More benefits of Rational Developer for i

As we continue to explore the merits of Rational Developer for i, one of the handy features (at least from your boss's perspective) is the ability to develop offline. In RDi, you may create any number of containers known as iProjects. These are created from within Remote Systems Explorer by clicking File, New, Project and IBM i Project (which you may have to drill down to). Any source physical file and/or any of the members contained within may be downloaded to an iProject by simply right clicking on it and selecting "Add to iProject". Choose your desired iProject and the source is magically downloaded to your hard drive. The iProjects themselves are simply folders contained within your Windows Documents and Settings directory, buried inside the IBM folder tree.

The Projects perspective allows you to navigate through your locally stored iProjects, much like RSE allows you to navigate libraries and files contained on System i. The big difference is that you need not be connected to your System i. You can be at 33,000 feet and still writing code instead of just reading SkyMall magazine and munching on oversalted peanuts. The LPEX editor will not care - it will provide the same syntax checking and outline capabilities you'd have in your cubicle.

Of course, one thing you cannot do is compile. Sorry, but the compiler exists only on System i. Don't expect that to ever change. However, RSE does allow you to verify your source code, which is the next best thing. Problem is, what about all those externally described data and device files that the compiler ever so nicely imports for you? IBM thought of that, fortunately. Any physical or device file object in your Remote Systems pane or Table View can be right clicked on and selected for "Cache File Descriptions". This little gem will import all record layouts in a manner which is friendly to the source code verifier. So while we can't compile and test from the road, we can at least do the majority of our coding and get those pedantic syntax errors cleaned up before we start chewing up CPU cycles with the host compilers.

After you've arrived safely back at the orifice, right click on any iProject or any of the components contained within, then select Remote Actions and Push Changes to update your source to System i. Naturally, the larger your programming staff, the more complex the issue of change management and version control gets, so most of the vendors in this arena provide plug-in products for RDi to officiate this more effectively. Rational has their own offering, known as Team Concert for i, although it is still in its infancy.

So would you consider cranking out RPG once the captain has turned off the seat belt sign ?

Thanks for sharing. Chris.

Benefits of Rational Developer for i

Last time, we brought up the urgency with which System i shops should be making the move to Rational Developer for i (RDi). However we only focused on what you stood to lose (support, for example) when IBM finally pulled the plug. In the next few installments we'll chat about what you stand to gain.

A little known feature of the RPG compiler is the ability to generate Program Call Markup Language, or PCML for short. PCML is really just a small XML based document that languages such as Java can utilize to call our back office programs with less hassle. In RPG programmer's terms, it's not all that different from a prototype. The difference is, RPG isn't the one doing the calling anymore.

PCML is a basic building block for Web Services, which in turn is a building block for Service Oriented Architecture (SOA). The idea is to allow browser based applications to leverage the business logic you've already written in RPG or COBOL - such as pricing routines, stock checks, credit limit checks and countless others. The Rational family of tools provides a wealth of wizards to help you make your legendary calculations available for reuse on the Web. That is why it behooves you to isolate these calculations instead of having them bundled with green screen presentation logic. If you've ever taken our 21st Century track #2, you've probably already made strides in this area.

Generating PCML is as simple as specifying a couple of parameters on the CRTBNDRPG command. Specify the value *PCML for the PGMINFO keyword and an IFS path for the resulting PCML stream file. For example:

CRTBNDRPG PGM(MYLIB/MYPGM)
SRCFILE(MYLIB/QRPGLESRC)
PGMINFO(*PCML)
INFOSTMF('/home/cfb/mypgm.pcml')

It might not be a bad idea to create a new IFS directory and use that as the central repository for your PCML files. In V6R1, the CRTBNDRPG now allows you to store the PCML data right inside the module objects themselves, without the need for an IFS stream file. In either case, it
behooves you to get into the habit of creating PCML at compile time. You can even tweak the command defaults or the RDi shortcuts to fill those in automatically, so you don't even have to think about it next time.

What's this going to do for me now, you might ask? Probably not much. But consider for the moment, what the young bucks in your IT department are up to - Java, .Net, PHP - all being used to develop e-biz applications to serve your business partners and end users. Imagine how much more reliable their apps would be if they could tap into your proven, battle tested routines instead of re-architecting them from scratch in another language. Especially when you consider those young'ns have far less industry knowledge on which to base their design.

Thanks for sharing. Chris.

WHAT IF IBM DID THE UNTHINKABLE?

..and don't think they haven't thought about it. Those pillars which have timelessly supported the experienced AS/400 community's professional life. They've dangled on the edge of the support cliff for years and all IBM would have to do is give it a little nudge, and off it would go. Fact is, nobody but IBM really knows when they will end support on old favorites liked PDM, DDS and RPG III. We know they haven't been updated in 15 years. And unlike the coyote, they won't dust themselves off at the base of the cliff and live to see another episode. IBM has started its nudge in i6.1 by repackaging the most mature components in what's known as the Heritage Tools - a separate and chargeable feature. Remember, they will stop at nothing to get you to ditch that green screen. It's only a matter of time before the cord gets cut altogether. It could be in i6.2 for all we know - the question is, what will YOU do to prepare for it?

A good place to start would be by adopting the Eclipse based Rational Developer for i. IBM has gone to GREAT lengths to make this product friendly to the PDM savvy community, but the community has not reciprocated by giving it the time of day. They all cried out for change at the ballot box, as long as it meant they didn't have to change. Sound familiar? Not to worry. GEMKO is hosting a half day, hands on workshop on May 27th to help you get started with RDi. "Started" is the operative word here - you need the resolve to make sure the word "Finished" isn't in the same sentence. That's what makes worthwhile "change" possible.

Enrollment in this unique workshop is very affordable, even in this economy. Especially if it gets the ball rolling toward a steady diet of improvements, it very well might be the best chump change your company has invested in years.

So, what would YOU do if IBM did the unthinkable?

Thanks for sharing. Chris.

System i Director Navigator 6.1 - A great opportunity to lose some ugly fat from your desktop!

One of the highlights of System i 6.1 (or whatever we're supposed to call it now) is the debut of System i Director Navigator. This was long overdue and is a welcome addition.

For years we did all our administration functions via command line. Operations Navigator came on to the scene as a PC based client in the 1990's, hyped as an alternative. It was a fat client that grew fatter with time, but was strategically packaged within Client Access for easy installation. While it could do many things that were ordinarily done from the green screen, it could not do them all. It took several releases and quite a few years for what is now called System i Navigator to be a feasible one stop shop for system management functions. It is not without fault, however. It struggles to get along with Windows Vista (just like all other software), even in its V6R1 form. Plus it continues to pack on the pounds as it gobbles up more disk and memory than ever before.

Earlier this decade came iSeries Access for the Web. It too was hyped - only this time as an alternative to Navigator. The concept of a browser based interface instead of a fat desktop client seemed like a great idea at the time, just as the AMC Pacer once did. Unfortunately, it too had a limited feature set and could not do everything Navigator could. Plus it was a little clumsy and administration heavy itself if you ever tried to install and implement it, and thus it never got the traction IBM had hoped for.

However, as was the case with System i Navigator, IBM appears to be getting it right. System i Director Navigator is what we have been looking for in a browser based utility - the look and feel of the desktop client without the baggage. Everything you came to know in the original Navigator can be found in this slender counterpart. The real beauty is, you don't even have to install it. System i loads it automatically with the OS and starts it at IPL time. All you need to do is fire up IE or Firefox and point it to port 2001 on your system i like so: http://mysystemi:2001/

Once logged in, you'll be pleased with what you find - familiar notation and presentation under the "i5/OS Management" heading. IBM has relocated the Apache server administration tool, which was formerly accessed from this port, but Director Navigation can take you there easily. While you will take a performance hit the first time you launch a task on a given day, I think you'll find the prospects of unloading that bloated client from your desktop very appealing.

Thanks for sharing. Chris.

Networking paradise or iSeries island?

There is a wealth of technology and industry experience walking the streets out there. The question is, are you tapped into it ? Or are you on an island somewhere, hopelessly isolated when project specifications overextend your expertise ? There are many ways to connect with your peers, from user groups to conferences, blogs and webcasts. But you'd never know it:

• Attendance at conferences, including COMMON, has dropped sharply. Okay, that's understandable given the cost of travel, lodging and absenteeism. But there's a lot of long term productivity benefits to be gained that likely outweigh the costs.
  


• Local user groups are drying up faster than TARP funds, and many of those that are still afloat have cut back to just a handful of meetings per year. That is a shame because LUG's offer many amenities such as periodicals, tech tips, conference discounts, acclaimed speakers and the ability to network with your peers in a relaxed setting for a very affordable price.
  


• Community websites like iSociety offer blogs and webcasts on all types of subjects, both technical and non technical. But aside from a few hard core enthusiasts, participation is light. And these are free websites were are talking about.

We'd like to know how (and how often) you network with your fellow front liners in the profession. If you don't, then why, and what type of networking medium would draw your interest?

Thanks for sharing. Chris.

Dirty little secerts - System i applications

Whatta you know?
Years back, then Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld confused everyone with terms like "known knowns" and "known unknowns". Late night talk show hosts had a ball with it. In post election 2008 - new faces, same confusion. That's why we forego politics and stick to technology. You have one or more applications running on your System i (AS/400). They may be home grown or canned. And there are things about them that you don't know.

What we're asking is:

• What is it that you know that you don't know (the "known unknowns") ?


• What is it that you FEAR that you don't know (the "unknown unknowns") ?
  

Attend IBM and GEMKO's Deep Dive event on November 20th, and you'll learn some "dirty little secrets" about your applications. Then they'll become "known knowns".

Click here for details:

http://www.gemko.com/GemkoHome.nsf/webpages/iseminars?opendocument

Thanks for sharing. Chris.

"The $64,000 questions about DB2/400"

Here are the $64,000 questions about DB2/400:

• Are you still creating database objects with DDS and operating system commands ?
• Are you still using Query for ad-hoc information retrieval ?
• Are you still writing "one-shot" programs to repair database files ?
• Are you still under the impression that physical and logical files are the only two types of database objects ?

If the answer to any of these is "yes", we'd like to know why?

iSeries Navigator, which comes with OS/400, contains a wealth of wizards and tools allowing you to create, manage and manipulate your database objects. It also gives you easy access to all FOURTEEN types of database objects, and lets you design your data with the TWENTY data types currently supported. It leverages the rich power of SQL and its wealth of built in functions - all ONE HUNDRED FIFTY ONE of them !

Yet somehow, inexplicably, vast legions of midrange professions still live and die by the Delorean-Esq database tools of the 1980's. Please share your thoughts on this topic (either pro's or con's) and if you have traded in the Delorean, your success stories and battle scars.

Thanks for sharing. Chris.