i-UG’s flagship two-day event, i-Power, will be taking place at the Mercure Northampton Hotel on the 10th & 11th June,
You can register for i-Power here. If you need insight into the workshops and sessions available, here is a summary of the agenda.
Open Source Development: Python and IBM i Made for Each Other
Presenter: Andy Youens, Owner, FormaServe
Andy Youens is a regular presenter at i-UG events as well as i-Power itself on the subject of open source and Python on IBM i.
Aimed at IBM i developers and IT professionals, this workshop looks at seamless integration of Python with IBM i.
You’ll learn how Python combined with IBM i can enhance your applications and streamline workflows.
As well as exploring how Python and IBM i complement each other, you’ll also gain hands-on experience with accessing IBM i’s Db2 database and calling IBM i programs using Python.
- Introduction to Python and IBM i
- Setting Up the Environment
- Accessing Db2 for i with Python
- Calling and Using IBM i Programs
- Real-world Applications and Use Cases
Db2 and SQL Services for Everybody
Presenter: Birgitta Hauser, Database and Software Architect, IBM Champion since 2020
With the latest releases and technology refreshes IBM has provided a host of new IBM i and Db2 services bringing the total to around 300.
The majority of these services provide functionality that isn’t directly available in RPG or can only be implemented in RPG by calling complex System APIs and/or by using pointer handling for accessing the data.
However, IBM provides new SQL Services for all kinds of work management on IBM i. Started with PTF Information, replacements or enhancements for CL commands, object and access authorities, reading from and writing into the IFS, managing Spoolfiles, analyzing ILE Objects, generating spreadsheets, sending and retrieving data from data queues, and much more.
This workshop will show a sub-set of SQL and IBM Services which can easily be embedded in any programming language that supports SQL and, in this way, can make life much easier.
I will share the slides and also the SQL Scripts I will use in the sessions. But time will be too short so everybody can try the statements himself during the workshop.
At the end the attendees should know what services are available, how they can be found and how to use them.
So a lot of tasks or problems can be solved much easier and faster
Diving Deep into IBM i Security (Morning) and IBM i Security and SQL Mashup (Afternoon)
Presenter (morning): Carol Woodbury, IBM i Security SME and Senior Advisor, Kisco Systems
Presenter (afternoon): Scott Forstie, STSM, Db2 for i Architect, IBM
Morning Session – Diving Deep into IBM i Security (Carol Woodbury)
Renowned IBM i security expert, Carol Woodbury will be showing attendees how ‘Function Usage’ can add another layer of security to your IBM i.
Formerly ‘Application Administration’, Function Usage can be used to control Navigator for i, ACS and many operating tasks with its uses being expanded further in IBM i 7.5 and 7.6.
Carol will explain the history of Function Usage and explore ways to report on the settings, recent new functions and more.
Based on her extensive knowledge from her time as IBM i Security team leader, Carol will “provide an explanation of some security internals including how security affects performance, interesting tidbits about adopted authority, the history and why you should use the QUSEADPAUT system value, an explanation of validation lists and more”.
Afternoon Session – IBM i Security and SQL Mashup (Carol is joined by IBM’s Scott Forstie)
Joining Carol for the afternoon session will be IBM’s Scott Forstie. The focus in this session will be on new security-related SQL features.
Scott and Carol will “discuss ways to move from traditional (old) interfaces to new and improved security-related SQL views and services to more effectively manage your IBM i Security”.
There will be many examples of recent changes that show IBM’s commitment to being ‘secure by design’. They will also provide steps you can take with your own systems and applications.
Say Hello to Linux running under IBM i
Presenter: Stefan Dufaye, Technical Consultant, Rowton IT
Rowton IT’s Stefan focuses on Linux on IBM i in this workshop. He will include a live demonstration of how to install Linux hosted by IBM i on Power Server.
Attendees will get an opportunity to build their own Linux LPAR on the i-UG lab systems.
Stefan will also cover:
- Concepts of hosting with IBM i
- Considerations when selecting a Linux distro for use on the IBM i
- Configuring a Linux LPAR using IBM i as a host
- Installing and setup
- Use cases of your new LPAR.
What today’s RPG prototypes can do for you
Presenter: Susan Gantner, Partner, Partner400
In this session, Susan will delve into how much prototypes could be doing for you beyond simply replacing your old parm lists for program calls.
Following a brief overview of the basics, Susan will look at often-overlooked prototype features and some of the recent enhancements.
- Protect against parameter mis-matches
- Provide automatic conversion of parameter types and sizes
- Enable passing literals, built-in functions or function calls as parameters
- Allow you to specify optional parameters
- Enable you to call C functions and system APIs that return values.
If you’ve not used *Convert, *Exact and %Passed, Susan will show attendees examples of how much they can simplify their code.
Using Navigator for i and the SQL Services behind it
Presenter: Rudi van Helvoirt, Technical Director, van Helvoirt Beheer
Rudi will use this workshop to show attendees how to use Navigator for i as well as show how system administrators can use SQL functionality that’s “under the bonnet of Navigator for i”.
Processing & Creating JSON with RPG
Presenter: Jon Paris, Partner, Partner400
Jon has split his workshop into two parts.
Part 1 looks at the fundamentals of consuming and creating JSON in your RPG programs. He’ll explain what the “best” way for an RPG programmer to process JSON using the two main options:
• RPG’s native DATA-INTO and DATA-GEN combination
• and SQL’s JSON capabilities.
Part 2 goes beyond the basics to examine more ‘advanced’ features such as:
• Handling JSON names that don’t directly map to RPG names.
• Handling large JSON documents in pieces.
• Dealing with optional elements.
VS Code + IBM i: Tips, Tricks and Real Talk
Presenter: Richard Moulton, IBM i Developer, RM Software Services
If you’re using VS Code for IBM i development or thinking about it, then this session for you.
Richard will share real-world examples, tips, tricks, and the reasons why VS Code is becoming the go-to editor for modern IBM i development.
Day 2 of i-Power starts with a conference debate, hosted by Steve Cast (Practice Director, Common Europe Treasurer, IBM Champion, Fresche Solutions) on a very topical subject at the moment: Just When is AI Appropriate?
Attendees will then have a choice of various short sessions including Jon Paris who shares the very latest developments in RPG code. He’ll be covering:
- The new BIFs such as %CONCAT, %CONCATARR, %LEFT, %RIGHT, %HIVAL, and %LOVAL.
- New “enumeration” definition type.
- Parameter testing via the new BIFs %PASSED and %OMITTED
- Enhancements to the %SPLIT BIF so you can now really handle CSVs.
- New variant of SELECT statement combined with WHEN-IS and WHEN-IN opcodes
- Automatic string conversion option tor parameters
Scott Forstie will then share the latest updates in Db2 for i including enhancements to SQL on i, SQL Query Engine, IBM i Services and more delivered in IBM i 7.6 and IBM i 7.5 Technology Refreshes.
Steve Cast then returns with Debbie Stiles, Systems Development Manager, Draper Tools to deliver an IBM i Modernisation Case Study. Debbie will explain how Draper Tools are “combining traditional and modern coding practices, alongside the agile approach we’re using to deliver change”.
Susan Gartner will examine the various options available for coding RPG outside the traditional Green Screen, including RDi, VS Code for i and other modern modern IDEs.
Once again, Steve Cast will take to the podium to deliver a session on how to connect IBM Watson Assistant to IBM i / Db2 for i to link AI technology with your backend systems, securely and in real time.
It is also worth mentioning that Proximity and Fresche are co-hosting a booth at the conference as well. By visiting the booth you’ll have an opportunity to meet Steve and Andy Nicholson, host of the IBM i Update, to discuss how both organisations can help you get the most from your IBM i applications.
There’s more about i-Power 2025 in Andy’s May 2025 edition of the IBM i Update, which includes an interview with Steve Cast.
