What Hostbridge Technology does

Hostbridge Technology, founded in 2000 and headquartered in Stillwater, United States, is a privately held software firm that originated the HostBridge JavaScript Engine (HB.js) and now operates as a wholly-owned product line within Broadcom Inc.'s Mainframe Software division. The company's core technology is a proprietary JavaScript runtime designed to execute natively within IBM's CICS transaction-processing region on z/OS mainframes. HB.js enables developers to transform complex CICS transactions into reusable REST/JSON APIs without modifying application source code, navigating applications through BMS map key-value pairs or directly via COMMAREA/channels. The engine runs behind existing mainframe security controls and integrates with the standard identity frameworks used in z/OS environments (ACF2, TopSecret, RACF).

The product portfolio centers on HB.js as the core offering, supplemented by Code4z — a Visual Studio Code extension pack providing a modern hybrid mainframe development experience — and inclusion within Broadcom's Mainframe DevOps Suite platform. Developer-facing functionality includes Make/Put/Run command execution, object generation from COBOL copybooks and OpenAPI files, an Application Explorer (AE), Playback, and automated integration and regression test generation. Architecturally, HB.js consolidates multiple API calls into a single request to reduce mainframe processing cycles (MIPs/MSUs) and is fully zIIP-enabled to offload processing from standard engines.

The business model is subscription-based with annual billing, but HB.js is not sold as a standalone product. It is bundled exclusively within the Broadcom Mainframe DevOps Suite and distributed through Broadcom's global enterprise account teams, with pricing only available through direct engagement. Target customers are enterprise IT organizations with significant mainframe assets, mainframe developers, and DevOps teams that need to expose CICS application logic and data to cloud and mobile front ends without risky source code changes. The go-to-market motion is enterprise field sales supplemented by facilitator-led workshops, sandbox PoC engagements, and developer community content.

Name

Hostbridge Technology

Legal name

Hostbridge Technology

Website

https://hostbridge.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hostbridge Technology, a wholly-owned Broadcom product line, develops HB.js, a JavaScript runtime that runs natively within IBM CICS on z/OS to expose mainframe transactions as REST/JSON APIs without source code changes, serving enterprise mainframe developers and DevOps teams via the Broadcom Mainframe DevOps Suite.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mainframe Integration Software

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Managed DevOps / Platform Operations (Run & Operate) (BPAEAKAO)

Keywords

• Mainframe integration software
• CICS API development
• Z/OS JavaScript engine
• Legacy application modernization
• REST API enablement

Headquarters

HQ city

Stillwater

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Mainframe DevOps Suite Licensing: HB.js is included as part of the Broadcom Mainframe DevOps Suite. Existing Broadcom customers with the suite have access to HB.js. New customers license through the broader suite offering.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Hostbridge Technology develops and sells HB.js (HostBridge JavaScript Engine), a JavaScript runtime that executes natively within IBM CICS on z/OS to transform complex CICS transactions into reusable REST/JSON APIs without modifying the underlying application source code. The product is distributed as a component of the Broadcom Mainframe DevOps Suite and is supported by the Code4z VS Code extension, BMS map-based navigation, zIIP-enabled processing, and integration with mainframe security frameworks such as ACF2, TopSecret, and RACF.

Product overview

HostBridge Technology offers HB.js (HostBridge JavaScript Engine) as its core product for mainframe API creation, orchestration, and optimization. HB.js transforms CICS applications into hybrid, multi-modal applications by converting complex CICS transactions into reusable REST/JSON APIs that run natively within CICS. HB.js is included in the Broadcom Mainframe DevOps Suite platform and integrates with Code4z for VS Code-based development experiences. The product enables developers to consolidate multiple API calls into a single orchestration layer, saving processing cycles (MIPs/MSUs) and is fully zIIP-enabled to shift processing workloads off standard engines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HB.js (HostBridge JavaScript Engine): A JavaScript engine for creating highly-efficient business integrations with z/OS-based applications. Developers use HB.js to transform complex CICS transactions into reusable REST/JSON APIs that run cost-effectively within CICS.

Products and services

• HB.js (HostBridge JavaScript Engine) A JavaScript engine that runs natively within CICS on z/OS, transforming complex CICS transactions into reusable REST/JSON APIs without requiring changes to the underlying application source code. Used by mainframe developers and DevOps teams to expose CICS business logic and data to cloud, mobile, and hybrid applications, with features including API consolidation, zIIP-enabled processing, BMS map navigation, integration with ACF2/TopSecret/RACF, and automated integration/regression testing.
• Mainframe DevOps Suite A suite of hybrid development tools and enablers that accelerates application software delivery on the mainframe, with HB.js included as a core component for mainframe API creation and orchestration. Targeted at enterprise IT organizations and mainframe developers running CICS on z/OS.
• Code4z A Visual Studio Code (VS Code) extension pack that provides a contemporary, hybrid mainframe development experience using VS Code and compatible cloud development environments (CDEs). HB.js integrates with Code4z, enabling commands such as Make/Put/Run, object generation from COBOL copybooks and OpenAPI files, Application Explorer (AE), Playback, and automated test generation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Saves valuable processing cycles (MIPs/MSUs) by consolidating multiple API calls into a single request
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• BroadcomcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerHostBridge technology was acquired by Broadcom and is now integrated as HB.js within the Broadcom Mainframe DevOps Suite. Broadcom markets, sells, and supports HB.js as part of its mainframe software portfolio.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Heirloom Computing: Specializes in migrating and modernizing CICS and mainframe applications to cloud (e.g., AWS), offering an alternative rehosting approach to HB.js's incremental API integration.
• LzLabs: Provides mainframe-to-cloud re-platforming for CICS and other mainframe workloads, positioning itself as a modernization alternative rather than an incremental integration layer.
• Rocket Software: Long-standing provider of mainframe modernization, integration, and developer tools for CICS and z/OS environments. Competes with HB.js for the same mainframe DevOps and modernization budget.

Emerging players

• vFunction: Modernization platform focused on decomposing monoliths and migrating to microservices/cloud. While not mainframe-native, it competes for the same enterprise application modernization budget that could be spent on HB.js.
• TSRI (Toshiba Software): Specializes in automated refactoring and modernization of legacy mainframe applications (including CICS/COBOL) to Java/cloud, offering a more transformative alternative to HB.js's incremental integration.

Broad incumbents

• Micro Focus (OpenText): Provides mainframe modernization, integration, and enterprise DevOps tools (now part of OpenText). Overlaps with HB.js in CICS/COBOL application modernization and connectivity.
• BMC Software: Major mainframe software vendor with strong presence in CICS-adjacent DevOps, application development, and operations tooling, targeting the same enterprise mainframe customers.
• AWS Mainframe Modernization: Hyperscaler offering for re-platforming and modernizing mainframe workloads, including CICS. Represents a cloud-native alternative path that competes with HB.js for the same modernization budget.
• IBM: Owner of CICS and z/OS, the platform HB.js integrates with. IBM provides native CICS API enablement (CICS Web Services, Liberty) and competes directly with HB.js as an alternative path for CICS modernization.
• Broadcom: Parent company and exclusive distributor of HB.js within the Mainframe DevOps Suite. Broadcom's other mainframe DevOps and integration tools overlap with the same enterprise buyer and modernization use cases.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hostbridge

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hostbridge Technology