IBM i 7.4 release and Db2 Mirror updates; AI advancements including 3D‑printed heart, Watson AI shift, AI/Blockchain for environmental challenges, and AI/Big Data on Power Systems; blockchain impact and IBM Blockchain Platform use cases; future work trends and career insights for 2030; DevOps tools accelerating code releases; hiring strategies emphasizing retraining and non‑degree pathways; leadership tips for gaining IT project support; business modernization and ERP transformation; open‑source Node.js framework comparisons.
Welcome to another edition of Talsco Weekly
- News: The release of Db2 Mirror and other updates in IBM i 7.4. The Power of Legacy Systems.
- AI: First 3D printed heart. Watson AI for Healthcare shifts focus.
- Blockchain: Blockchain's growing influence. VW and IBM Blockchain.
- Career: What will work look like in the year 2030?
- DevOps: Startup that helps developers release code faster.
- Hiring: The trend in hiring is retraining. You don't have a degree? So, what — you're hired!
- Leadership: How to win support for your IT projects.
- Modernization: ERP has changed. IT Modernization and Business Modernization.
- Open Source: Some options for Node.js frameworks.
The Release of IBM i 7.4 and Db2 Mirror
News
It has been three years since the latest version of IBM i 7.3. There is a lot to talk about.
Steve Bradshaw, writing for PowerWire.eu, and his company is part of the Early Ship Program, has had the opportunity to play around with 7.4.
In his article, "Say Hello to IBM i 7.4", he gives a nice overview on the industry game changer Db2 Mirror for i, as well as some of the other new things that are offered, including some new open source languages support.
For more on Db2 Mirror, Timothy Prickett Morgan, in his IT Jungle article, does a deep dive into what is "called an active-active database cluster across two machines."
The Staying Power of Legacy Systems
"It’s not an isolated story. Legacy systems have staying power—whether they are IBM or Unisys mainframes, or other established legacy hardware and software solutions that have been delivered by companies like Microsoft, Oracle, SAP or HP. What keeps these legacy systems going?"
Why is this important?
All three of these articles confirm what we have known for a long time: the IBM i and its predecessors keep getting better with age.
AI
Israeli scientists unveil world's first 3D-printed heart with human tissue
I am not sure if most people realize the capability of 3D-printing. Most think of it as a technology that can print an object.
But it is more than that. As this article points out, when it is combined with AI and human tissue, human organs can be made available for transplant.
IBM is shuttering its Watson AI tool for drug discovery (IBM)
"In the most recent blow to its health unit, IBM Watson is cutting off sales of its artificial intelligence (AI) drug discovery tool after reporting lagging sales."
This does not mean that Watson is going away. It's simply shifting focus to the clinical side of Watson Healthcare. Nevertheless, this is an interesting development for IBM.
Bringing AI and Blockchain to Bear on Environmental Challenges
The digital transformation of our business and our clients’ businesses is improving the degree to which we can both examine and address global environmental challenges.
Today, we are able to do some extraordinary things by extracting value from data using analytics, blockchain, the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) and the cloud — none of which we were able to do before.
AI and Big Data on IBM Power Systems Servers
"As big data becomes more ubiquitous, businesses are wondering how they can best leverage it to gain insight into their most important business questions."
This is an IBM Redbook that helps connect the dots on how to leverage data using ML, DL and AI.
Blockchain
How blockchain could influence our daily routines
Here is an interesting and thought-provoking article about how blockchain will influence what you do and the decisions you make on a daily basis. It walks you through a typical day of an average individual.
It makes me think about a number of things.
The way business was done in the 2000's is no longer. It's a new world, with new rules.
In summary, the article highlights "some of the potential overall use cases that the technology enables: stimulate the economy and improve the financial inclusion, improve foundational internet layers, transforming the economics of digital content, transforming the software development life-cycle, guaranteeing truly digital identities or allowing new governance systems to be used."
Who knows how this will all play out, but there is no question blockchain will make an impact, potentially unlike anything we have seen.
Volkswagen Group Joins Responsible Sourcing Network
"Built on the IBM Blockchain Platform and powered by the Linux Foundation's Hyperledger Fabric, the new platform for enabling the traceability and provenance of minerals is designed to provide easy access for interested parties of all sizes and roles in the supply chain."
Career
Here is a very interesting, easy to follow article on what work will look like in about 10 years.
"The white paper considered eight distinct scenarios on what work might be like by 2030, based on different combinations of three of the most impactful and uncertain variables affecting the future of work: the rate of technological change; the evolution of learning in the workforce; and the magnitude of talent mobility across geographies."
DevOps
Here is an interesting solution for DevOps.
With this product, developers "can see how the new features or bug fixes they built work, testing them out in real-time before they're released to the public."
Hiring
Retraining workers — or teaching current employees the advanced skills companies need — is not only cost effective, but can speed up how quickly companies adapt to new technologies.
“Students assume getting a four-year degree — and taking on the thousands of dollars of student-loan debt that comes along with it — is the only way to get your foot in the door at top companies such as Apple, Google, and Netflix."
This is no longer true.
Does your company have an education requirement that prevents you from hiring qualified talent?
Leadership
Three ways to get the business on board with your IT initiatives
Looking to implement new technology or get buy-in from the C-level? It takes leadership on your part.
Here is a great article on how to get people to support you.
Articles like this are very important for those of us who are at the forefront of bringing awareness to the IBM i platform. If you can't get buy-in from executives, it does not matter how amazing the platform is.
Will future leaders need degrees?
Proof that apprenticeships are the way of the future.
"AAT recently tested 2000 people of all ages across the UK on their knowledge of careers and organisations which don’t require a university degree. This was in a bid to raise awareness of the alternatives to higher education available to students, in particular apprenticeships, which can be a gateway to some of the highest paid jobs of the future."
Looking for RPG talent?
Create your own apprenticeship program by hiring and training RPG Developers.
Modernization
Is business modernization on your agenda?
"While it may seem obvious that modernization should be the foundation for creating a digital business, most CIOs say that they go hand in hand and can feed off each other in different, not-so-obvious ways."
A Digital Transformation Debriefing with Jeff Immelt
Here is a signal on how technology, specifically ERP systems, are delivered and will continue to change in the future.
If you're investing in a manufacturing or production system or an ERP, the CIO makes that decision. And the manufacturing person is the implementer of that system. And I think particularly in manufacturing, there's going to be a wave where the workers are the drivers, not just the receiver of all these technologies. I personally don't think it can be led exclusively by the CIO. It's got to be led by a digitally savvy supply chain person.
Open Source
Choosing the right Node.js Framework: Next, Nuxt, Nest
If you are an RPG Developer and starting to work with Node.js, here is an article that takes a look at "the differences between three more very popular frameworks: Next, Nuxt, and Nest."
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