Welcome to another edition of Talsco Weekly

IBM i Brief: 🔮 IBM i pros share bold predictions for 2025.
AI: IBM’s Code Assist for RPG making steady progress. Other AI News.
Development: 💻 IBM’s RPG Code Assist aims for mid-2025 launch. 💻 Simplify Your RPG Source Control with Git – A 10-Minute Guide.
Database: 📊 IBM i Enhances Job Tracking with ENDED_JOB_INFO.
ERP: 🤝 IBM and L’Oréal partnership. 📦AI is in the process of transforming ERP. ↔️ The Rise of AI-Powered ERP: A Two-Way Revolution.
Security: 🔒 CISA releases guidance on dangerous product security practices.
Trends: 💰Altcoins Positioned for 2025 Success.

IBM i Brief

🔮 IBM i pros share bold predictions for 2025

Here is the 2nd round of predictions from IT Jungle:

Industry experts forecast significant changes including AI adoption, particularly IBM’s Code Assist for RPG
Power11 hardware launch, and increased cloud integration.
- Power11 expected to deliver up to 25% performance boost with processor and system improvements to support AI workloads
Salary trends show demand for hybrid skills, with experienced RPG developers earning $120-145K while those with open-source expertise commanding $145-175K+.
Security will be the number one issue for IBM i shops and their adjacent cloud technologies in 2025, with experts predicting increased focus on hybrid cloud setups and AI-driven modernization.

It sure is exciting to be part of the IBM i community in 2025:

2025 is set to be an exciting year for IBM i enthusiasts! As per IBM’s IBM i and Power Systems roadmap, the next release of IBM i and Power11 servers is on the horizon for this year. – Pete Massiello, Lifetime Champion for Power

Will 2025 be the year that hybrid cloud is the game change for the IBM i?

The inherent strengths of IBM i – reliability, scalability, and security – will become increasingly relevant. The operating system and database technology will continue to evolve at an impressive rate, making the risk of skill depletion the only true threat to the platform. Here the “coming of age” of AI arrives just in time. -Philippe Magne, ARCAD Software

Here’s to 2025 and the IBM i👏

AI

IBM’s Code Assist for RPG making steady progress

IBM’s ambitious AI coding assistant project is showing promising developments:

Initial focus on code explanation functionality through VS Code plugin
Working prototype expected by Q1 end, with beta testing planned for Q2
Built on IBM’s Granite AI models with cloud-based deployment
Three main goals: code explanation, code generation, and test case generation for RPG

Creating and training a large language model, creating a code assistant around that, is nothing like creating an operating system. We have had to learn a lot of stuff to be able to do this.– Steve Will, IBM i CTO

Would you like to help?

Will is still open to hearing from members of the IBM i community about the Code Assist for RPG. Whether it’s sponsors, advisors, or code contributors, IBM is open to IBM i community member getting involved.

Other AI News

🎧 ThinkCast podcast discusses balancing AI innovation with practical implementation, featuring insights from Gartner analysts on successful AI adoption strategies.
🚀 Proposed $500 billion AI initiative sparking debate over ambitious plan to establish U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence development.

Development

💻 IBM’s RPG Code Assist aims for mid-2025 launch

IBM’s development of AI-based RPG Code Assist is progressing, with plans for a prototype by Q1 end and beta testing in Q2. Steve Will, IBM i CTO, announced the tool will initially focus on code explanation through VS Code, with cloud-based deployment. The project leverages IBM’s Granite AI models and aims for general availability in second half of 2025.

💻 Simplify Your RPG Source Control with Git – A 10-Minute Guide

Looking to modernize your source control without the headache? iForGit makes it easy for RPG developers to embrace Git version control. This solution works seamlessly with your familiar tools (PDM, RDI, VS Code) and supports classic RPG, CL, and COBOL source.

Whether you’re starting fresh or enhancing your existing setup, you can be up and running with Git in minutes.

Database

📊 IBM i Enhances Job Tracking with ENDED_JOB_INFO

IBM’s latest Technology Refresh introduces the ENDED_JOB_INFO table function, enabling users to retrieve detailed statistics on completed jobs. This addition enhances system management by providing insights into job performance and resource utilization.

ERP

🤝 IBM and L’Oréal partnership aims to develop custom AI foundation model for sustainable cosmetic formulations, targeting bio-sourced materials by 2030.

This is an interesting read in that highlights a new frontier for ERP systems powered by AI.

What this means for ERP systems:

AI-Driven Sustainability Features: Modern ERP systems are incorporating AI capabilities to help businesses track and improve their environmental impact – from carbon accounting (like SAP’s Green Ledger) to energy consumption monitoring in manufacturing processes.
Integration with Sustainability Tools: ERP providers are either building native sustainability features or ensuring seamless integration with specialized platforms (like Persefoni) that can monitor, calculate, and report environmental metrics, making sustainability management a core part of business operations.

📦AI is in the process of transforming ERP

In 2024, AI integration is revolutionizing manufacturing ERP systems. Enhanced supply chain collaboration through real-time data sharing, predictive maintenance reducing downtime, and the rise of no-code tools empower non-technical users to customize workflows. These advancements lead to increased efficiency, agility, and innovation in manufacturing operations.

↔️ The Rise of AI-Powered ERP: A Two-Way Revolution

The ERP software industry is undergoing a significant transformation due to the influence of Artificial Intelligence. But what specific impacts does AI have on ERP software and what do we need to know about it?

Are struggling with what AI is?

How it works with ERP?

How AI and ERP fit together?

Regardless, AI is changing how ERP works.

This video will help put the pieces together.

Security

🔒 CISA releases guidance on dangerous product security practices, highlighting risks in critical infrastructure software including memory-unsafe languages, default passwords, and insecure cryptography. The guidance details specific mitigation steps and tools to address these security vulnerabilities.

Trends

💰Altcoins Positioned for 2025 Success

This article might seem out of place in an IBM i focused newsletter, but let me explain.

If we are looking at trends, like AI and how it is changing the way we work.

Blockchain technology is poised to transform our traditional financial system, revolutionizing payments, contracts, and data exchange between centralized and decentralized systems.

Summary:

XRP, Solana, Cardano, and Chainlink are gaining traction as potential leaders in the crypto space. XRP shines for its speed and low-cost transactions, Solana impresses with its scalability for decentralized apps, and Cardano prioritizes eco-friendly innovation. Chainlink bridges blockchain with real-world data.

Here is a breakdown of XRP, Solana, Cardano and Chainlink and how they relate to the world we know.

XRP aims to challenge traditional cross-border payment systems like SWIFT by enabling faster, low-cost international transactions. For instance, Ripple’s technology allows banks to settle international payments in seconds, reducing costs and improving efficiency.

Solana targets centralized financial platforms, offering a scalable, high-speed blockchain for decentralized applications and finance. An example is Solana’s use in decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms, providing rapid transaction processing for lending and trading activities.

Cardano seeks to improve upon existing smart contract platforms, emphasizing sustainability and scalability for decentralized applications. For example, Cardano’s proof-of-stake mechanism supports eco-friendly and efficient smart contracts for various applications.

Chainlink enhances smart contracts by connecting them to real-world data, improving upon isolated blockchain systems. A practical application is Chainlink’s integration with decentralized finance platforms to provide accurate price feeds for assets.

Read here for more on IBM and Blockchain Technologies.

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