Author name: AS400 Decoded

Modern Integrations

AI for IBM i in 2026: Calling AI APIs from RPG and SQL, Integrating watsonx, and What AI Can Realistically Do for IBM i Modernisation

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AI intersects with IBM i in three ways: as an integration target (calling OpenAI or watsonx from RPG and SQL programs), as a development tool (using AI assistants to explain and modernise legacy RPG), and as a data platform feature (watsonx.data federating IBM i and cloud data). This post covers QSYS2 HTTP_POST for calling AI APIs directly from SQL, embedded SQL in SQLRPGLE for AI integration, JSON_VALUE for parsing responses, watsonx.ai Granite models, IBM Merlin, and a complete batch AI classification example.

IFS & File Systems

IBM i IFS in 2026: The Integrated File System, Stream Files, Git in the IFS, and Working with IFS from RPG and CL

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The IBM i Integrated File System is the foundation of modern IBM i development — Git, open-source packages, Node.js, Python, and build pipelines all live in the IFS. This post covers the IFS directory structure including QSYS.LIB and QOpenSys, working with stream files from CL and RPG, POSIX permissions, copying between the library system and IFS, Git setup and workflow, SRCSTMF compilation, and practical IFS patterns for build pipelines and configuration management.

Operations & Admin

DB2 for i in 2026: IBM i’s Integrated Database, System Naming vs SQL Naming, Physical Files, the Query Optimiser, and How It Differs from Standalone Databases

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DB2 for i is not a database running on IBM i — it is part of the operating system. This post covers the integrated architecture of DB2 for i, the difference between system naming and SQL naming, physical and logical files versus SQL tables and views, journalling and commitment control, the System Query Optimiser, QSYS2 system views, SQL DDL patterns, temporal tables, global temporary tables, and how to connect external applications via JDBC and ODBC.

Operations & Admin

RPG in 2026: Modern Free-Format RPG IV, Prototyped Procedures, SQL Integration, and What Current RPG Actually Looks Like

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Modern RPG is not the fixed-format column-dependent code that gave the language its reputation. This post covers fully free-format RPG IV: program structure, data types, qualified data structures, prototyped procedures, embedded SQL with cursors and null handling, service programs, the monitor group for error handling, and what a current SQLRPGLE program actually looks like.

Operations & Admin

IBM i Observability in 2026: Collection Services, QSYS2 Health Queries, Structured Logging, and Prometheus Dashboards

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IBM i has collected detailed performance data for decades — most shops only look at it when something breaks. This post covers Collection Services, QSYS2 health views, DB2 plan cache analysis, structured logging with Pino, Prometheus metrics from PASE, and a practical starting order for adding real observability to any IBM i environment.

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