{"id":72079,"date":"2025-02-14T15:18:56","date_gmt":"2025-02-14T13:18:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.arcadsoftware.com\/arcad\/?p=72079"},"modified":"2025-10-02T11:38:15","modified_gmt":"2025-10-02T09:38:15","slug":"vs-code-vs-rdi-which-ide-for-ibm-i-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.arcadsoftware.com\/arcad\/news-events\/blog\/vs-code-vs-rdi-which-ide-for-ibm-i-development\/","title":{"rendered":"VS Code vs RDi:   Which IDE for IBM i Development?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 fusion-flex-container nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-padding-right:15px;--awb-padding-left:15px;--awb-padding-right-small:20px;--awb-padding-left-small:20px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-justify-content-center fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1248px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_2_3 2_3 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-blend:overlay;--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:66.666666666667%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:2.88%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:0px;--awb-spacing-left-large:2.88%;--awb-width-medium:66.666666666667%;--awb-spacing-right-medium:2.88%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:2.88%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1\"><h3 class=\"\" style=\"text-align: center; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 20px; font-size: 15px; --fontsize: 15; line-height: 1.3; --minfontsize: 15;\" data-fontsize=\"15\" data-lineheight=\"19.5px\">by S\u00e9bastien Julliand<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-1 fusion_builder_column_2_3 2_3 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-blend:overlay;--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:66.666666666667%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:2.88%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:0px;--awb-spacing-left-large:2.88%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-2 fusion-text-no-margin\" style=\"--awb-margin-top:20px;--awb-margin-bottom:0px;\"><p>IBM i development has been undergoing an interesting transformation in recent years. Two of the most widely used integrated development environments (IDEs) in this space are <a href=\"\/arcad\/vs-code-on-ibm-i-aka-as400-with-arcad-for-devops\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">VS Code<\/a> and <a href=\"\/arcad\/products\/rdi-rational-developer-for-i\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">RDi (Rational Developer for i)<\/a>. But what are their strengths, and why do some developers prefer one over the other? In this article, we will explore the advantages and disadvantages of these two tools to help you choose the IDE that best suits your needs.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-2 fusion-flex-container nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-padding-right:15px;--awb-padding-left:15px;--awb-padding-right-small:20px;--awb-padding-left-small:20px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" id=\"blog-content\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-justify-content-center fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1248px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-2 fusion_builder_column_2_3 2_3 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-blend:overlay;--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:66.666666666667%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:2.88%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:0px;--awb-spacing-left-large:2.88%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n(function ($) {\n  function setInnerLinks(containerID, elementClass) {\n    var $container = $('#' + containerID);\n    if (!$container.length) return;\n\n    \/\/ Emplacement du sommaire (Avada) avec repli sur le container\n    var $host = $(\"#blog-content>.fusion-builder-row>.fusion-layout-column:first-child .fusion-column-wrapper\");\n    if (!$host.length) $host = $container;\n\n    \/\/ Cr\u00e9e le bloc sommaire une seule fois\n    var $summary = $host.find('.summary');\n    if (!$summary.length) {\n      $summary = $(\"<div class='summary'><\/div>\");\n      var host = window.location.hostname.toLowerCase();\nvar tocTitle =\n  host.endsWith('.fr') ? 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($header.outerHeight() || 0) : 0;\n\n    \/\/ D\u00e9l\u00e9gation: un seul handler pour tous les liens\n    $list.off('click.toc').on('click.toc', 'a', function (e) {\n      e.preventDefault();\n      var targetId = $(this).attr('href'); \/\/ ex: #vs-code-settings-sync\n      var $t = $(targetId);\n      if (!$t.length) return;\n\n      var y = Math.max($t.offset().top - offset, 0);\n      $('html, body').animate({ scrollTop: y }, 400);\n\n      \/\/ Met \u00e0 jour l\u2019URL sans jump\n      if (history.replaceState) history.replaceState(null, '', targetId);\n    });\n  }\n\n  \/\/ Document ready\n  $(function () {\n    setInnerLinks('blog-content', 'h2:not(.exclude-summary)');\n  });\n\n  \/\/ Optionnel: exporter la fonction\n  window.setInnerLinks = setInnerLinks;\n})(jQuery);\n<\/script>\n\n<div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-3\"><h2 class=\"fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"--fontsize: 30; line-height: 1.2;\" data-fontsize=\"30\" data-lineheight=\"36px\">1. Why is VS Code becoming a popular choice for IBM i developers?<\/h2>\n<p><b><\/b><a href=\"\/arcad\/vs-code-on-ibm-i-aka-as400-with-arcad-for-devops\/\"><b>VS Code<\/b>,<\/a> developed by Microsoft, is a lightweight code editor known for its speed and flexibility. Unlike a traditional IDE such as RDi, <b>VS Code is not a full-fledged platform<\/b> on its own but rather a highly configurable text editor with extensions. These extensions, such as Code for IBM i, included in the IBM i Developer Pack, enable IBM i developers to use this editor for their projects.<\/p>\n<p>One of VS Code\u2019s main advantages is that it is<b> free<\/b> and has a <b>large open-source community.<\/b> This allows users to adopt it easily without additional costs. Additionally, its native integration <b>with Git <\/b>and support for multiple programming languages make it an ideal choice for younger developers, who are often already familiar with this environment.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-4\"><h2 class=\"fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"--fontsize: 30; line-height: 1.2; --fontSize: 30;\" data-fontsize=\"30\" data-lineheight=\"36px\">2. What are the limitations of VS Code compared to RDi?<\/h2>\n<p>Although <b>VS Code has great potential<\/b>, it still has limitations, particularly in the advanced features that <a href=\"\/arcad\/products\/rdi-rational-developer-for-i\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">RDi<\/a> provides. For example,<b> RDi is a full-fledged IDE designed specifically for IBM i<\/b> developers, offering powerful tools for <b>debugging, object management, and complex component creation<\/b>. It was built with deep functionality for DB2 database management and IBM i system integration.<\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, VS Code often requires <b>additional extensions <\/b>to cover certain specialized aspects of development, such as component management or maintenance reporting. While these gaps are gradually being filled by continuous updates and contributions from the open-source community, they are still present for more <b>complex development needs. <\/b><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-5\"><h2 class=\"\" style=\"--fontsize: 30; line-height: 1.2;\" data-fontsize=\"30\" data-lineheight=\"36px\">3. What specific advantages does ARCAD bring to both environments?<\/h2>\n<p>ARCAD Software plays a significant role in integrating VS Code with IBM i. Through <a href=\"https:\/\/marketplace.visualstudio.com\/search?term=%22arcad%20software%22&amp;target=VSCode&amp;category=All%20categories&amp;sortBy=Relevance-elias\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ARCAD extensions for VS Code<\/a>, users can connect VS Code to an IBM i server to manage administrative and development functions, such as server restarts or component creation. These extensions also enable integration with code quality control tools, such as <a href=\"\/arcad\/products\/arcad-code-checker-source-quality\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">CodeChecker<\/a> and <a href=\"\/arcad\/products\/arcad-transformer-rpg-free-format-rpg-conversion\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Transformer RPG<\/a>, to improve code quality and developer productivity.<\/p>\n<p>One of ARCAD&#8217;s key advantages is <b>its shared metadata repository, which allows all integrated tools<\/b>, whether in VS Code or RDi, to remain synchronized. This means that when a modification is made in one environment, it is automatically propagated throughout the development process, enhancing workflow continuity and efficiency.<\/p>\n<p class=\"astuce\"><i><b style=\"color: #437cb4;\">Tip: <\/b>If you are already an RDi user, integrating <a href=\"https:\/\/marketplace.visualstudio.com\/search?term=%22arcad%20software%22&amp;target=VSCode&amp;category=All%20categories&amp;sortBy=Relevance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ARCAD extensions into VS Code<\/a> can be a great way to test this IDE while maintaining the tools you are already using.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-3 fusion_builder_column_2_3 2_3 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:66.666666666667%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:2.88%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:2.88%;--awb-width-medium:66.666666666667%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:2.88%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:2.88%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-6\"><h2 class=\"\" style=\"--fontsize: 30; line-height: 1.2;\" data-fontsize=\"30\" data-lineheight=\"36px\">4. Can VS Code handle all development tasks, or is RDi still necessary?<\/h2>\n<p>Yes, for most common tasks, <b>VS Code is now a fully functional development environment for IBM i.<\/b> Whether you are creating new components, debugging, accessing the Db2 for i database, or managing applications, VS Code, with its extensions, allows these actions to be performed smoothly.<\/p>\n<p>However, RDi remains more robust for IBM i-specific tasks that require deeper system integration. For example, some object management or reporting operations may still require the use of RDi or other tools such as the green screen.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-7 fusion-text-no-margin\" style=\"--awb-margin-bottom:40px;\"><h2 class=\"\" style=\"--fontsize: 30; line-height: 1.2;\" data-fontsize=\"30\" data-lineheight=\"36px\">5. Which IDE should you choose for IBM i development?<\/h2>\n<p>The choice between VS Code and RDi depends largely on your context and priorities. If you are looking for a modern, lightweight, free, and highly flexible tool, with strong Git integration and active community support, VS Code is likely the best option for you.<\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, if you need a mature environment with a suite of IBM i-specific tools, particularly for administrative tasks or advanced debugging, RDi might be the preferred choice. For a hybrid solution, integrating <a href=\"https:\/\/marketplace.visualstudio.com\/items?itemName=arcadsoftware.arcad-elias\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ARCAD Elias into VS Code<\/a> allows you to combine the lightness of VS Code with the powerful features of RDi.<\/p>\n<p class=\"astuce\"><i><b style=\"color: #437cb4;\">Pro tip: <\/b><\/i>For teams transitioning from RDi to VS Code, starting by installing <a href=\"https:\/\/marketplace.visualstudio.com\/items?itemName=arcadsoftware.arcad-elias\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ARCAD Elias<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/marketplace.visualstudio.com\/search?term=%22arcad%20software%22&amp;target=VSCode&amp;category=All%20categories&amp;sortBy=Relevance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">other ARCAD extensions<\/a> could make this transition much smoother.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"table-1\">\n<table width=\"100%\">\n<caption>Differences between VS Code and RDi<\/caption>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th align=\"left\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW202605594 BCX0\" lang=\"FR-FR\" xml:lang=\"FR-FR\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW202605594 BCX0\">Criteria<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW202605594 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/th>\n<th align=\"left\"><strong>VS Code<\/strong><\/th>\n<th align=\"left\"><strong>RDi<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"left\"><strong><span class=\"TextRun SCXW12882778 BCX0\" lang=\"FR-FR\" xml:lang=\"FR-FR\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW12882778 BCX0\">Type of IDE<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW12882778 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td align=\"left\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW243549976 BCX0\" lang=\"FR-FR\" xml:lang=\"FR-FR\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW243549976 BCX0\">Lightweight<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW243549976 BCX0\"> code editor<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW243549976 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/td>\n<td align=\"left\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW29222924 BCX0\" lang=\"FR-FR\" xml:lang=\"FR-FR\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW29222924 BCX0\">Full-<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW29222924 BCX0\">featured<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW29222924 BCX0\"> IDE<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW29222924 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"left\"><strong>Cost<\/strong><\/td>\n<td align=\"left\">Free<\/td>\n<td align=\"left\">Paid<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"left\"><strong><span class=\"TextRun SCXW201046095 BCX0\" lang=\"FR-FR\" xml:lang=\"FR-FR\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW201046095 BCX0\">Ease<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW201046095 BCX0\"> of use<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW201046095 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td align=\"left\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW117058215 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW117058215 BCX0\">Fast, lightweight, ideal for young developers<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW117058215 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/td>\n<td align=\"left\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW129567998 BCX0\" lang=\"FR-FR\" xml:lang=\"FR-FR\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW129567998 BCX0\">More <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW129567998 BCX0\">comprehensive<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW129567998 BCX0\"> but <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW129567998 BCX0\">heavier<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW129567998 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"left\"><strong><span class=\"TextRun SCXW39565289 BCX0\" lang=\"FR-FR\" xml:lang=\"FR-FR\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW39565289 BCX0\">Extensions &amp; <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW39565289 BCX0\">customization<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW39565289 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td align=\"left\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW234311221 BCX0\" lang=\"FR-FR\" xml:lang=\"FR-FR\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW234311221 BCX0\">Large extension <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW234311221 BCX0\">community<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW234311221 BCX0\">, flexible<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW234311221 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/td>\n<td align=\"left\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW195682141 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW195682141 BCX0\">More limited customization but well-integrated<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW195682141 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"left\"><strong><span class=\"TextRun SCXW35992337 BCX0\" lang=\"FR-FR\" xml:lang=\"FR-FR\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW35992337 BCX0\">Git support<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW35992337 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td align=\"left\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW161707889 BCX0\" lang=\"FR-FR\" xml:lang=\"FR-FR\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW161707889 BCX0\">Native <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW161707889 BCX0\">integration<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW161707889 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/td>\n<td align=\"left\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW56861112 BCX0\" lang=\"FR-FR\" xml:lang=\"FR-FR\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW56861112 BCX0\">Git <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW56861112 BCX0\">integration<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW56861112 BCX0\"> via plugin<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW56861112 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"left\"><strong><span class=\"TextRun SCXW49463537 BCX0\" lang=\"FR-FR\" xml:lang=\"FR-FR\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW49463537 BCX0\">Database<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW49463537 BCX0\"> management (DB2)<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW49463537 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td align=\"left\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW200465676 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW200465676 BCX0\">Supported via open-source extensions<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW200465676 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/td>\n<td align=\"left\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW191948569 BCX0\" lang=\"FR-FR\" xml:lang=\"FR-FR\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW191948569 BCX0\">Native <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW191948569 BCX0\">integration<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW191948569 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"left\"><strong><span class=\"TextRun SCXW256752982 BCX0\" lang=\"FR-FR\" xml:lang=\"FR-FR\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW256752982 BCX0\">Debugging<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW256752982 BCX0\">features<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW256752982 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td align=\"left\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW259418492 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW259418492 BCX0\">Debugging via extensions (batch mode and Service Entry Points)<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW259418492 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/td>\n<td align=\"left\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW1358463 BCX0\" lang=\"FR-FR\" xml:lang=\"FR-FR\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW1358463 BCX0\">Fully<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW1358463 BCX0\">integrated<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW1358463 BCX0\">debugging<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW1358463 BCX0\">tools<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW1358463 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"left\"><strong><span class=\"TextRun SCXW181922821 BCX0\" lang=\"FR-FR\" xml:lang=\"FR-FR\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW181922821 BCX0\">ARCAD <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW181922821 BCX0\">integration<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW181922821 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td align=\"left\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW64535396 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW64535396 BCX0\">ARCAD extensions for better integration<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW64535396 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/td>\n<td align=\"left\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW145673323 BCX0\" lang=\"FR-FR\" xml:lang=\"FR-FR\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW145673323 BCX0\">Fully<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW145673323 BCX0\">integrated<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW145673323 BCX0\">with<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW145673323 BCX0\"> ARCAD<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW145673323 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"left\"><strong><span class=\"TextRun SCXW241616632 BCX0\" lang=\"FR-FR\" xml:lang=\"FR-FR\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW241616632 BCX0\">Maturity<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW241616632 BCX0\"> &amp; <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW241616632 BCX0\">stability<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW241616632 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td align=\"left\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW124337468 BCX0\" lang=\"FR-FR\" xml:lang=\"FR-FR\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW124337468 BCX0\">Continuously<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW124337468 BCX0\">evolving<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW124337468 BCX0\">, <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW124337468 BCX0\">frequent<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW124337468 BCX0\"> updates<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW124337468 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/td>\n<td align=\"left\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW74991817 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW74991817 BCX0\">Stable and mature, used for decades<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW74991817 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"left\"><strong><span class=\"TextRun SCXW258700633 BCX0\" lang=\"FR-FR\" xml:lang=\"FR-FR\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW258700633 BCX0\">Open-source <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW258700633 BCX0\">environment<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW258700633 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td align=\"left\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW231718142 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW231718142 BCX0\">Fully open-source, community-supported<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW231718142 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/td>\n<td align=\"left\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW64270426 BCX0\" lang=\"FR-FR\" xml:lang=\"FR-FR\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW64270426 BCX0\">Proprietary<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW64270426 BCX0\">, <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW64270426 BCX0\">developed<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW64270426 BCX0\"> by IBM<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW64270426 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-8\" style=\"--awb-margin-top:50px;\"><h3 class=\"\" style=\"--fontsize: 20; line-height: 1.3; --minfontsize: 20;\" data-fontsize=\"20\" data-lineheight=\"26px\">Conclusion<\/h3>\n<p><b>VS Code and RDi<\/b> are two powerful tools, each designed for different use cases. <b>VS Code,<\/b> with its open-source extensions, is the <b>ideal choice for modern developers<\/b>. <b>RDi<\/b> remains the <b>gold standard for those who need a complete and mature development environment.<\/b> Thanks to ARCAD\u2019s contributions, it is now possible to combine the best of both worlds, offering greater flexibility and productivity for IBM i development.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-3 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-padding-top:45px;--awb-padding-right-small:20px;--awb-padding-left-small:20px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-justify-content-center fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1248px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-4 fusion_builder_column_2_3 2_3 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-padding-top:25px;--awb-padding-right:25px;--awb-padding-left:25px;--awb-bg-color:var(--awb-color1);--awb-bg-color-hover:var(--awb-color1);--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-box-shadow:2px 1px 4px 0px rgba(33,41,52,0.41);;--awb-width-large:66.666666666667%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:2.88%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:2.88%;--awb-width-medium:66.666666666667%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:2.88%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:2.88%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-builder-row-inner fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-justify-content-center fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"--awb-flex-grow:0;--awb-flex-grow-medium:0;--awb-flex-grow-small:0;--awb-flex-shrink:0;--awb-flex-shrink-medium:0;--awb-flex-shrink-small:0;width:104% !important;max-width:104% !important;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column_inner fusion-builder-nested-column-0 fusion_builder_column_inner_1_5 1_5 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:20%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:0%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:5px;--awb-spacing-left-large:9.6%;--awb-width-medium:20%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:0%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:9.6%;--awb-width-small:20%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:0%;--awb-margin-bottom-small:0px;--awb-spacing-left-small:9.6%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"--awb-max-width:130px;--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-1 hover-type-none\" style=\"border-radius:50px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" title=\"sebastien-julliand\" src=\"https:\/\/www.arcadsoftware.fr\/arcad\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/sebastien-julliand.png\" alt class=\"img-responsive wp-image-71853\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.arcadsoftware.com\/arcad\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/sebastien-julliand-200x200.png 200w, https:\/\/www.arcadsoftware.com\/arcad\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/sebastien-julliand.png 250w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 250px\" \/><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column_inner fusion-builder-nested-column-1 fusion_builder_column_inner_3_4 3_4 fusion-flex-column fusion-flex-align-self-center\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:75%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:2.56%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:0px;--awb-spacing-left-large:2.56%;--awb-width-medium:75%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:2.56%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:2.56%;--awb-width-small:80%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-margin-top-small:0px;--awb-spacing-right-small:2.4%;--awb-spacing-left-small:2.4%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-1 fusion-sep-none fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color5);--awb-margin-top:0px;--awb-margin-bottom:0px;--awb-margin-top-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:0px;--awb-font-size:22px;\"><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"font-family:&quot;Poppins&quot;;font-style:normal;font-weight:600;margin:0;font-size:1em;--fontSize:22;--minFontSize:22;line-height:1.3;\">S\u00e9bastien Julliand<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-2 fusion-sep-none fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-four\" style=\"--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color5);--awb-margin-top:0px;--awb-margin-bottom:5px;--awb-margin-top-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-font-size:16px;\"><h4 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"font-family:&quot;Poppins&quot;;font-style:normal;font-weight:400;margin:0;font-size:1em;--fontSize:16;--minFontSize:16;line-height:1.36;\">Tech Lead &amp; IBM i Advocate<\/h4><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column_inner fusion-builder-nested-column-2 fusion_builder_column_inner_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:0px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-margin-top-small:0px;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-9\" style=\"--awb-font-size:15px;--awb-line-height:1.4;--awb-text-font-family:&quot;Poppins&quot;;--awb-text-font-style:normal;--awb-text-font-weight:400;\"><p>S\u00e9bastien Julliand, <b>Tech Lead and IBM i Advocate at ARCAD Software, <\/b>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&amp;D department. Actively involved in the development of several ARCAD products, he is the product manager for <a href=\"\/arcad\/products\/arcad-code-checker-source-quality\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ARCAD CodeChecker<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/marketplace.visualstudio.com\/search?term=%22arcad%20software%22&amp;target=VSCode&amp;category=All%20categories&amp;sortBy=Relevance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ARCAD extensions for VS Code,<\/a> 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 <b>IBM Champion in 2024 and 2025.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discover the benefits of VS Code and RDi, two IDEs for IBM i development. Combine the advantages of both environments with ARCAD.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":71863,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[219],"tags":[616,563,371,369],"class_list":["post-72079","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-blog-en","tag-blog-article","tag-ibm-i-devops","tag-ibm-i-modernization"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>VS Code vs RDi: Which IDE for IBM i Development?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover the benefits of VS Code and RDi, two IDEs for IBM i development. 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