About What is Code for IBM i? An Overview for RPG, CL and SQLRPGLE Programmers
Today, we are diving into one of the most significant shifts in IBM i development over the last few years: the transition to modern development environments.
If you have spent your career working within the traditional "green screen" using SEU and PDM, or even if you have transitioned to Rational Developer for i (RDi), you have likely heard the development community buzzing about Code for IBM i.
In this lesson, we are going to demystify this tool and explore exactly what it brings to the table for RPGLE, CL, and SQLRPGLE programmers. Specifically, we will answer three core questions:
What exactly is Code for IBM i?
What tangible benefits does it offer to modern RPGLE, CL, and SQLRPGLE programmers?
Why is the "IBM i Development Pack" universally recommended over installing just the standalone extension?
By the end of this module, you will understand how to transition from legacy utilities to a highly efficient, modern workflow that respects the power of the IBM i platform while leveraging contemporary IDE features. Let’s get started.
Module Content
Today, we are diving into one of the most significant shifts in IBM i development over the last few years: the transition to modern development environments. If you have spent your career working within the traditional "green screen" using SEU and PDM, or even if you have transitioned to Rational Developer for i (RDi), you have likely heard the development community buzzing about Code for IBM i. In this lesson, we are going to demystify this tool and explore exactly what it brings to the table for RPGLE, CL, and SQLRPGLE programmers. Specifically, we will answer three core questions: What exactly is Code for IBM i? What tangible benefits does it offer to modern RPGLE, CL, and SQLRPGLE programmers? Why is the "IBM i Development Pack" universally recommended over installing just the standalone extension? By the end of this module, you will understand how to transition from legacy utilities to a highly efficient, modern workflow that respects the power of the IBM i platform while leveraging contemporary IDE features. Let’s get started.
"Code for IBM i" is a set of tools and extensions for Visual Studio Code (VS Code) that enables IBM i developers to create, edit, and manage IBM i applications directly within the VS Code environment.
The Db2 for IBM i extension is your SQL command center inside VS Code, built to make working with Db2 databases on IBM i feel modern, visual, and efficient.
The IBM CLLE extension is a sleek, no-nonsense tool that brings Control Language (CL) editing into the modern age of Visual Studio Code.
The COBOL Extension is a powerhouse for COBOL developers working in Visual Studio Code especially those juggling multiple dialects across IBM i, Micro Focus, ACUCOBOL, and COBOL-IT.
The VSCode 'RPGLE Extension' is a must-have tool for RPGLE developers looking to modernize their workflow in VS Code
The IBMi Languages extension is a syntax-highlighting powerhouse tailored for IBM i developers working in Visual Studio Code
The Project Explorer in Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a feature that allows you to manage and navigate your project's files and folders. It is a tree-like view of your project's directory structure, showing all the files and folders in your project.
TOBi, The Object Builder for i, is a free and open-source build system designed for the IBM i platform. It is used to create native "QSYS" objects. Developed by S4i Systems and now hosted on IBM's public GitHub, TOBi leverages GNU Make to compile only the objects that need recompiling, ensuring speed and reliability.
Source Orbit is a dependency management system. As IBM i developers start using git for the RPGLE, CL, DDS and SQL, we want to provide them with excellent tools to help them understand their source code. Source Orbit: scans all applicable source code to build a dependency tree can show how objects would be affected as developers write code (inside of Visual Studio Code) can generate JSON, or build scripts, to automatically build your application changes generates reports for branches being worked on so project owners can see their application in real time. helps migrate your code to git (See CLI, Cleanup capabilities)
The IBM i Renderer extension is a nifty visual aid for developers working with DDS display and printer files. It’s still in preview, but it’s already a handy tool for bridging green-screen layouts with modern IDE workflows.
The Error Lens extension is like turning up the contrast knob on your code diagnostics, it makes errors, warnings, and hints pop visually so you can squash bugs faster and with less squinting.
The Code for IBM i Walkthroughs extension is like a guided tour for IBM i developers stepping into the VS Code ecosystem. It’s built to onboard new users and reinforce best practices through interactive, markdown-driven walkthroughs.