Talsco Weekly: Top IBM i Modernization Vendors

Welcome to another edition of Talsco Weekly

IBM i Brief: 📈IBM's Acquisitions Bolster Data and App Integration. 🗄️IBM is creating a replacement website after discontinuing its Global Solutions Directory. 🔍 Xorux Is Gaining Traction With LPAR2RRD System Monitoring. BVSTools will raise software prices in January 2025.
Development: BOB: Tool for Compiling IBM i Objects.
Modernization: Modernization Spotlight: Top IBM i Vendors
Training: Master SQL Queries: Participate in an Interactive Workshop.

IBM i Brief

📈IBM's Acquisitions Bolster Data and App Integration

IBM recently acquired webMethods and StreamSets for $2.32 billion, enriching its offerings in data and application integration. webMethods, known for pioneering B2B software during the dot-com era, provides top web-based application integration platforms.

StreamSets specializes in managing real-time streaming data pipelines, crucial for AI models' data needs.

IBM plans to integrate these acquisitions into its products, enhancing its multi-cloud hybrid integration capabilities. StreamSets' offering, currently on Google Cloud, will soon be available on AWS and Azure.

These acquisitions are expected to enhance IBM i's critical enterprise applications' capabilities, potentially leveraging IBM's expanded portfolio.

🗄️IBM is creating a replacement website after discontinuing its Global Solutions Directory

The new site aims to provide a comprehensive list of IBM i applications catering to specific industries, akin to the now-defunct Global Solutions Directory.

The departure of the GSD left a gap in information for IBM i customers seeking solutions. IBM's initiative to fill this void comes after the closure of its PartnerWorld program, now succeeded by Partner Plus. The evolving landscape underscores challenges faced by IBM in maintaining relationships with app vendors in the IBM i ecosystem.

We have been working on something similar. Stay tuned.

🔍 Xorux Is Gaining Traction With LPAR2RRD System Monitoring

System monitoring and management in today's complex IT landscape involves dealing with various physical and virtual components across diverse platforms.

Xorux, a software company based in Prague, offers tools like LPAR2RRD for monitoring virtual and physical machines, Stor2RRD for system storage performance, and XorMon for a unified interface.

Founded by Pavel Hampl in 2013, Xorux tools support multiple platforms, including AIX, IBM i, OS/400, and Linux, along with major server virtualization platforms and relational databases. Recent releases of Enterprise Editions offer enhanced capabilities for system monitoring and management.

BVSTools will raise software prices in January 2025, giving customers advance notice to plan budgets

Current prices at 1.19 cents/day may rise to $1.29/day, about a $37 increase per title annually.

Customers can still buy licenses up to 3 years ahead. BVSTools aims to maintain competitive prices to offer quality software, support, and updates.

BVSTools offers a variety of solutions for the IBM platform.

BVSTools provides a variety of software solutions for IBM i (AS/400, iSeries, System i) systems. Their offerings include:

Reporting and Distribution Solutions:

Spooled File Tools (SPLTOOL): Converts spooled files to PDF, HTML, RTF, or text, and offers features like adding images and barcodes, merging files, and password protection (BVSTools).
Convert AFP to PDF (AFPTOOL): Transforms AFP spooled files to PDF.
eMail Tool (MAILTOOL): An email client for IBM i, compatible with various email servers.
Duplicate Spooled File (SPL2SPL): Duplicates spooled files.
Output Queue Trigger (OUTQTRG): Manages triggers for output queues (BVSTools).

Web Service and Web Programming Solutions:

Get URI (GETURI): Facilitates HTTP communication for web services.
eRPG Software Development Kit (ERPGSDK): Helps in developing web applications using RPG.
XMPP/Jabber Client (GREENJAB): For messaging integration (BVSTools).

GreenTools:

Integrations with various services like Vertex Cloud, eBay, Infor ION, Braintree, FreightPop, HubSpot, FedEx, G Suite, Microsoft Apps, PayPal, Slack, and Channel Advisor (BVSTools).

Other Productivity Solutions:

FTP Tools (FTPTOOL): Manages FTP operations.
Job Watch (JOBWATCH): Monitors and manages jobs.
Object Tool (OBJTOOL): Handles object-related tasks.
Scan Message File (SCNMSGF): Scans message files.
List File Field Description (LSTFFD): Lists file field descriptions.
Send Job Log to BVSTools (SNDLOG2BVS): Sends job logs for troubleshooting (BVSTools).

Additionally, BVSTools offers training and consulting services, focusing on areas like CGI programming, SSL/TLS setup, web service implementation, and more (BVSTools).

Development

BOB: Tool for Compiling IBM i Objects

Better Object Builder (BOB) is a free, open-source build system for the IBM i platform, used to create native QSYSobjects. Developed by S4i Systems and later expanded by IBM, BOB is hosted on IBM’s public GitHub and uses GNU Make. Key features include:

Speed: Compiles only changed source code.
Reliability: Understands and rebuilds dependent objects.
Industry Standard: Uses standard makefile syntax.
Flexibility: Easy customization of compile parameters.
Ease of Use: Simple initiation of full codebase builds.

Modernization

Modernization Spotlight: Top IBM i Vendors

You can either migrate to another platform (with all the headache's, not to mention the cost) or you can simply leverage the amazing vendors within the IBM i ecosystem that are delivering the products and solutions you are looking for.

Here are just some of the vendors (in no particular order) in the space that are offering solution’s that will help you modernize, extend the reach of your IBM i, and digitally transform.

Profound AI

Profound AI is an AI-driven tool designed to modernize IBM i applications, offering low-code development, seamless integration capabilities, and enhanced functionality to meet contemporary business needs.

Eradani API

Eradani focuses on integrating IBM i systems with modern applications and services.

They provide tools for creating secure, bi-directional integrations between IBM i and various platforms such as AWS, Azure, DevOps, eCommerce, and more.

Their solutions enable seamless connections using APIs, DevOps, EDI, and Pub/Sub technologies, facilitating modernization and enhanced functionality of legacy systems without requiring new programming languages.

Infor Mongoose & ION

Infor has multiple ERP platforms running on the IBM i, most notably Infor XA (Mapics), Infor LX (BPCS) and System 21 all of which have capabilities to leverage Infor’s suite of products.

Here are a couple of examples of Infor’s tooling that can help IBM i shops modernize.

Infor Mongoose is a development framework that allows users to rapidly create and deploy web-based applications. It is designed to help businesses build robust, scalable applications with minimal coding. Mongoose can be used for creating custom applications, enhancing existing systems, and integrating with other software solutions to streamline operations and improve efficiency.

Infor ION (Intelligent Open Network) is a middleware platform that enables seamless integration across applications, providing real-time data synchronization, workflow automation, and advanced analytics to streamline business processes.

For more information, check out the Infor newsletter.

Profound, Eradani, and Infor by no means are the only vendors offering valuable modernization products in the IBM i space. The following vendors further illustrate the diverse and dynamic landscape of IBM i modernization. Fresche Solutions: Offers a range of modernization tools and services, including automated code conversion, application transformation, and web and mobile development for IBM i systems. Rocket Software: Provides modernization solutions such as application lifecycle management, data virtualization, and integration tools to help IBM i systems connect with modern technologies. LANSA: Specializes in tools for rapid application development, integration, and modernization, including low-code development platforms for IBM i. ARCAD Software: Delivers tools for DevOps, version control, and application modernization, helping organizations streamline their development processes and modernize their IBM i applications. Remain Software: Offers solutions for application lifecycle management, DevOps, and modernization, enabling IBM i users to enhance and extend the capabilities of their existing systems.

Training

Master SQL Queries: Participate in an Interactive Workshop

Join one of the best of the best when it comes to SQL on the IBM i.

Birgitta Hauser.

Birgitta has teamed up with imPower Technologies and produced an end to end self-paced workshop that includes labs, quizzes, and over twelve hours of video instruction.

It introduces SQL (Standard Query Language) for selecting, joining, and aggregating data in database tables.

Participants will learn to use IBM i Access Client Solutions (ACS) – Run SQL Scripts for entering and executing SQL statements.

By the end of the course, developers and database administrators should be able to generate and run SQL SELECT statements, alter and sort table data, join tables, and integrate sub-totals and totals in the results.

Learn more here.

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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