Talsco Weekly: A Wave of IBM i Modernization Projects

Welcome to another edition of Talsco Weekly

Modernization: A Wave of IBM i Modernization Projects. Is it a Business Problem or an IT problem?
Development: A quick guide on installing Node.js. Do you want to create a Subsystem for Web Services? The Ultimate SQL Guide for the Beginner.
AI: Code Translator.

Modernization

A Wave of IBM i Modernization Projects There is a "wave of interest in application modernization" in IBM i and mainframe shops in Europe and the United States. Why? Well, there are many reasons "why companies want to refresh their aging RPG and COBOL applications." Here are a few of them:

To boost employee productivity
To reduce the reliance on legacy code and mainframe infrastructure

There are two driving forces:

External: A drive to "increase revenues and profits, while lowering costs, increasing customer satisfaction, and increasing competitiveness" for the business.
Internal: A drive by IT that is "focused on operational efficiency."

The problem is that there is a disconnect between "the business" and "IT". While the business and IT both want to modernize, they are doing so for different reasons. The business side needs to understand that their strive for efficiencies might take some time. And, the IT department will need to communicate to the business that modernization is not an easy task and relies upon having the right talent in place. In Summary Legacy systems need to be modernized, and organizations large and small realize that they can't wait any longer to start their journey. The tribal knowledge of legacy systems is walking out the door as RPG developers retire. There is no time better than now to start modernizing. Need help with your modernization plans? We can help. Is it a Business Problem or an IT problem? This article piggybacks on the previous one giving deeper insight into the relationship between "the business" and "IT". The relationship between the two is contentious, but the solution is simple:

"If IT is to become a real driver of value, both business and IT must overcome bad habits and make a real commitment to being partners. That implies adoption on both sides of processes, mindsets, and capabilities that reinforce the mechanisms that nurture habits that can improve technology performance."

It ultimately comes down to the business needing to integrate an open dialog with the following four areas:

Top management/board level
Business process implementation
IT Governance
Technology platform

Key Takeaways:

The traditional divide between business and IT can lead to inefficiencies and missed opportunities.
Bridging this divide requires a shared understanding of business objectives and IT capabilities.
Collaboration, communication, and a shift in mindset are key to bridging the divide.
IT should be viewed as a shared responsibility, not just the responsibility of IT professionals.
Business leaders should take an active role in understanding IT and its potential impact on the organization.

Development

A quick guide on installing Node.js Node.js is a powerful, open-source server that can be used on various common operating systems (yes, including the IBM i). This JavaScript program can use JavaScript web applications outside of a traditional client browser. Node.js is unique for its use on both the front and back-end alike, providing more versatility for web developers. While this article does not directly reference the IBM i, there are some examples on Git that can help as well. In summary, here are the three biggest advantages to using Node.js:

High Performance: Node.js is built on the V8 JavaScript engine, which is known for its high performance.
Scalability: Node.js is designed to be highly scalable. It can handle a large number of requests at the same time, making it ideal for building applications that require high scalability.
Large Community: Node.js has a large and active community of developers who contribute to its development and maintenance. This means that you can find a lot of resources, libraries, and tools to help you build your Node.js applications.

Do you want to create a Subsystem for Web Services? "There are a lot of positive reasons for us to create separate subsystems for each set of applications." Creating a subsystem on the IBM i can help improve system performance, reliability, security, and management, making it a valuable tool for organizations that rely on web services and other critical processes. If you are looking to create a subsystem for a web service, here is a step-by-step guide on how to get it done. The Ultimate SQL Guide for the Beginner While most RPG developers are familiar with SQL, there are many that are not. Some use it all the time, others not so often. Either way sometimes it is good to get back to the basics. "SQL is an essential tool for data analysts, developers, and anyone else who works with data. As AI tools and models grow in popularity, so will supporting languages like SQL that work with data." Here is an article that gives an overview to what SQL is, its importance, its relevance, and ways to learn it. It also answers some common questions that beginners might have about SQL. Time to get back to the basics.

AI

Code Translator AI is changing the way we work. Some will see this as a threat. Don't forget most were "skeptical of the automobile" too. Yet, others will see it as a new tool. It could be used as a training tool to help you learn a new language. Thoughts? ...By the way, RPG is not in the drop-down yet.

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