IBM i Learning Paths

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A learning path puts existing AS400Decoded articles in a deliberate order. Follow one from the top, or jump in where your experience starts.

IBM i Beginner Roadmap

For anyone new to IBM i: understand the platform, its objects and files, jobs, security, and the three core languages.

Level: Beginner. Published lessons: 14.

  1. What Is AS400 (IBM i)? A Complete Beginner’s Guide
  2. History of AS400 and IBM Power Systems
  3. IBM i Architecture Explained
  4. IBM i Libraries, Objects, and Members Explained
  5. How IBM i Uses Files, Libraries, and Data Access
  6. IBM i Access Client Solutions (ACS) for Beginners
  7. IBM i Integrated File System (IFS) Basics
  8. IBM i Subsystems and Job Descriptions Explained
  9. IBM i Security Fundamentals and Best Practices
  10. CL Programming Explained
  11. SQL on IBM i for Beginners
  12. RPGLE for Beginners: A Practical IBM i Learning Path
  13. Debugging on IBM i: A Beginner’s Guide
  14. IBM i Career Roadmap for Beginners

RPGLE Learning Path: Beginner to Advanced

Every RPGLE lesson in teaching order, from your first program to arrays, with the next stages listed as they are written.

Level: Beginner to Advanced. Published lessons: 28.

The first lessons:

  1. RPGLE for Beginners: A Practical IBM i Learning Path
  2. What RPGLE Is and Where It Fits on IBM i
  3. RPGLE Source Members, Compilers, and Build Flow
  4. RPGLE Specifications: Fixed, Free, and Fully Free
  5. RPGLE Development Environments and Tooling Basics

See every lesson in order on the RPGLE Learning Path: Beginner to Advanced page.

SQL on IBM i

From your first SELECT to procedures, triggers, JSON, transactions, and query tuning on Db2 for i.

Level: Beginner to Advanced. Published lessons: 12.

  1. Db2 for IBM i Explained
  2. SQL on IBM i for Beginners
  3. 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
  4. Db2 for i MERGE Statement: INSERT, UPDATE & UPSERT
  5. DB2 for i CTEs and Recursive SQL: WITH Clause, Recursive Queries, BOM Explosion, and Organizational Hierarchy in 2026
  6. DB2 for i Window Functions: ROW_NUMBER, RANK, DENSE_RANK, LAG, LEAD, FIRST_VALUE, LAST_VALUE with OVER and PARTITION BY on IBM i in 2026
  7. Embedded SQL in RPGLE: query your data the way you think about it
  8. DB2 for i SQL Stored Procedures and User-Defined Functions in 2026: CREATE PROCEDURE, Cursors, UDFs, and Reusable Business Logic in DB2
  9. DB2 for i Triggers in 2026: SQL and External Triggers, BEFORE and AFTER Timing, Audit Logging, and Calling RPG from a Trigger
  10. DB2 for i JSON and XML Support in 2026: JSON_VALUE, JSON_TABLE, FOR JSON, XMLTABLE, and Building REST Responses in SQL
  11. IBM i Journaling and Commitment Control Explained
  12. DB2 for i Query Optimization: Visual Explain in ACS, SQE vs CQE, Index Design, Encoded Vector Indexes, STRDBMON, and Reading the SQL Plan Cache on IBM i in 2026

IBM i Administrator Roadmap

For operators and administrators: work management, spooled files, security, journaling, recovery, performance, and maintenance.

Level: Beginner to Advanced. Published lessons: 14.

  1. IBM i Subsystems and Job Descriptions Explained
  2. IBM i Work Management in Depth in 2026: Subsystem Design, Routing Entries, Job Queue Priorities, Class Objects, and Performance Diagnosis
  3. IBM i Job Scheduling and Batch Processing Explained
  4. IBM i Output Queues and Spool Files Explained
  5. IBM i Security Fundamentals and Best Practices
  6. IBM i Security Auditing and Authority Collections
  7. IBM i Journaling and Commitment Control Explained
  8. IBM i Save and Restore: SAVOBJ, RSTOBJ, SAVLIB, SAVCHGOBJ, Save Files, and Backup Strategy in 2026
  9. IBM i High Availability and Disaster Recovery in 2026: Geographic Mirroring, Switchable ASPs, and HA Tools Compared
  10. IBM i Performance Tuning Basics
  11. IBM i Performance Tuning in 2026: Memory Pools, Reading WRKACTJOB, Collection Services, and Diagnosing Slow Batch Jobs
  12. IBM i PTF Management and Maintenance Planning
  13. IBM i Release Upgrades and Compatibility Planning
  14. IBM i System Startup and Shutdown Procedures in 2026: QSTRUP, STRTCP, STRSBS, ENDSBS, PWRDWNSYS, and IPL Modes
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