Setup Visual Studio Code for IBM i

Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started with Visual Studio Code for IBM i - including BOB the Better Object Builder, Source Orbit and Project Explorer. Quickly get up and running with GIT and local IBM i Code Development on your IBM i System

Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started with Visual Studio Code for IBM i - Let's install PASE for IBM i

The IBM i SSH daemon is a secure shell server that allows users to remotely access and manage their IBM i system using the Secure Shell (SSH) protocol. SSH is a secure, encrypted protocol that provides a secure way to access and manage remote systems.

The Internet Time Server (ITS) is a feature on the IBM i operating system that allows the system to synchronize its clock with a time server on the internet. This ensures that the system's clock is accurate and consistent with the current time.

IBM i Open Source Technologies refer to the collection of open-source software and tools that are available on the IBM i operating system. These technologies allow developers to create modern, web-based applications and integrate them with existing IBM i applications and data.

Bash is a popular Unix shell that is widely used on Linux and other Unix-like systems. The Open Source Bash on IBM i is a port of the Bash shell that allows users to run Bash scripts and commands on the IBM i platform.

BOB (Better Object Builder) is a popular open-source tool for IBM i developers that provides a more efficient and flexible way to build and manage objects on the IBM i platform. To install and configure BOB on your IBM i system, follow these steps

Source Orbit is available as a CLI tool. It can be installed through 'npm' onto most platforms, including IBM i. The npm installer is a tool used to install the Node Package Manager (npm) along with Node.js Let's record a screencast of a Realtime download and install of IBM i Source Orbit.

We've got Visual Studio Code for IBM i downloaded, installed so let's agree on some basic rules and standards. These are really more RULES, if you break the rules you are going to IBM i PRISON because your source code just wont compile!

Let's have a look at how we can store the IBM i Source Code locally on our PC and also compile it from there!

In VSCode for IBM i, "actions" refer to a set of pre-defined tasks or operations that can be performed on IBM i objects, such as programs, files, and jobs.

Developing on the IBM i System is easier when our source code is stored in the IFS, rather than older style source files in libraries. A picture may paint a thousand words, but a live screencast can be just as informative. Let's create one that covers the installation of VSCode, the setup of Code for IBM i extensions, and the process of connecting to our IBM i system. We'll explore the IFS and demonstrate how to upload source code from the local PC to it.

Flipping between local development and host development (on your IBM i System) - so just drag the IFS Explorer to the right side of the screen

Let's look at the important files that define our VSCODE for IBM i Workspace