Thinking about becoming a Freelance IBM-i Consultant?
Have you ever asked yourself, “Can I ditch the permanent job and become a Freelance IBM i Consultant?”
You are not alone.
Plenty of experienced RPG programmers reach a point where the permanent job no longer feels like the best fit. Maybe the company is stuck on old column-format code, the interesting projects have dried up, or you simply want more control over what you work on. Freelancing on IBM i is a realistic option, and the demand for people who can bridge traditional RPG with modern techniques is still strong.
The combination that works well is solid RPG experience plus the ability to modernise. Clients often have decades of business logic sitting in RPG programs. They need someone who understands that logic, can improve it, and can also connect it to the rest of the world. Project management skills help too, because modernisation work is rarely just coding.
Here are the areas that tend to matter most if you want to work as a freelance IBM i consultant.
Modern RPG and free-format RPG
Many shops are still heavily dependent on RPG even while they talk about modernisation. Being comfortable with the current style of the language makes a clear difference.
Focus on:
- Fully free-format RPG
- Service programs and binding directories
- Clean, modular coding standards
- SQLRPGLE instead of native record-level access where it makes sense
You do not have to rewrite every program that has ever existed. You do need to show you can write maintainable free-format code and structure applications properly.
SQL on IBM i
This is one of the highest-value skills you can add. Companies are modernising their databases and they struggle to find developers who are genuinely strong with Db2 for i.
Useful areas include:
- Embedded SQL in RPG
- SQL procedures, functions and triggers
- Modern Db2 for i features
- Query optimisation and indexing
Native file access still has its place, but the people who move easily between RPG and SQL usually get the more interesting (and better-paid) work.
Web services and APIs
IBM i systems rarely sit in isolation these days. A large share of modernisation projects involve connecting existing applications to cloud platforms, SaaS tools or other systems.
Get practical experience with:
- JSON
- REST APIs
- HTTPAPI (Scott Klement’s toolkit)
- IWS (Integrated Web Services)
- Consuming and exposing web services from RPG
Being the person who can make those integrations work, rather than just the person who maintains the green screens, is a strong differentiator.
Open source tools on IBM i
You do not need to become a full-time JavaScript or Python developer. You do need to understand the tooling that modern IBM i shops are using.
Useful pieces include:
- Git
- VS Code with Code for IBM i
- Basic Node.js or Python where it helps
- Bash and QShell
Clients who have already moved past SEU and pure green-screen development expect consultants to be comfortable with source control and modern editors.
Modernisation projects
These usually pay better than pure maintenance work. Typical areas include:
- DDS to DDL conversion
- Database modernisation
- Refactoring legacy RPG into modular code
- API enablement
- Source control and basic DevOps practices
- Green-screen replacement or wrapping
Clients often know what they want the end result to look like. They are less sure how to get there without breaking the business logic that already works. That gap is where an experienced person can add real value.
Cloud and managed IBM i
More organisations are moving workloads off physical boxes. Familiarity with environments such as IBM Power Virtual Server, Skytap, Connectria, LightEdge or similar managed providers is useful. You do not need to become a cloud architect, but understanding how IBM i runs in these setups makes you more relevant to clients who have already made the move or are planning it.
Working remote
One of the genuine advantages of freelancing is the ability to work remotely. Flexible hours mean you can shape the day around deep coding sessions rather than fixed office times. The environment is usually more comfortable too. You get your own chair, your own coffee, and none of the office politics that used to eat up half the afternoon.
The downside shows up when clients sit in different time zones. Meetings can land at any hour, early morning or late evening, depending on where the people are. You quickly learn to protect focus time and to be clear about availability, otherwise the calendar fills with calls that interrupt the actual work.
How to position yourself
The most effective approach is not to try to learn every new technology that appears. Instead, present yourself as an experienced IBM i modernisation consultant who understands RPG, business processes, SQL, APIs and modern development practices.
That mix is still relatively rare. Younger developers may know the latest frameworks, but fewer of them have deep knowledge of how long-running IBM i applications actually behave in the real world.
If you want a practical learning path, prioritise these in order:
- SQLRPGLE
- Modern free-format RPG
- REST APIs and JSON
- Git and VS Code
- Open source technologies on IBM i
Those five areas alone put you in a strong position for freelance work over the next decade. The platform is not going away, and the people who can modernise it without losing the existing business value remain in demand.
Freelancing on IBM i is not a magic escape from work, but for the right person it is a solid, sustainable option.
If you already know the platform and you are willing to fill a few specific skill gaps, it is worth serious consideration.
