IBM i partnership updates, AI productivity tools, career training for IBM i developers, modern development practices, ERP AI integration, leadership inner awareness, upcoming learning events, container and openāsource tooling, cybersecurity training and threats, Mooreās Law productivity paradox, and contact/join information.
Welcome to another edition of Talsco Weekly
- IBM i Brief: š¤ Izzi partners with Virtutem for Valence expansion.
- AI: ā” Profound Logic unveils AI productivity breakthrough.
- Career: š”For IBM i developers looking to advance their careers, this virtual training is essential. See details.
- Development: š§Ŗ Code4i FS extension seeks alpha testers. ā”ļø IBM i Development Has MovedāDid You Notice?
- ERP: š¤ AI speeds execution but accountability stays human.
- Leadership: š§ Leadership's biggest blind spot is inner awareness.
- Learning: š² IBM Bob brings AI to IBM i development (France). š¦ AI on IBM i event generating excitement (Michigan). š© The most impactful WMCPA's IBM i in-person event in over 5 years (Wisconsin).
- Open Source: š³ Containers on IBM i: It's complicated. š NIM's image_data resource automates AIX filesystem sizing.
- Security: š Cyber Resilience Training: Master the Essentials (Training). š”ļø Cybersecurity threats evolve rapidly into 2026.
- Trends: š» Moore's Law's productivity paradox questioned.
IBM i Brief
š¤ Izzi partners with Virtutem for Valence expansion
Izzi Software's CNX division formed a strategic partnership with Chicago-based Virtutem to sell and support Valence application modernization tools to Infor LX and IBM i ERP users.
Virtutem CEO Alwyn Francis chose Valence as the best IBM i-centric solution for customers where Infor's IDF framework doesn't fit, particularly those with heavy customizations or older versions. The partnership extends Izzi's reach into Infor's IBM i customer base while giving Virtutem a modernization path for legacy code.
On the hardware side, š¾ FalconStor launches Habanero cloud backup service
FalconStor introduced Habanero offsite data protection running on IBM Cloud, protecting 3.7 exabytes across 900+ Power Systems shops with pricing starting at $2,500/month.
Market Context: Izzi's partnerships reflect its broader acquisition strategy in the IBM i and Power Systems ecosystem. The company has been actively acquiring founder-led businesses that serve this market, positioning itself as a consolidator of specialized tools and services for IBM i customers. This approach allows Izzi to expand its portfolio while preserving the expertise and customer relationships that made these founder-led companies successful in the first place. Separately, FalconStor is bringing a large part of the IBM i base into the modern, hybrid cloud world with the easiest and most logical first step: data protection. This is how Microsoft first built up the Azure behemoth, with backup services for Windows Server and SQL Server, and there is no reason to believe the same thing can't happen with IBM i shops with the right product, packaging, and pricing. It's exciting to see companies actively working to expand and modernize their IBM i base, investing in solutions that bring these systems forward rather than treating them as legacy platforms.
AI
ā” Profound Logic unveils AI productivity breakthrough
The company launched CoderFlow, an agentic AI development tool claiming 5-10x productivity gains over traditional copilots' 20% improvement.
The software coordinates multiple AI agents competing to complete tasks like code conversion, compilation, testing, and error resolution across RPG, COBOL, CL, and other IBM i languages.
Unlike standard GenAI assistants, CoderFlow provides autonomous agents working in containerized environments, understanding database context and spinning up virtual 5250 sessions for testing. Setup requires Git-based source control and moderate RPG skills.
Check out the CoderFlow video to learn more.
Career
š” MCP brings AI agents to IBM i in groundbreaking sessions If you are an IBM i-er, who has a background in RPG and is curious to know what direction to take their career, take a look at the upcoming training that will be held in Milwaukee, WI with Adam Shedivy, from IBM. Two powerful sessions are showing IBM i developers how to build AI tools and agents for their systems using the Model Context Protocol (MCP).
- The first session, "MCP server for IBM i: a theoretical and practical guide," explains how MCP creates a structured, secure bridge between AI models and enterprise systems. IBM i's integrated architectureācombining OS, database, and securityāmakes it uniquely suited for MCP implementations. The session covers system administration, performance analysis, and data insights, introducing IBM's new open source MCP server for IBM i with live demonstrations.
- The second session, "How to Build an Agent for IBM i," focuses on practical agent development. It walks through what AI agents are, how they differ from traditional automation, and why IBM i's environment is ideal for agent-based systems. Real use cases include performance monitoring, security administration, and developer productivity workflowsāall demonstrated with working agents.
Takeaway: These sessions aren't about replacing RPGāthey're about expanding what IBM i developers can build. AI agents and MCP tooling represent a new layer of capability that complements core development skills. The tools are open source, the patterns are practical, and the timing couldn't be better for IBM i professionals ready to lead in this space.
What the community has asked for, is here and it is moving fast. Sitting back, and watching from the sidelines is no longer an option. It's time to jump in and participate.
Location: Join us in person at Alioto's Bar & Grill, 3041 N Mayfair Rd, Wauwatosa, WI 53222, or attend virtually from anywhere. Date and Time: Thursday, February 12, 2026, 4:30 PM - 9:00 PM CST
Development
š§Ŗ Code4i FS extension seeks alpha testers
Here is an article about a Code4i FS extension that has been reworked.
It adds support for 20 new IBM i object types including data queues, binding directories, journals, and subsystems.
The extension provides a unified GUI interface for managing these objects directly in VS Code, helping both experienced programmers and beginners avoid switching between applications.
If you are looking to help out, alpha testers are invited to comment for early access and provide feedback before the Code4i team's final review. Comment HERE to join the alpha testing program.
ā”ļø IBM i Development Has MovedāDid You Notice?
The real shift on IBM i isnāt new languagesāitās a new mindset.
As Nick Litten highlights, source no longer lives where it used to, workflows arenāt linear, and the IFS has become the backbone of modern development.
SEU is functional, sure, but oh-so-painfully outdated compared to modern IDEās like VS-Code or RDi.
This isnāt abandoning IBM i traditionsāitās unlocking them. Git-based workflows, VS Code, automation, and collaboration are now table stakes.
Shops that adapt gain speed, clarity, and talent appeal; those that donāt risk turning habit into their biggest liability.
ERP
š¤ AI speeds execution but accountability stays human
AI accelerates work across retail, customer service, and ERP systems by processing data faster and automating tasks.
In practice, AI brings people to the river. People still decide whether or not to drink.
However, decision-making, ownership, and accountability remain human responsibilities.
In retail, AI influences product discovery but doesn't close sales. In customer service, it routes requests but can't handle exceptions. In financial systems, it streamlines processes but can't replace governance.
The gap between AI's speed and human oversight continues to shape enterprise adoption.
Takeaways:
AI brings you the information, but the human still makes the call.
AI does the āknowledge workā and faster than humans.
As a result, AI frees up people's time.
Time to do what? To interact more.
That might sound a little counter intuitive but it is true.
Do you think those who grew up in the horse and buggy days could even comprehend what our world looks like today?
Probably not.
The same holds true for us. I don't think we even realize what the world will look like in the future. But I do think it shows signs of humans drawing closer and closer together. I mean, hey, if AI is doing all the work, what will us humans do? Meet at the water cooler more? š
In all seriousness, I see a world where it will force interaction and creativity in ways that are beyond our comprehension.
Leadership
š§ Leadership's biggest blind spot is inner awareness
Most leadership development focuses on mindset and external tactics rather than inner transformation. Ego-driven leaders chase achievements and validation, often sacrificing engagement and psychological safety.
Authentic leaders operate from a still mind and deeper awareness beyond conditioned thought patterns.
The most sophisticated leadership framework becomes just another ego tool if applied from a conditioned mind.
True conscious leadership flows from internal wisdom, not external control.
Learning
Whether you're looking to sharpen your AI skills or expand your IBM i expertise, there are several standout training opportunities coming up. Your location and focus will help guide your choice:
- Europe-based? COMMON France and IBM are hosting a free webinar on January 30th featuring IBM Bob, the AI development assistant expected by late March.
- Midwest and AI-focused? Michigan's AI on i day in March offers an in-person deep dive into artificial intelligence applications on IBM i.
- Want comprehensive coverage? Wisconsin's WMCPA event in March is the most impactful in-person training in over 5 years, covering AI, modern RPG, Python web development, and more.
š² IBM Bob brings AI to IBM i development (France) Co-organized by IBM and COMMON France, this free webinar on January 30, 2026, showcases IBM Bobāan AI partner revolutionizing IBM i application development and modernization. Expected by late March 2026, IBM Bob offers intelligent coding assistance, code generation, comprehension, optimization, conversion, and automated testing. Philippe Bourgeois from IBM France will demonstrate how this AI tool transforms development workflows for developers, architects, and decision-makers. š¦ AI on IBM i event generating excitement (Michigan) The upcoming AI on i Day being held onsite is described as a very exciting and timely event. The event is open to everyone interested in exploring artificial intelligence applications on the IBM i platform. This in-person gathering is an opportunity for IBM i professionals to engage with cutting-edge AI developments relevant to their systems. š© The most impactful WMCPA's IBM i in-person event in over 5 years (Wisconsin)
Elevate your IBM i expertise at WMCPA's March in-person trainingāthe most impactful event in 5 years. Dive into AI with Aaron Magid, meet Chief Architect Steve Will, and master modern RPG arrays with Simon Hutchinson. Explore Python web development on IBM i with Mike Pavlak and Open Access RPG with Vern Hamberg. Don't miss this game-changing opportunity to stay ahead in your career.
What are you waiting for?
Open Source
š³ Containers on IBM i: It's complicated
IBM i doesn't run Docker, Kubernetes, or OpenShift nativelyāPASE isn't a container layer.
However, containers often run on Linux in separate LPARs or external hosts, tightly integrated with IBM i through APIs, databases, and shared filesystems.
From a governance perspective, these containerized workloads participate in IBM i business processes and data flows, making them part of the environment even if not inside QSYS. Governance must extend beyond platform boundaries to system boundaries.
š NIM's image_data resource automates AIX filesystem sizing AIX installations default to small filesystem sizes in rootvg, causing issues with tools like DNF. The image_data resource, a stanza-format text file, lets admins predefine logical volumes and filesystems during installation. Key stanzas include image_data, logical_volume_policy, vg_data, lv_data, and fs_data. The main challenge: no validation tool existsāerrors only surface during actual installation. Proper configuration enables fully automated, predictable AIX deployments with optimal filesystem sizes.
Security
š Cyber Resilience Training: Master the Essentials (Training)
Cyber resilience is complex but criticalāunderstanding recovery strategies can make or break your security posture. This hour-long training covers the terminology, variables, and best practices you need to build a robust resilience plan.
Learn how uptime requirements, geographic considerations, regulatory compliance, and recovery time objectives (RTOs) influence your architecture and costs. Whether you're planning for disaster recovery or building continuity into your IBM i environment, this session provides the foundation you need to protect your organization from cyber incidents.
š”ļø Cybersecurity threats evolve rapidly into 2026
Organizations face increasingly sophisticated attacks as AI-powered threats, supply chain vulnerabilities, and ransomware tactics advance. Security teams must prioritize zero-trust architectures, enhanced threat intelligence, and proactive defense strategies.
AI that has permissions of human users - This is of a huge concern.
The convergence of emerging technologies with traditional security gaps creates new attack surfaces requiring comprehensive protection frameworks. Companies investing in adaptive security measures and employee training will better navigate the complex digital threat landscape ahead.
Takeaway: Companies want to benefit from the productivity gains of AI, but if they have not thought through the security complications from AI, they need to be wary.
Trends
š» Moore's Law's productivity paradox questioned
I stumbled upon this article during my usual research for the week. While it's over 5 years old, I thought it would be relevant given its discussion of RPG and how AI seems to be accelerating compute power at this time.
The article highlights:
Despite semiconductors doubling speed every 18-24 months, productivity hasn't increased proportionally. A 1973 IBM mainframe lease cost Ā£87,339 annually in today's moneyāless than modern IT budgets.
But today, thoughts have evolved ā particularly with the rise of AI-centric computing ā and this affects how we interpret Mooreās Law itself.
In fact, š **AI compute scaling dwarfs Moore's Law.** AI training compute has grown 300,000x since 2012 with a 3.4-month doubling time, outpacing Moore's Law by 50-100x. GPT-4 required 2.15Ć10Ā²āµ FLOP compared to AlexNet's 10Ā¹āµ-10Ā¹ā¶ FLOP in 2012. Tech giants committed $320 billion for 2025 infrastructure, but power consumption and diminishing returns threaten continued exponential growth beyond 2030.
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