Welcome to another edition of Talsco Weekly

IBM i Brief: ℹ️ IBM i Subscription Conversion Details. 🔄 Streamlining IBM Db2 Data Transfer to Amazon RDS with Precisely.
AI: 🚀 Will AI and Low-Code Platforms Shape the IBM i Landscape?
Development: ℹ️ Zend Product Updates. 👨🏽‍💻Nano: A Quick Alternative to RDi and VSCode.
Modernization: 📊 Reducing technical debt: A critical agenda item for business leaders.
Open Source: 🚀 Node.js Creator’s New JavaScript Runtime. 💻 Installing Node.js on IBM i with IBM ACS (Tutorial).
Trends: 🖥️ Remote work debates: productivity vs. well-being.

IBM i Brief

ℹ️ IBM i Subscription Conversion Details

As usual, IT Jungle is doing a deep dive on IBM’s decision to transition to subscription pricing for IBM i stack.

The challenge is two-fold:

IBM is transitioning from a perpetual licensing model with separate software maintenance to an all-inclusive annual subscription model for the IBM i stack. This change coincides with an across-the-board increase in software and maintenance pricing.

The devil is in the details, as they say, so more will come after further analysis.

In summary, IBM is offering conversion deals for P05 and P10 tiers on Power9 and Power10 machines. Pricing changes include lower user costs and core pricing discounts. One might consider maximizing discounts with a five-year subscription in the P10 tier for the best value.

Click here for the analysis.

🔄 Streamlining IBM Db2 Data Transfer to Amazon RDS with Precisely

Precisely recently introduced new support to streamline the migration of IBM Db2 data into Amazon’s Relational Database Service (RDS). This move enhances the ability of Precisely customers to leverage Amazon’s analytics applications, while also granting AWS expanded access to data within IBM customers’ Db2 environments.

AI

🚀 Will AI and Low-Code Platforms Shape the IBM i Landscape?

Enterprises are embracing low-code platforms for digital transformation.

Here is an article from Constellation Research that predicts over two-thirds of companies will deploy standardized low-code solutions by 2025.

Amidst the rise of generative artificial intelligence, low-code tools are seen as essential bridges between human-coded and automated software solutions.

Experts emphasize:

the importance of a low-code mindset, standardization with governance flexibility, vendor selection with AI capabilities, integration with existing applications, and consideration of total ownership costs for successful low-code strategy implementation across enterprises.

Low-code and other modernization platforms have been around the IBM i platform for a long time. As for AI integration, it is evolving.

Depending on how you define AI, it has been around the IBM i platform for longer than you think.

Machine Learning (ML) as a subset of AI Machine learning (ML) is a subset of artificial intelligence (AI), focusing on data-driven algorithms that enable computers to learn and make decisions without explicit programming. While ML is a core component of AI, the broader AI field also includes methodologies like rule-based systems, which operate based on explicit rules rather than learning from data.

As AI technologies mature and more use cases are identified, more vendors will likely announce AI-driven features and products designed specifically for the IBM i platform.

He is an example of how one IBM i vendor is using AI agents programmatically with generative AI.

Development

ℹ️ Zend Product Updates:

For IBM i shops leveraging PHP here the key highlights and information on Zend Server 2019, Zend Server 2021, and ZendPHP.

Zend Server 2019 will cease manufacturing on July 31, 2024, prompting the recommendation of upgrading to Zend Server 2021 or migrating to ZendPHP.
Support for PHP 7.2 in Zend Server 2021 will end on the same date, advising users to move to PHP 7.3 or PHP 7.4.
ZendPHP support for PHP 7.2 concludes post-July 31, 2024, urging users to upgrade to a supported version.
ZendHQ is now compatible with Windows and IBM i, offering enhanced monitoring and debugging capabilities for improved application management.

Learn more here.

👨🏽‍💻Nano: A Quick Alternative to RDi and VSCode

Here is a quick introduction to Nano, a great editor for any editing to do with files on the IFS.

While some IBM i Developers use, RDi, others use VS Code, and yet some quietly still use PDM/SEO.

Now there is another option, Nano!

It’s for those quick edits needed to do to configuration files. No, it is not half as fancy as Rational Developer for i, nor VS Code, but it doesn’t have to be.

Here is a quick tutorial on Nano, a great open-source editor.

Modernization

📊 Reducing technical debt: A critical agenda item for business leaders

In the IBM i ecosystem, the effort to reduce technical debt has been top of mind for a long time.

Patchwork Quilt: Crafted with love, complexity, and zero understanding by future generations. – Technical Debt

What is the driving force behind this move?

This isn’t due to the IBM i being outdated. Instead, it’s because applications have been layered upon it for decades and likely require decommissioning, updating, or rewriting to accommodate modern workloads.

As this article points out, this is not isolated to the IBM i, but all technology stacks that have proven the test of time.

Open Source

🚀 Node.js Creator’s New JavaScript Runtime

Node.js has been around for 10+ years, then Ryan started up Deno as an alternative to Node.js.

Learn why Ryan Dahl, founder of Node.js and Deno, developed a new JavaScript runtime. Dahl shares insights on the inception of Deno, an alternative to Node.js. He discusses the security aspects crucial in the JavaScript environment and delves into the future landscape, including TypeScript’s impact and unifying server-side and browser JavaScript.

💻 Installing Node.js on IBM i with IBM ACS (Tutorial)

Setting up Node.js on IBM i Power System using IBM ACS is a straightforward process.

You have two main options:

start with the IBM i Node.js SDK that conveniently packages Node.js with other open-source tools
or opt for Node.js via PASE for a more customized setup.

To proceed, ensure the open-source environment is ready on your IBM i, then simply open ACS, visit the “Available packages” tab, find Node.js 20, and initiate the installation.

This streamlined approach guarantees a seamless integration of Node.js into your IBM i workspace. Click here for the Node.js tutorial.

Trends

🖥️ Remote work debates: productivity vs. well-being

As the debate over remote work rages on, conflicting opinions on productivity, happiness, and diversity emerge. Workers value flexibility and report increased happiness when afforded the option to work remotely.

However, CEOs often prioritize productivity, pushing for a return to the office despite employee pushback. Studies show mixed results on productivity, with factors like real estate costs and employee satisfaction impacting outcomes.

Whatever side you fall on, it’s clear that various perspectives must be considered beyond just productivity to foster a balanced work environment for all.

Comments: There is no question that remote work has been a net positive for the IBM i community. It has allowed candidates, along with IBM i managers, to find what they are looking for. At the same time, we still see some in the IBM i community value the office environment for a variety of reasons, especially in manufacturing and distribution-type environments. Overall, we see a majority of companies offering at the very least a hybrid, work-from-home model.

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