The IBM AS400 was a groundbreaking computer system.

First released in 1988 it quickly became the business system of choice for millions of companies all over the world. The AS400 was released to a pre-internet civilization, it grew and evolved as technology was introduced through the eighties, nineties and into the new millennium. It was replaced by the IBM iSeries, which was smaller, faster and designed to work in an internet connected world.

Over the next decade, technology evolution and rapid connectivity improvement sprinted at an exponential pace – this led to completely new system The IBM Power System – built from the ground up to be super-fast, cloud ready, SQL focused and supporting thousands of users at the same time.

IBM Power Systems can run multiple operating systems, including:

1. IBM i: A fully integrated operating system with database, middleware, security, runtime, and hypervisor all in one
2. IBM AIX: A version of the UNIX operating system designed for enterprise computing
3. Linux: Supported distributions include Red Hat, SUSE, and Ubuntu

One of these operating systems, IBM i, the grandson of the old AS400 operating system (OS/400). It is fully backwards compatible to the old AS400 and iSeries programs and databases.

Perhaps this is why, some of the older programmers and IT team members still use the name AS400 or iSERIES when referring to their POWER SYSTEM. The Power Systems seamless ability to run old computer software means these folks simply don’t realize that the IBM AS400 has not been sold for over a decade.

As I type this, it is 2024: Nobody is using an AS400 except a handful of computer museums.

If you are thinking “Wait, at my work they talk about an AS400 (or iSeries)! WTF?”

Don’t worry, you are using an IBM POWER SYSTEM running the IBM i Operating System but the (probably) gray haired techies are stuck in the caveman years and using the very old, very wrong, name for this system.

How do you handle someone that uses the wrong name for your Power System?

You should gently rub the shoulders of anyone that calls your machine an AS400, in the same way you would smile and rub the shoulders of any elderly in-law with dementia.

But be careful! These “AS400” caveman are prone to sudden lunges, wildly spinning shin kicks and occasional biting.

Why do some programmers use old and incorrect names for computer systems?

Cavemen CavePerson Programmers often use old or incorrect names for computer systems for several reasons:

1. Legacy Systems: Many organizations still rely on older systems and programming languages because they are stable and meet their needs. These systems were built using older names and terminology, which continue to be used by older programmers.
2. Familiarity: Programmers who have been working with certain systems for a long time may continue to use the names they are familiar with, even if they are outdated.
3. Documentation and Training: Existing documentation, training materials, and resources often use older names. Changing these names would require updating a vast amount of material, which can be time-consuming and costly.
4. Community and Support: There are still active communities of developers who use and support older systems and languages. These communities often stick to the traditional names and terminology.
5. Efficiency and Performance: Some older systems and languages are known for their efficiency and performance. Programmers may continue to use them because they are well-suited for specific applications.
6. Resistance to Change: There can be resistance to change within organizations. If a system works well, there may be little incentive to update the terminology or switch to newer systems.

Don’t be a caveman!