IBM i Update

Are your IBM i systems reaching their full potential? Discover how APIs can unlock the value of your existing applications, streamline integration and connect your business like never before. Plus, explore the latest IBM i developments, AI innovations, developer tools and critical security updates in Episode 40 of the IBM i Update.

As AI reshapes cybersecurity, how can IBM i organisations keep their systems protected? This update examines emerging threats, important security fixes and practical steps for strengthening defences. It also explores the 2027 Fortra IBM i Marketplace Survey, explaining why industry participation matters and what its findings could reveal about the community’s future.

Discover the latest technical developments for IBM i, including Mapepire’s modern approach to Db2 access, Technology Refresh 2 for IBM i 7.6 and a new entry-level Power11 server. This update explores improvements for developers and administrators, highlighting how simpler connectivity and refreshed hardware could benefit organisations of different sizes.

Take a closer look at the IBM i community’s gathering in Lyon, where COMMON Europe brought professionals together to share ideas, explore new technologies and discuss the platform’s future. This event review captures key takeaways from the conference, offering a flavour of the presentations and conversations shaping the IBM i ecosystem.

AI-assisted development on IBM i is moving forward, with IBM Bob Premium Package for i bringing specialised capabilities to the platform. This update explores the announcement and what it could mean for developers, modernisation projects and everyday coding tasks, helping organisations understand the potential of AI-powered development tools.

Could IBM i become a natural home for the next generation of AI-powered automation? This update explores agentic AI, the Model Context Protocol (MCP) and IBM’s Bob Premium Package for i. It also considers the importance of IBM i skills and previews upcoming community events.

Is AI genuinely transforming IBM i development, or is the industry getting carried away with the hype? This update examines the opportunities and limitations of AI-assisted work, helping organisations separate practical productivity gains from unrealistic expectations and consider where intelligent tools can deliver meaningful business value.

Is COBOL an outdated liability or a valuable foundation for business-critical systems? This update tackles a provocative question about the language’s future, exploring legacy code, skills shortages and AI-assisted modernisation. Discover why replacing established applications is more complicated than simply choosing a newer programming language.

What are the latest trends shaping the IBM i community? This update analyses the 2026 Fortra IBM i Marketplace Survey, comparing findings with previous years to explore changing priorities, persistent skills challenges, security concerns and attitudes towards modernisation. Discover what the results reveal about the platform’s direction.

What comes next for IBM i as AI and modernisation gather momentum? This update revisits Project Bob and explores the wider capabilities of IBM Power technology, considering how intelligent development tools could help organisations manage legacy applications, support developers and unlock new opportunities from their existing IBM i investments.

Could Visual Studio Code be the future of IBM i development? Discover how modern tooling is changing the experience for experienced RPG developers and newcomers alike. This update explores practical benefits, useful extensions and the growing role of AI-assisted development, alongside insights from the IBM i community.

Could AI transform the way IBM i applications are developed and maintained? This update explores Project Bob, IBM’s emerging AI-powered development assistant, and its potential to help teams understand existing code, modernise applications and improve productivity. Discover what this initiative could mean for the future of IBM i development.