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IBM i meets IBM Bob:
Modernize Your Applications and Operations (Dev & Sysadmin)
A hands-on workshop
May 20, 2026
12:30 – 17:30 (starting with lunch)
IBM BLS Brussels
an IBM TechXchange Workshop
in collaboration with Common Belgium
🎯 Transform legacy code and automate your IBM i operations, guided by Bob
Do you develop for or administer IBM i systems and want to modernize without risking production? With IBM Bob, see how to speed up code analysis, convert RPG fixed to free format, migrate from RLA to SQL, build modern web interfaces, and automate system administration.
This workshop welcomes Members of Common Belgium, as well as other IBM clients, Business Partners.
Highlights
- ✨ Quickly understand complex legacy code
- 🔄 Automatically convert RPG fixed to free format
- 🌐 Build modern web interfaces with React and Carbon
- 📊 Migrate from RLA (Record Level Access) to SQL with performant joins
- 🤖 Automate admin tasks with MCP, Ansible, and custom modes
- 🧪 Test with automatically generated unit tests (RPGUnit)
Schedule and Agenda
- 12:30 Lunch and networking
- 13:30 Workshop start and IBM Bob onboarding
- 13:45 to 15:00 Beginner or Intermediate track of your choice
- 15:00 to 15:30 Break
- 15:30 to 16:45 Advanced track or guided deep dive
- 16:45 to 17:00 Recap, best practices, and Q&A
- 17:00 End of session
Format and Objectives
- Hands-on at your own pace, guided by IBM experts
- Modular tracks tailored for developers and administrators
- Concrete results you can reuse after the session
By the end of the workshop, if you follow all labs, you will be able to:
- Analyze legacy code with IBM Bob
- Convert RPG fixed to free format
- Build a web interface with React and Carbon
- Migrate RLA to SQL following performance best practices
- Automate operations with MCP and Ansible
- Manage PTFs with Ansible and Bob
- Assess the impact of changes on your codebase
- Generate and run unit tests with RPGUnit
What’s Included
- Ready-to-use lab tracks
- Full sample application with source code
- Step-by-step guides with optimized Bob prompts
- Before-and-after modernization code examples
- Access to IBM i custom modes for Bob
- Complete technical documentation
- Skills you can apply immediately
Prerequisites and Equipment
Option 1: Bring your laptop
- IBM Bob installed
- Node.js recommended (current LTS version)
Option 2: Use our workstations
- Preconfigured environment, ready to go
- Note: only 10 workstations are available for the first registrants
IBM i Access
- IBM i systems available for advanced labs
- SSH connection provided
- Isolated test environment
Who Should Attend
IBM i Developers
- Modernize RPG, COBOL, and CL
- Move to free format and SQL
- Expose modern web interfaces
System Administrators
- Automate PTF management with Ansible
- Leverage AI to diagnose and resolve faster
- Optimize DevOps workflows
Architects and Project Managers
- Assess modernization impact
- Plan a transformation program
- Explore generative AI use cases
IBM i Beginners
- No prior experience required
- Learn with an AI assistant
- Progress at your own pace
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