Welcome to another edition of Talsco Weekly

IBM i Brief: 🔧 Installing NG4i is now easier than ever (Product Update).
AI: 🚀 IBM Launches AI-Based IBM i RPG Code Assistant Project.
Career: Quote of the Day.
Development: Setting the VSCode IBM i PATH to Open Source Packages on IBM i 💻. 🔍 Comparing differences between objects in two IFS directories.
Hiring: ℹ️ Is the IBM i Community Facing A Skills Shortage?
Learning: 💻 IBM introduces new certificates for cybersecurity and data analytics.
Security: AWS Security Roadmap.

IBM i Brief

🔧 Installing NG4i is now easier than ever (Product Update)

The latest NG4i LPP installation now conveniently includes all required save files within the AAG update package, eliminating the need for manual downloads.

What is NG4i as it relates to AAG?

The NG4i LPP is a responder application for IBM i system monitoring, integrating with AAG for comprehensive performance and status alerts via Nagios, ensuring high availability and disaster recovery.

With a simple checkbox during remote system configuration, users can effortlessly deploy the latest save files for installation. By pushing files via FTP to the target LPAR and running specific commands, users can swiftly enjoy the updated NG4i version, ensuring a seamless installation process.

AI

🚀 IBM Launches AI-Based IBM i RPG Code Assistant Project

Here is a fairly in-depth post straight from Steve Will, IBM i CTO, that gives the backstory for the RPG Code Assistant and how it can help the RPG Developer.

In summary

IBM i CTO Steve Will kicks off the official information hub for the RPG Code Assistant (RPGCA) project. Detailed materials include a webcast outlining IBM i’s AI strategy and the RPGCA project, encouraging contributions through email and GitHub. The initiative aims to modernize RPG code to address IBM i’s skills needs, focusing on enhancing developer tools and utilizing AI to assist RPG programmers efficiently and effectively.

At it’s core, this is what it will do:

IBM i Community Code Assist Base Features

Bookmark this.

This blog post marks the official starting point for information about the RPG Code Assistant (RPGCA) project. For those who just need links to the key information which exists right now.

The amount of links and resources here is impressive. It will send you down the rabbit hole🐇.

Here is a IBM i & AI – Strategy & Update 📄 that I recommend you download to get started.

Career

Quote of the Day

Any fool can write code that a computer can understand. Good programmers write code that humans can understand. – Martin Fowler, Chief Scientist at ThoughtWorks

Development

Setting the VSCode IBM i PATH to Open Source Packages on IBM i 💻

Setting the VSCode IBM i PATH to open source packages on IBM i offers several benefits.

This adjustment facilitates easy access to open source tools with a set path in VS Code.

It enhances workflow efficiency, integrates open source tools with your environment, ensures consistency across development environments, and aids collaboration among team members.

By configuring the PATH in VS Code to /QOpenSys/pkgs/bin, users can seamlessly leverage open-source tools on IBM i for enhanced productivity.

🔍 Comparing differences between objects in two IFS directories

While it has been possible to compare the contents of two directories in the IFS, it has not been simple. A new addition to Db2 for i, SQL, in the latest round of Technology Refreshes, IBM i 7.5 TR4 and IBM i 7.4 TR10, makes it much easier.

Hiring

ℹ️ Is the IBM i Community Facing A Skills Shortage?

Yes. But, is it any different than other industries or technical stacks?

Not really.

All you you have to do is search (talent OR skills) (shortage OR gap) KEY WORD and you will see we are not the only ones dealing with this issue.

The IBM i Community.

💡 The IBM i community has grappled with a skills shortage due to an aging workforce and difficulty finding replacements. Traditional methods of recruiting RPG programmers are no longer effective, leading to a significant gap in hiring. Companies are urged to adopt a more innovative approach by developing existing talent and exploring new ways to address the shortage in the workforce.

Simple solutions

The Remote Option:

We wrote about this back in 2018, long before the pandemic. It’s a simple solution that does come with it’s own unique challenges.

In summary, remote work is successful for certain type of work (tasks) and provided there is buy in at all levels of the organization. If the company culture does not embrace remote work, there will be challenges implementing it. This was highlighted in our issue about Workplace Communication Struggles.

Look for RPG Developers Internally:

Far too many organizations have drifted away from the best way to find talent: their internal employees. Search for ones that are being underutilized and show passion. It is one of the best ways to find your next RPG developer.

Once you locate them, start an Apprenticeship Program by leveraging training programs such as the ones provided by imPower Technologies, combined with implementing continual training programs and send them to COMMON (POWERUP) as well as any number of local, regional and online IBM i user group training programs.

What does the IBM i Talent Shortage Mean?

Opportunity. It doesn’t matter if you are a seasoned RPG developer or just getting started. There are opportunities for open-minded, curious developers who are willing to embrace all that the platform offers.

Learning

💻 IBM introduces new certificates for cybersecurity and data analytics

The credentials aim to equip students with essential skills in AI, information security, decision-making, and data management. As AI and automation reshape industries, upskilling is crucial for 40% of the workforce, particularly those in entry-level roles. Public-private partnerships are key for bridging the skills gap. These programs, developed with industry input, can be seamlessly integrated into community college curriculums, offering learners valuable workforce skills.

Power Skills Academy Revisited

In an effort to bridge the talent gap and to deal with the talent shortage in the Power Systems market, IBM through its Power Skills Academy offers a variety of training resources to Universities and Community Colleges.

The IBM Power Skills Academy (PSA) provides educators and students at eligible colleges and universities with free access to courses and technology to develop in-demand IBM Power skills. Members can access the same courses provided to enterprise customers.

Commentary: It will be interesting to see where this goes because we have seen these initiatives before (IBM Academic Initiative) and they seemed to disappear. I think this time is different. A decade later, there is much more of a crunch than there was back then. Here is the Academic Initiative brochure from 2013. There are some great ideas here as to how we can continue to push the IBM i platform forward.

Security

AWS Security Roadmap

For organizations that run IBM i alongside of AWS, the security roadmap linked above can be a helpful resource.

Who is it for? This roadmap is mostly about current best practices, which requires you to know a lot of foundations of AWS and security in general.

Join

Contact us

If you are an RPG programmer looking to explore opportunities or a client who is looking for a talented IBM i professional, please contact us. We look forward to assisting you.

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