Talsco Weekly: RPG Developers, Get Ready for AI Tools

Welcome to another edition of Talsco Weekly

IBM i Brief: Is an IBM i Copilot coming in the near future? Seeking Alternatives for JD Edwards Ecommerce App.
AI: The Need to Evolve to Compete in the AI Era. 🤖 AI training raises concerns.
Career: RPG Developers, Get Ready for AI Tools.
Cloud: IBM’s On-Prem ‘Pods’ for Power Cloud.
Development: 🔍 Extract Number Out of Character Column and Use It to Update Another Column.

IBM i Brief

Is an IBM i Copilot coming in the near future?

According to Steve Will, and his keynote address at COMMON POWERUp 2024, IBM is exploring ways to incorporate generative AI into the IBM i platform, including a large language model-powered coding assistant for RPG development.

Unlike the watsonx Code Assistant for Z, which converts COBOL to Java, this new tool aims to support existing RPG rather than transitioning to another language. This responds to the need for new programmers to easily navigate and contribute to the extensive RPG codebase.

What will this tool do?

Summarizing existing RPG code: The tool will help new programmers understand old, poorly documented code.
Generating RPG code: Once the tool comprehends the RPG language, it will be able to write new code.
Writing of test programs: The tool will be able to produce test programs to check all paths and edge cases.

While this GenAI-powered AI assistant (copilot) is still in the POC phase, and not ready for prime time. If it does what it says it can do, this will change the conversation around the availably of RPG talent.

Questions we should be asking:

How will the introduction of a GenAI-powered AI assistant specifically impact the demand for RPG talent in the industry?
Will the AI assistant be able to replace the need for RPG talent entirely, or will it simply augment their capabilities? I believe it will simply augment their capabilities.
How will this shift affect the salaries and job opportunities for RPG programmers?
What kind of training or skills will RPG talent need to effectively work with this new AI assistant?
How will this AI-driven change influence the overall landscape of programming languages in the future?

Seeking Alternatives for JD Edwards Ecommerce App

Fiserv has announced the end of support for ERP2Web, an ecommerce product designed for JD Edwards ERP systems. The decision follows Fiserv’s $22 billion acquisition of First Data Corp., the previous owner of ERP2Web. As the product is no longer strategic to Fiserv’s core business, it will only be supported for a few more months.

Companies using ERP2Web are advised to consider other options, including cloud-based, open-source ecommerce applications like Adobe Commerce (Formally Magento).

AI

The Need to Evolve to Compete in the AI Era

This article describes how

Apple was taken by surprise in the race for generative AI, and a shift in strategy is necessary for the company to level the playing field.

What does this have to do with the IBM i?

Good question.

The consumer and enterprise technology market merged long ago with The Mobile Wave. This book discusses how

mobile devices will become essential tools for life in the modern day, changing how businesses operate and how industries and economies are powered.

This same thing will and is already happening with AI, whether you think we have a choice or not.

Back to the article

While Apple has been the leading tech company with one of the most powerful tech platforms for both the consumer and enterprise, they have fallen a little behind with AI. Part of this has been by design, in an effort to protect privacy and security.

I believe something similar is happening in the IBM i ecosystem.

IBM, as noted above and IBM i vendors, like Profound, are incorporating AI into their product offering. And there will certainly will be more to follow.

I believe by harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, the IBM i can rapidly modernize and compete effectively with other technology stacks, thus leveling the playing field.

🤖 AI training raises concerns On the other side of AI, Slack users outraged by data usage for training models despite conflicting policies. Calls for clear consent and policy updates to address transparency issues and privacy principles. Opt-out process questioned as users seek alternatives amid GDPR concerns. Slack faces backlash for defaulting users into AI training without explicit consent, sparking wider privacy debates and calls for clarity from lawmakers.

Career

RPG Developers, Get Ready for AI Tools

In today’s fast-paced tech environment, artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing software development.

As noted above, in the article highlighting Steve Will’s Keynote at COMMON, AI is moving into the IBM i ecosystem.

And for RPG developers working on the IBM i platform, keeping up with AI advancements, will be crucial for career development.

Here’s why:

1. Enhancing Problem-Solving Capabilities

AI and machine learning (ML) provide tools for solving complex problems. By understanding AI, RPG developers can create more efficient, scalable, and intelligent solutions on the IBM i platform, improving their problem-solving abilities.

2. Improving Existing Skills

Learning AI concepts like neural networks and data analysis can refine development skills. For RPG developers, this means help with debugging and understanding old undocumented code and utilizing best practices.

3. Adapting to Industry Trends

Industries are integrating AI to streamline operations and boost productivity. RPG developers need to adapt to these trends to stay relevant, understanding AI’s role in automating coding tasks, enhancing software testing, and leveraging APIs and web services on the IBM i platform.

4. Engaging in Continuous Learning

AI is rapidly evolving. Keeping up with new developments fosters continuous learning, essential in tech. This helps RPG developers stay agile and quickly apply new tools and methods, including the latest in APIs and web services.

As one RPG developer put it: AI has been my own personal development coach and mentor. It has allowed me to use a JIT (Just In Time) learning approach where I have been able to ramp up to speed in a fraction of the time.

5. Expanding Career Paths

AI expertise opens up roles like AI developer, data scientist, and machine learning engineer. For RPG developers on the IBM i platform, this means unique challenges and opportunities for career growth.

6. Building Collaborative Skills

AI work requires interdisciplinary collaboration with data scientists, business users and other experts. This enhances communication and teamwork skills, leading to better project outcomes for RPG developers.

AI has been around for longer than you think.

Whether we realize it or not, we have been using different forms of AI for a long time either as a user of a software product or development of applications.

Here are some examples:

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been integrated into various software products and applications for many years, often in ways that may not be immediately recognized as AI.

1. Rule-Based Systems

Rule-based systems, utilized in manufacturing for quality control, make decisions based on predefined rules and are valued for their predictability and consistency.

2. Search Algorithms

Search algorithms navigate large datasets or complex problems, used in pathfinding for games, database optimization, and information retrieval.

3. Recommendation Engines

Recommendation engines, used by platforms like Amazon, Netflix, and YouTube, provide personalized suggestions based on user behavior and preferences.

4. Machine Learning Algorithms

Machine learning algorithms, used in spam filtering and fraud detection, learn from data to make predictions and improve over time.

5. Predictive Analytics

Predictive analytics, a type of AI, forecasts future outcomes using past data. For example, in fleet maintenance, it can predict equipment failures, aiding in timely repairs and efficient operations.

In summary

For RPG developers, especially those working on the IBM i platform, staying on top of AI advancements, APIs, and web services is essential for career development. It enhances their technical skills, ensures they remain relevant, and opens up diverse career opportunities. By committing to continuous learning and adapting to new trends, developers can advance their careers and contribute significantly to technological advancements driven by AI.

Cloud

IBM’s On-Prem ‘Pods’ for Power Cloud

IBM has introduced the Power Virtual Server Private Cloud, a service that replicates Power machines and sends them to customers’ preferred locations. These servers are operated by IBM as managed infrastructure as a service, even though they are on-premises. The service allows IBM Power Systems clients to extend their Power IT resources off-premises economically and quickly.

The servers are managed from IBM Cloud and are available in “pods” of different sizes. IBM offers this service for one, three, or five years with no upfront payment, only pay-as-you-go fees based on resource consumption.

Development

🔍 Extract Number Out of Character Column and Use It to Update Another Column

Have you ever encountered a tricky situation in working with an old database?

Here is an example of a database that had a file containing a field with two significant pieces of information and what to do about it using SQL.

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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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