24
Wed, Apr
0 New Articles

Why the IBM i Is the Perfect Open Source Platform

Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times

The IBM i’s stability, strong language support, and active developer community make it ideal for open source applications

by Pete Helgren

This article is excerpted from Open Source Starter Guide for IBM i Developers.

If you are new to IBM i, then welcome! I would guess though, that you probably already have an IBM i, or access to one, and you are hoping to leverage some of that IBM i goodness because …

  1. You want to have fun trying something new.
  2. You have a project and want to try something different (from a little different to way different).
  3. You’ve been given a mandate to learn something new.
  4. You’re curious what all the “buzz” is about.
  5. All of the above.

If you are new to open source software, frequently referred to as OSS, then welcome again! In addition to the list above, I would guess you might also have the following in mind:

  1. You want to add to your repertoire of skills with something more “cutting edge.”
  2. You want to add to those skills with a low cost of entry.
  3. You have a specific project in mind, and an open source solution has been proposed.

Why Open Source on IBM i?

You have come to the right place because, from my slightly skewed perspective, the IBM i is a perfectly designed open source machine. Why do I think that? Here’s why:

  • It’s running the POWER8 chip. Best silicon in the universe!
  • It has all the “legacy” (I really hate that word, but it fits) languages that solid business logic can be written in: RPG, COBOL, C, C++ (even FORTRAN).
  • The ILE and PASE environments are two environments that can share resources seamlessly, which means AIX binaries can be leveraged with RPG business logic.
  • Can you find a better database than DB2 on IBM i? I doubt it! And on IBM i, it’s completely integrated into the OS. No DB admin needed.
  • Stable, secure OS. No patch Tuesdays. No classic buffer overflow exploits. You can sleep at night (or at your desk during the day like I do).
  • There is a whole list of IBM-provided and supported OSS that will run on IBM i “out of the box.”

Ask any IBM i programmers or any IT managers running IBM i in their shop, and they can easily add to the list above. Then, on top of it all, you have a close-knit, vibrant community that not only includes IBM i owners but IBMers themselves. How many Microsoft executives have you spent time with at a user conference? Can you name Microsoft’s current Windows Chief Architect? How often do you get a nearly immediate email back from a Microsoft developer? How many Microsoft developers do you know who lurk on popular mailing lists and pop in with answers? I really don’t have anything against Microsoft. Really! I don’t. But the IBM i ecosystem is just awesome! Community members and IBMers all love the same platform for the same reason. It just doesn’t get any better than that! Yeah, I’m spoiled and I know it, but I’m still amazed by how engaged IBM as a company is with the community.

It’s All About the Community

Flash back to 1995. I’m sitting in a big tent in Redmond, waiting for the Windows 95 Launch to start. As a Windows 95 beta tester, I have been fully involved with every step of testing the operating system, loving the community effort. I even wore a vest made of beta installation CDs. Folks took my picture. That was my “15 minutes of fame!” Microsoft has long promised to get me the collateral that backs up my presence at the launch ... but alas! They are too big follow through (apparently).

At the time, I loved Microsoft for all the reasons I love IBM i and the community today: engagement and connection with a community with purpose. Very cool. Well, Microsoft got bigger and more distant and impersonal for me while the IBM i community got better and more “communal.” IBM hasn't yet lost its mojo when it comes to the IBM i platform and the community. And for anything to retain a personal feel in this electronic, Internet-connected world is an amazing feat. The IBM i community hasn’t succumbed to the siren of “all virtual” yet. You can still rub shoulders with everyone from IBM executives to propeller heads at conferences across the world. If you get the chance, do it!

I know what you’re thinking … something like this: “Yeah, it's cool, but any operating system can run open source stuff, and there are still plenty of in-person events I can go to. What’s the big deal about IBM i?” Well, OK, you can run PHP, Ruby/Rails, Python, Node.js, and plenty of other stuff on LUW (Linux UNIX Windows). I do it all the time while I am developing applications. But I would claim that you can’t do it with as much security and scalability and with the performance the Power chip brings to the table. Having survived the Great Recession, I am as happy to have a job as anyone, and I am a big fan of full employment, but I don’t see either the efficiency or economy of running a server farm.

Granted, with clustering, load balancing, failover, and other mitigation techniques, running a farm or Linux or Windows servers can keep your uptime up! But who wants the aggravation? Not me! So IBM i has been a great timesaver. I bounce my IBM i maybe twice a year, usually because there is some essential add-on I need, and in order to get what I want, I have to apply a Technology Refresh, basically a version step upgrade, and then bounce. But I can’t tell you the last time a “critical security update” was issued for my IBM i. It’s just that good.

OK. You probably already have an IBM i. Weren’t those paragraphs above stoking your fire about what a great platform we have? Man, get out there and tell folks. Not just because you are an IBM i “bigot” (we may be opinionated but not bigoted) but because you want people to have fun in their IT work! You aren’t?! Then read the rest of this book. There is a boatload of goodness that is waiting for you in the IBM i open source garden of goodness. Jump in!

Peter Helgren

Peter Helgren is programmer/team lead at Bible Study Fellowship International. Pete is an experienced programmer in the ILE RPG, PHP, Java, Ruby/Rails, C++, and C# languages with more than 25 years of system 3X/AS400/iSeries/IBM i experience. He holds certifications as a GIAC certified Secure Software Programmer-Java and as an MCSE. He is currently executive vice president on the COMMON Board of Directors and is active on several COMMON committees. His passion has always been in system integration, and he focuses on open-source applications and integration activities on IBM i. Pete is a speaker/trainer in RPG modernization, open-source integration, mobile application development, Java programming, and PHP and actively blogs at petesworkshop.com.


MC Press books written by Peter Helgren available now on the MC Press Bookstore.

Open Source Starter Guide for IBM i Developers Open Source Starter Guide for IBM i Developers
Check out this practical introduction to open-source development options, including XMLSERVICE, Ruby/Rails, PHP, Python, Node.js, and Apache Tomcat.
List Price $59.95

Now On Sale

BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS

LATEST COMMENTS

Support MC Press Online

$0.00 Raised:
$

Book Reviews

Resource Center

  • SB Profound WC 5536 Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application. You can find Part 1 here. In Part 2 of our free Node.js Webinar Series, Brian May teaches you the different tooling options available for writing code, debugging, and using Git for version control. Brian will briefly discuss the different tools available, and demonstrate his preferred setup for Node development on IBM i or any platform. Attend this webinar to learn:

  • SB Profound WP 5539More than ever, there is a demand for IT to deliver innovation. Your IBM i has been an essential part of your business operations for years. However, your organization may struggle to maintain the current system and implement new projects. The thousands of customers we've worked with and surveyed state that expectations regarding the digital footprint and vision of the company are not aligned with the current IT environment.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT Generic IBM announced the E1080 servers using the latest Power10 processor in September 2021. The most powerful processor from IBM to date, Power10 is designed to handle the demands of doing business in today’s high-tech atmosphere, including running cloud applications, supporting big data, and managing AI workloads. But what does Power10 mean for your data center? In this recorded webinar, IBMers Dan Sundt and Dylan Boday join IBM Power Champion Tom Huntington for a discussion on why Power10 technology is the right strategic investment if you run IBM i, AIX, or Linux. In this action-packed hour, Tom will share trends from the IBM i and AIX user communities while Dan and Dylan dive into the tech specs for key hardware, including:

  • Magic MarkTRY the one package that solves all your document design and printing challenges on all your platforms. Produce bar code labels, electronic forms, ad hoc reports, and RFID tags – without programming! MarkMagic is the only document design and print solution that combines report writing, WYSIWYG label and forms design, and conditional printing in one integrated product. Make sure your data survives when catastrophe hits. Request your trial now!  Request Now.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericForms of ransomware has been around for over 30 years, and with more and more organizations suffering attacks each year, it continues to endure. What has made ransomware such a durable threat and what is the best way to combat it? In order to prevent ransomware, organizations must first understand how it works.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericIT security is a top priority for businesses around the world, but most IBM i pros don’t know where to begin—and most cybersecurity experts don’t know IBM i. In this session, Robin Tatam explores the business impact of lax IBM i security, the top vulnerabilities putting IBM i at risk, and the steps you can take to protect your organization. If you’re looking to avoid unexpected downtime or corrupted data, you don’t want to miss this session.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericCan you trust all of your users all of the time? A typical end user receives 16 malicious emails each month, but only 17 percent of these phishing campaigns are reported to IT. Once an attack is underway, most organizations won’t discover the breach until six months later. A staggering amount of damage can occur in that time. Despite these risks, 93 percent of organizations are leaving their IBM i systems vulnerable to cybercrime. In this on-demand webinar, IBM i security experts Robin Tatam and Sandi Moore will reveal:

  • FORTRA Disaster protection is vital to every business. Yet, it often consists of patched together procedures that are prone to error. From automatic backups to data encryption to media management, Robot automates the routine (yet often complex) tasks of iSeries backup and recovery, saving you time and money and making the process safer and more reliable. Automate your backups with the Robot Backup and Recovery Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAManaging messages on your IBM i can be more than a full-time job if you have to do it manually. Messages need a response and resources must be monitored—often over multiple systems and across platforms. How can you be sure you won’t miss important system events? Automate your message center with the Robot Message Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAThe thought of printing, distributing, and storing iSeries reports manually may reduce you to tears. Paper and labor costs associated with report generation can spiral out of control. Mountains of paper threaten to swamp your files. Robot automates report bursting, distribution, bundling, and archiving, and offers secure, selective online report viewing. Manage your reports with the Robot Report Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAFor over 30 years, Robot has been a leader in systems management for IBM i. With batch job creation and scheduling at its core, the Robot Job Scheduling Solution reduces the opportunity for human error and helps you maintain service levels, automating even the biggest, most complex runbooks. Manage your job schedule with the Robot Job Scheduling Solution. Key features include:

  • LANSA Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.

  • LANSAWhen it comes to creating your business applications, there are hundreds of coding platforms and programming languages to choose from. These options range from very complex traditional programming languages to Low-Code platforms where sometimes no traditional coding experience is needed. Download our whitepaper, The Power of Writing Code in a Low-Code Solution, and:

  • LANSASupply Chain is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. From raw materials for manufacturing to food supply chains, the journey from source to production to delivery to consumers is marred with inefficiencies, manual processes, shortages, recalls, counterfeits, and scandals. In this webinar, we discuss how:

  • The MC Resource Centers bring you the widest selection of white papers, trial software, and on-demand webcasts for you to choose from. >> Review the list of White Papers, Trial Software or On-Demand Webcast at the MC Press Resource Center. >> Add the items to yru Cart and complet he checkout process and submit

  • Profound Logic Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application.

  • SB Profound WC 5536Join us for this hour-long webcast that will explore:

  • Fortra IT managers hoping to find new IBM i talent are discovering that the pool of experienced RPG programmers and operators or administrators with intimate knowledge of the operating system and the applications that run on it is small. This begs the question: How will you manage the platform that supports such a big part of your business? This guide offers strategies and software suggestions to help you plan IT staffing and resources and smooth the transition after your AS/400 talent retires. Read on to learn: