Automate IBM i batch jobs in 2026: add recurring schedule entries with ADDJOBSCDE, manage and monitor schedules with WRKJOBSCDE, set up failure notifications via message queues, configure the IBM Advanced Job Scheduler (5770-JS1) for complex job dependencies, and query schedule history from QSYS2.SCHEDULED_JOB_INFO.
Unlock the power of DB2 for i CTEs and recursive SQL in 2026: write readable multi-step queries using the WITH clause, chain multiple CTEs, use CTEs in UPDATE and DELETE statements, and traverse hierarchical data structures like BOMs and org charts with WITH RECURSIVE and the LEVEL pseudo-column.
Master IBM i RPG subfile programming in 2026: design subfile and subfile control record formats in DDS with SFLPAG and SFLSIZ, load records in a loop using WRITE, display with SFLDSP and SFLDSPCTL, handle user input and option codes, implement page-up and page-down paging logic, and position the subfile cursor with SFLRCDNBR.
Secure the IBM i Integrated File System in 2026: understand the IFS authority model, control *PUBLIC access, use CHGAUT and CHGOWN to set object permissions and ownership, configure IFS access control lists, handle symbolic link authority implications, design secure PASE application directory trees, and audit IFS access using QAUDJRN.
Master IBM i journal management in 2026: create journals and journal receivers with CRTJRN, start and end object journaling with STRJRNOBJ and ENDJRNOBJ, manage the receiver chain with CHGJRN, read journal entries with DSPJRN and the DISPLAY_JOURNAL table function, configure remote journaling for high availability, and use the QAUDJRN security audit journal for compliance auditing.
Modernize fixed-format RPG on IBM i using AI tools in 2026: convert with CVTRPGSRC and IBM Merlin, use LLMs like watsonx Code Assistant and GitHub Copilot to explain and refactor legacy RPG, generate unit tests with AI assistance, and follow the practical workflow from fixed-format to free-format service programs.
Implement OAuth 2.0 authentication from IBM i in 2026: the client credentials flow using HTTPAPI and DB2 HTTP functions, storing and refreshing Bearer tokens, JWT structure and validation, certificate management in the IBM i digital certificate store, and a complete example calling the Salesforce REST API from ILE RPG.
Optimize DB2 for i query performance in 2026: understand SQE vs CQE query engines, use Visual Explain in ACS to analyze query plans, design effective indexes including encoded vector indexes, collect statistics with STRDBMON, and read the SQL plan cache using QSYS2 catalog views to identify and resolve slow queries.
Build robust IBM i CL programs with proper exception handling: IBM i message types, MONMSG command patterns, program message queue management, SNDPGMMSG for custom errors, RCVMSG for capturing messages, condition handlers in CL procedures, DMPJOB for diagnostic dumps, and complete error-handling templates for production CL.
Master ILE RPG data structures: dcl-ds syntax, qualified data structures with dot notation, LIKEDS for cloning a structure, template data structures, data structure arrays with DIM, external DB2 data structures using EXTNAME and LIKEREC, and passing data structures to subprocedures by reference and value.