Articles
Practical IBM i knowledge for the next era.
Articles on IBM i programming, RPG, SQLRPGLE, Db2 for i, APIs, DevOps, security, monitoring, automation, and modernization.
Modernization
Sep 16, 2026 · 16 min read
How Well Does IBM Bob Really Understand IBM i? Six Tests, Some Surprises, and a Few Hallucinations
A hands-on benchmark of IBM Bob across RPG, Db2 for i, SQLRPGLE, REST APIs and DevOps — including where it impressed, where it struggled, and where it hallucinated.
Modernization
Sep 1, 2026 · 9 min read
IBM Just Published Its Blueprint for Modernizing IBM i — Here’s What Actually Matters
IBM's new Modernizing IBM i Applications Redbook lays out a broad roadmap for modern IBM i development. Here are the practical takeaways for RPG, SQL, APIs, Git, DevOps, Node.js, security, testing, AI, and more.
IBM i Operations
Aug 25, 2026 · 7 min read
When Db2 for i Says a Table Exists - But You Cannot Find It
A real IBM i troubleshooting path for a DDL name collision where Db2 says a long table name already exists, the normal SQL catalogs show nothing, and QSYS.QADBXREF reveals stale cross-reference information.
IBM i APIs & Integration
Jul 30, 2026 · 6 min read
When One API Isn't One Program: The Hard Part of Contract Fidelity on IBM i
A REST endpoint on IBM i rarely maps to a single program. This article examines how contract fidelity becomes a distributed problem across RPG call chains, behavioral drift, and external services.
IBM i Security
Jul 29, 2026 · 6 min read
Audit Authority Changes Caused by Restored IBM i Objects with SQL
Use SYSTOOLS.AUDIT_JOURNAL_RA to find restored IBM i objects whose authorization list, public authority, or private authority changed during restore, then validate the resulting security exposure.
IBM i Security
Jul 29, 2026 · 7 min read
Build an IBM i Recovery Security Validation Workflow with SQL
Combine IBM i audit-journal SQL services for JD, RJ, RA, RP, and RU entries into a controlled post-recovery workflow that validates job identities, restored authorities, authorization lists, adopted authority, and recovery evidence.
IBM i Security
Jul 29, 2026 · 7 min read
Track Restored IBM i Programs That Adopt Authority with SQL
Use SYSTOOLS.AUDIT_JOURNAL_RP to identify restored IBM i programs and service programs that adopt their owner's authority, validate their current attributes and owners, and build a controlled post-recovery security review.
IBM i Security
Jul 28, 2026 · 4 min read
Audit IBM i Job Description USER Changes with SQL
Use SYSTOOLS.AUDIT_JOURNAL_JD to identify who created or changed the USER parameter of an IBM i job description, compare previous and current profiles, assess risk, and build a controlled monitoring workflow.
IBM i Security
Jul 28, 2026 · 4 min read
Audit Restored IBM i Job Descriptions That Specify a User Profile
Use QSYS2.DISPLAY_JOURNAL to find and decode RJ audit entries for restored IBM i job descriptions that specify a user profile, assess post-restore authority exposure, and build a controlled recovery review.
IBM i Security
Jul 28, 2026 · 8 min read
Track Restored User-Profile Authorities on IBM i with SQL
Use SYSTOOLS.AUDIT_JOURNAL_RU to verify IBM i user-profile authority restoration, detect partial restores, preserve recovery evidence, and build a controlled post-restore review workflow.
IBM i Data Integration
Jul 28, 2026 · 11 min read
Turn IBM i Journal Entries into Application Columns with SQL
Build a controlled journal-data workflow with QSYS2.CREATE_DATA_JOURNAL_READER, including typed application columns, before and after images, transaction handling, checkpoints, receiver retention, schema changes, authority, and downstream processing.
IBM i Automation
Jul 27, 2026 · 10 min read
Automate Excel and CSV Reporting Directly from IBM i
Build a controlled IBM i reporting workflow with SYSTOOLS.GENERATE_SPREADSHEET, including reusable SQL definitions, protected IFS output, scheduling, delivery, retention, privacy, diagnostics, and lifecycle tracking.
IBM i Automation
Jul 27, 2026 · 9 min read
How to Build Safer SQL-Driven CL Automation on IBM i
A practical architecture for validating and executing IBM i CL commands from SQL using SYSTOOLS.CHECK_COMMAND_SYNTAX and QSYS2.QCMDEXC without creating an unrestricted command shell.
IBM i Operations
Jul 27, 2026 · 8 min read
How to Diagnose Intermittent SQL Failures on IBM i After the Job Ends
A practical workflow for using the Db2 for i SQL Error Logging Facility to preserve and analyze SQL failures after the original IBM i job has ended.
IBM i Technology Updates
Jul 27, 2026 · 17 min read
IBM i 7.6 TR2 and IBM i 7.5 TR8: What’s New
A practical guide to the July 2026 IBM i updates, including new SQL services, Db2 for i changes, RPG enhancements, security, ACS, Navigator, modernization, BRMS, high availability, and hardware support.
IBM i Security
Jul 27, 2026 · 8 min read
Build an IBM i Security and PTF Visibility Workflow with SQL
Use SYSTOOLS.CVE_INFO and SYSTOOLS.GROUP_PTF_CURRENCY_LOCAL to create a controlled IBM i workflow for vulnerability awareness, PTF currency, isolated partitions, ownership, evidence, and remediation tracking.
IBM i Field Notes
Jul 22, 2026 · 7 min read
IBM i Exit Points in Practice: Adding P=Print to Email Spooled Files
A practical IBM i case study showing how a small exit-point program replaced a confusing multi-screen spooled-file process with one simple P=Print action.
IBM i Field Notes
Jul 21, 2026 · 4 min read
Advanced Job Scheduler and iASPs: Why a Library Exists but the Job Cannot Find It
A practical IBM i field note about Advanced Job Scheduler, independent ASPs, Initial ASP Group, and library-not-found errors from GO JS.
IBM i Field Notes
Jul 21, 2026 · 7 min read
IBM i High System ASP Usage: QRECOVERY Journal Receivers and an Open Transaction
A real IBM i troubleshooting case study showing how SQL identified unusually high QRECOVERY usage, how an unresolved transaction retained journal receivers, and how the storage was safely recovered.
Modernization
Jul 4, 2026 · 5 min read
IBM i Modernization Does Not Mean Rewriting RPG
Modernizing IBM i should not start with replacing everything that works. It should start with improving how the platform is developed, integrated, secured, deployed, and supported.