

Qlik Gold Client vs BMC AMI DevX

Compared 2% of the time

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Oracle Enterprise Manager vs IBM InfoSphere Optim

Compared 30% of the time

Solix Enterprise Data Management vs IBM InfoSphere Optim

Compared 26% of the time

More IBM InfoSphere Optim Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

BMC AMI DevX

January 2026

Download BMC AMI DevX product report

Buyer's Guide

Database Development and Management

December 2025

Download IBM InfoSphere Optim product report

Also Known As

File-AID, Data for Db2, Code Debug, Data Studio, Workbench for Eclipse, Code Pipeline

IBM Optim, Optim

Overview

BMC AMI DevX is a comprehensive solution enhancing code management and testing efficiency. It offers debugging capabilities within financial applications and integrates data management seamlessly, serving major banking sectors with reliable performance.

AMI DevX is tailored for banking industries, optimizing application debugging in COBOL and enhancing data handling in robust financial systems. It simplifies mainframe data management with real-time insights, improving efficiency through editing and cloning functionalities. The tool's integration with Compuware File-AID for IMS and DB2 ensures streamlined development processes. Challenges include a steep DB2 learning curve and initial setup complexities, with technical support inconsistencies and steep pricing impacting affordability. Despite this, its valuable features significantly support large banking operations.

What features make BMC AMI DevX valuable?

Line-by-Line Code Debugging: Allows precise identification and rectification of issues.
Variable Change & Line Skipping: Flexibility in testing without recompiling.
Database-Independent Testing: No need for loading databases during testing.
Real-Time Data Insights: Enhances decision-making with immediate information.
Data Warehousing & Analytics: Facilitates comprehensive data analysis.
Integration & Formatting: Streamlines development by simplifying data processes.

What benefits should users look for in reviews?

Improved Efficiency: Streamline data management and editing capabilities.
Robust Debugging: Effective in both online and batch COBOL program debugging.
Enhanced Financial Application Support: Superior handling in grants and loans applications.
Comprehensive Testing: Enables creation of clone test files for thorough testing.

In large banking sectors, BMC AMI DevX is integral for grants and loans-related applications. Its robust nature supports financial systems, offering debugging for COBOL, updating data in Compuware File-AID for IMS, and integrating DB2. Users implement this for exceptional data management and application reliability.

BMC

IBM Optim solutions manage data from requirements to retirement. They boost performance, empower collaboration, and improve governance across applications, databases and platforms. By managing data properly over its lifetime, organisations are better equipped to support business goals with less risk.

IBM

Sample Customers

Helvetia, The IMT Group, Hapag-Lloyd, Royal Bank of Canada, Chunghwa Telecom

Durham Police Department, Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc., Continental, KCE Electronics Public Company Limited, The University of Adelaide, Migros Zurich, COPROB

Buyer's Guide

BMC AMI DevX vs. IBM InfoSphere Optim

December 2025

Free Report: BMC AMI DevX vs. IBM InfoSphere Optim

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