BMC AMI DevX vs IBM InfoSphere Optim comparison

BMC and IBM are both solutions in the Database Development and Management category. BMC is ranked #20 with an average rating of 7.7, while IBM is ranked #16 with an average rating of 7.0. BMC holds a 1.3% mindshare in DDM, compared to IBM’s 2.4% 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

4,026 Views
201 Comparison Views

90% willing to recommend

IBM InfoSphere Optim

Read 4 IBM InfoSphere Optim reviews

627 Views
552 Comparison Views

75% willing to recommend

BMC AMI DevX

IBM InfoSphere Optim

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Sep 11, 2025

IBM InfoSphere Optim and BMC AMI DevX compete in data management and optimization. BMC AMI DevX appears to hold the advantage due to its comprehensive feature set, despite its higher cost.

Features: IBM InfoSphere Optim offers notable features such as in-line masking for Oracle & Teradata, robust data privacy and archiving capabilities, and easy database restoration. BMC AMI DevX stands out with advanced automation tools in mainframe environments, flexible debugging through Xpediter, and enhanced data management with Compuware File-AID.

Room for Improvement: IBM InfoSphere Optim could enhance its test data management to better align with customer needs, improve user interface for better data handling experience, and offer more flexible integration solutions. BMC AMI DevX could reduce complexity in automation setup, offer more intuitive user guidance for new users, and expand on-prem solutions for clients who require them.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: IBM InfoSphere Optim is praised for its streamlined deployment with extensive configuration options and robust customer support. BMC AMI DevX also provides a user-friendly deployment process, supported by responsive customer service, but IBM's configurability makes it favored for straightforward implementations.

Pricing and ROI: IBM InfoSphere Optim offers a cost-effective solution promising strong ROI in alignment with business objectives. BMC AMI DevX, while requiring higher upfront costs, justifies its investment with superior functionalities and long-term benefits, offering strong ROI for complex data management requirements.

To learn more, read our detailed Database Development and Management Report (Updated: September 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Database Development and Management

September 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

20th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Software Configuration Management (1st), Debugging (8th), Mainframe Application Development (1st), Test Data Management (7th), Mainframe Testing Tools (1st), Data Masking (8th)

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 October 2025, in the Database Development and Management category, the mindshare of BMC AMI DevX is 1.3%, up from 0.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of IBM InfoSphere Optim is 2.4%, up from 2.4% 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	2.4%
BMC AMI DevX	1.3%
Other	96.3%

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

"BMC Data Management improved our data recovery process by simplifying it."

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

"It helps our staff work by speeding up their documentation process."

"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."

"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."

"Test data management capabilities are good."

"The visual ability to see potential downstream impacts to changes being made assists our developers in understanding the impact associated with their change."

"I have worked with DB2's great features in the last five years. The IDAA feature transformed the vision of warehousing, business analytics, and big data at my bank. Besides the mainframe, I saw that this solution was evolutionary. It gives real-time information."

More BMC AMI DevX pros

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

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

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

Cons

"Their technical support could be better. There were times where, when we reported bugs, they would fix one bug but add another one. That's probably because of their support model. A lot of organizations are developing software using Agile rather than the Waterfall method, so things are happening all over the place. You get things quicker, but sometimes one fix will break another one or add other bugs."

"DB2 is a hard tool to grasp. It's hard for users to learn how to use it. It's not easy to see how it works."

"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."

"The solution could be improved by being better integrated with the open world. In the next release, I would like to have the ability to work in an open environment whilst remaining integrated with the legacy environment."

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

"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?"

"It often doesn't play well with other plugins in the environment."

"It would be good if the vendors would work together or at least have some collaboration between them, so they would know what would work and what wouldn't work. Right now, the way things are working, they're relying on the customer to make everything work."

More BMC AMI DevX cons

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

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

"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."

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."

"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."

"The price point is great."

"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

37%

Insurance Company

12%

Computer Software Company

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

25%

Insurance Company

Retailer

Computer Software Company

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

Endevor vs BMC AMI DevX

Compared 31% of the time

IBM File Manager vs BMC AMI DevX

Compared 16% of the time

IBM Debug for z/OS vs BMC AMI DevX

Compared 10% of the time

InterTest vs BMC AMI DevX

Compared 9% of the time

IBM Developer for z/OS Enterprise Edition (IDzEE) vs BMC AMI DevX

Compared 6% of the time

More BMC AMI DevX Competitors

No data available

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Test Data Management

September 2025

Download BMC AMI DevX product report

Buyer's Guide

Database Development and Management

September 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

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September 2025

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