The IBM i Programmers Best Friend is PDM

About The IBM i Programmers Best Friend is PDM

IBM i Operating System in more detail - Let's have a look at PDM

One of the tools associated with IBM i development is the Programming Development Manager (PDM). Let's explore what PDM is:

Purpose and Function

  • PDM was originally installed on most AS/400 systems as part of the Applications Development ToolSet (ADT)
  • It is still installed on most IBM i systems today
  • PDM provides an environment that allows programmers and operators to navigate three levels of functionality

Features and Capabilities

  • Work with Members Using PDM (WRKMBRPDM): This command enables users to work with a list of members in a database file. It bypasses the PDM menu and the Specify Members to Work With display
  • You can specify the file and member(s) you want to work with.
  • It's commonly used for managing source members (such as RPG, CL, or DDS) within libraries.
  • By using this command, you can quickly access and manipulate members without navigating through menus.

Usage Scenarios

  • Developers: Use PDM to organize and maintain source code, compile programs, and manage libraries.
  • Operators: Employ PDM for tasks related to program maintenance and deployment.

Integration with Modern Tools

  • While PDM served its purpose for many years, modern development environments like Rational Developer for i (RDi) have largely replaced it.
  • RDi provides a more robust and user-friendly interface for IBM i development tasks, including source management, debugging, and integration with other tools.

In summary, PDM was a foundational tool for managing source members on IBM i systems, but its usage has diminished over time due to advancements in development environments like Visual Studio Code and IBM RDi

Module Content

IBM i Operating System in more detail - Let's have a look at PDM

PDM - The Programmer Development Manager

4 Lessons

PDM's user-defined options can enhance your productivity by reducing the need to rely on frequently used commands. Let's play with some practical advice on how to implement user-defined options in your programming environment.

Option 2 from the main STRPDM menu lets us work with objects within the selected library.

Possibly the most used PDM sub-option is the WRKMBRPDM. Work with Members PDM : the main entry for all programmers to list their source code members and do some editing. It's powerful and flexible so let's dive in...

PDM's user-defined options can enhance your productivity by reducing the need to rely on frequently used commands. Let's play with some practical advice on how to implement user-defined options in your programming environment. PDM's predefined options enable you to perform various tasks against libraries, objects, and members. Did you know that you can create your own user-defined options to execute almost any command, including your own?

Ready to learn?
{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}
>