Information Systems:Retiring Python/open-source development on IBM i
This page discusses specifically the project between 2017-2019 to implement a post-RPG software development strategy on IBM i by using a modern programming language as well as open-source software. As a concept, this was (and this day continues to be) an approach strongly advocated by IBM for users of IBM i.
The following archived articles are related to this endeavor:
History
- uniPHARM uses IBM i to host its ERP. The ERP and its extensions (known as UNITY extensions) are programmed in RPG, which is an aging language (officially "legacy")
- IBM i is a highly proprietary operating system but contains a "space" that emulates a Linux environment (PASE), complete with a shell. Somewhat analogous to WSL.
- Starting in 2017, IBM injected mass improvements to PASE, porting over major programming languages and open-source software such as MySQL/MariaDB, Python, Mono (.NET), Node.js, and nginx. They essentially created Linux within IBM i (pedants would be quick to correct this but it's the practical truth).
- Along with the introduction of modern programming languages to PASE, IBM also provided XMLTOOLKIT, which was a system API of sorts to allow these programs to interact with IBM i programs and objects.
Therefore, the ability to use modern, open-source software and programming languages, combined with the proximity to the built-in Db2 database and usefuleness of XMLTOOLKIT to interface with the system, made this a dream situation, on paper.
Decision to abandon
There were several factors that led to the eventual demise of this endeavor and strategy:
Issues with package 'flavor'
Despite the software being generally known to the world,
Newness of technology
It became apparent after a year or two of observing the IBM i open-source community that they were still in a state described as a "peak of inflated expectations".