Refactoring RPGLE: Scott Klement’s Copybooks in Free Format RPG

If you’ve ever stared at a wall of fixed-format RPG code and wondered how to bring it into the 21st century, you’re not alone.

In this video, let’s walk through the process of upgrading Scott Klement’s RPGLE copybooks, transforming legacy column-based RPG into sleek, readable free-format RPGLE.

Why Modernize?

Legacy RPG code, while powerful, can be rigid and difficult to maintain. Fixed-format syntax demands strict column placement, making even simple changes a headache. Free-format RPGLE, on the other hand, offers: cleaner syntax, easier readability, better integration with modern tools like VS Code, and enhanced maintainability for future development

Ready? Let’s get hands-on and practical looking at:

• Analyzing legacy copybook structures: Understanding how data structures, prototypes, and procedures are defined in fixed-format RPG.
• Converting to free-format syntax: Step-by-step transformation of code blocks while preserving logic and functionality.
• Ensuring compatibility: Tips for maintaining seamless integration with existing applications.
• Best practices: Writing cleaner, more maintainable RPGLE code using modern conventions. Use indentation and whitespace to make your free-format code more readable. Leverage built-in RPGLE functions to simplify logic.

Don’t just convert your code, refactor your code!

Take the opportunity to improve structure and clarity. In modern RPGLE and CLLE we have many, many new opcodes that lets us do things natively in a single line of code, which used to require entire subroutines in old RPG3 and RPG400. Modernizing and refactoring old code is all about rethinking the logic, streamlining the structure, and embracing modern opcodes that make your code cleaner, faster, and easier to maintain.

Whether you’re a seasoned IBM i developer or just starting your RPG journey, this video might help?

Watch the full video and start modernizing your RPGLE copybooks today.