IBM i DevOps TechTalk #22
VS Code – Interview with Sébastien Julliand
by the experts at ARCAD
In this episode, Alan interviews Sébastien Julliand about the rise of VS Code in IBM i development. Sébastien shares his journey from the Merlin project to becoming a key contributor to open-source extensions like Code for IBM i, Skipper, and CodeChecker.
They discuss how VS Code is modernizing the developer experience, enabling integration with Jenkins, unit testing, and even AI tools. Listeners will learn why VS Code is quickly becoming the go-to environment for IBM i developers.
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The Story Behind the Mic: Podcast Transcription
Our Hosts
Alan Ashley
Solution Architect, ARCAD Software
Alan has been in support and promotion of the IBM i platform for over 30 years and is the Presales Consultant for DevOps on IBM i role with ARCAD Software. Prior to joining ARCAD Software, he spent many years in multiple roles within IBM from supporting customers through HA to DR to Application promotion to migrations of the IBM i to the cloud. In those roles, he saw first hand the pains many have with Application Lifecycle Management, modernization, and data protection. His passion in those areas fits right in with the ARCAD suite of products.
Sébastien Julliand
Tech Lead & IBM i Advocate
Sébastien Julliand, Tech Lead and IBM i Advocate at ARCAD Software, has been working for over 10 years to bridge the gap between IBM i and open systems. As an expert in multi-language development (RPGLE, Java, TypeScript), he serves as both a functional and technical reference within the R&D department. Actively involved in the development of several ARCAD products, he is the product manager for ARCAD CodeChecker and ARCAD extensions for VS Code, where he brings his DevOps expertise on a daily basis. A speaker at IBM i conferences and an open-source contributor, particularly on Code for IBM i, he was recognized as an IBM Champion in 2024 and 2025.