Blog
Our expertise around DevOps, Modernization and Anonymization solutions!
3 steps to modernize your IBM i
First let’s answer the question: why modernize your IBM i applications anyway? Well, many IBM i modernization projects don’t start until after a major production failure, so getting out ahead of problems saves you time, pain and resources. Secondly, many IBM i specific skills like RPG or 4GL development are becoming more and more scarce, meaning time could be running out.
Git DevOps going on IBM i
A practitioner’s guide to easy CI/CD on IBM i with Git (or, why are you waiting?). I have a question for the IBM i shops out there. What are we waiting for? Why aren’t we doing DevOps yet? I’m going to suggest that a lot of shops fall into the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” category. That’s pretty much been the culture of traditional IBM i shops.
Transforming a traditional ‘green screen’ team into an Agile Pod for IBM i
A personal and sympathetic view of taking a traditional AS/400 development team to an Agile POD using a fully automated CI/CT/CD DevOps pipeline with Agile methodology on the IBM i, by Adrian Tully
‘True Git’ – the right and wrong approaches to Git on IBM i
Until now, the current change management (CM) tools have dominated the IBM i market providing some elementary versioning of application releases, only ONE version of the source per release. But today the term ‘source control’ - or SCM - has taken on a whole new meaning.
How to manage test data for smarter, faster testing?
Why test data can be hard to manage, what are the best practices and which tangible benefits you stand to gain from a consistent set of test data?
CI for RPG/COBOL with ARCAD and CloudBees
Similar to GitHub’s relationship with the open source project Git, CloudBees is the company built around the open source project Jenkins.
Legacy modernization: 10 preconceptions to urgently dispel
With the major economic crisis we will face for at least the next twelve months, it is high time to take a fresh look at our existing application assets.
Unit Testing: Beating technical debt
In this article we will examine the importance of unit testing in general and assess how relevant the technique is on IBM i.
“Azure DevOps” Rhymes with “Arcad ‘n’ Drops”
Learn how your IBM i shop can utilize Microsoft’s most powerful development software, aside from perhaps Windows itself. Azure DevOps has existed in some iteration since 2006, but it seems to have hit its stride with the addition of git in 2013.
Why “Git”?
Git is still generating an enormous amount of buzz. What are the reasons behind its poularity? Is it really justified? And how relevant is Git in the world of IBM i development?
Code review: go automatic!
SonarQube is the de-facto standard code review tool for many modern languages today. But do you need to automate the same continuous quality checking for your RPG code and CL?
Empower your IBM i teams:
the extraordinary potential of Git
The DevOps movement has created a refreshing “wind of change” in the way application development is managed, reaching the furthest corners of the industry and not least our beloved IBM i.
GDPR … Where to start? Identify your personal data
Any data protection project (GDPR, CCPA, etc.) begins by identifying personal data to feed your registry.
DevOps on IBM i: Beyond the hype
How do I get from where I am today to “real” DevOps? Here’s a good start.
RPG Free Form vs. Java: nothing compares
Can RPG Free Form et Java languages coexist in order to obtain "the best of both worlds"?
“Legacy” will never die!
Modernization vs. Migration : Discover how Legacy systems can provide oustanding competitive advantage, reduce operational risk and keep your business up and running smoothly and securely!
5 keys to integrating IBM i into your DevOps strategy
Discover how to secure your DevOps transformation on Legacy platforms (Mainframe and IBM i)
Fixing the “last bottlenecks” of test automation for Legacy IBM i (AS/400) with ARCAD
How Test Automation combined with Batch Testing and Defect Analysis at the Database level can optimize your DevOps process.
Should we be using Containers in production?
What is containerisation and what are the stakes of a production launch?
GIT a Jump in Your Step
Reflections on the rise of Git and the DevOps paradigm on so-called legacy platforms IBM i and z/OS – by Floyd Del Muro, DevOps Advocate
An introduction to Data Masking – Infographic
Data grows continuously, and data breaches concern all enterprises. So Regulations are emerging by focusing on data protection & privacy. Check out our infographic to discover how Data Masking can solve these challenges.
5 keys to IBM i Modernization Success
Whatever the driving reason for a modernization project on a so-called "legacy" system like IBM i, it is important to identify the key points that will help secure the success of the project.
Test Automation and Source Code Analysis for IBM i: why bother enforcing a new quality gate?
What’s in it for the developers and why is it needed for DevOps – a thought inspiring blog by ARCAD’s Director of Northern European operations, Nick Blamey
The rise of Enterprise DevOps: solving the IT silo challenge
Discover the rise of Enterprise DevOps and where it will lead.
The evolution of DevOps
Find out how the DevOps concept, which previously focused primarily on IT services, is spreading across the enterprise today.
5 most common questions about data anonymization
Maurice Marrel's interview about data anonymization.
DevOps Facts & Predictions – Infographic
DevOps adoption is growing faster than ever. Check out our infographic to discover the latest DevOps predictions, and how this agile corporate culture improves efficiency in all lines of business!
What is Source Code Management?
You would think someone who has been in the industry for as long as I have would have a simple answer to a simple question. What is source code management? My reply? Well, that depends.
Modernization process, application modernization roadmap
It’s 2018 – Have you modernized yet ? If not, you must be waiting for some kind of invitation. Consider this a formal invitation. You need to get with the times.
How Git can be used as the source repository for your native IBMi code? – Part 1
Imagine being able to branch and merge IBMi code as easily as you do your PHP code. Imagine adopting agile methodologies for native development, builds and deployments. Imagine never having to “check-out” code and jump through those hoops. That’s what Git allows, and it’s really not that hard to accomplish.
GitHub: How Developers Got to Run the World (sic)
Of the world’s most visited websites this month, GitHub rates 59 and climbing. Not bad considering that GitHub’s appeal is limited to software developers whereas the other popular sites like Google and Amazon have a planetary audience. Is software becoming as important as the written word?
Why DevOps?
In business today, there is a premium on the speed with which IT can deliver software and its reliability – and implementing DevOps is becoming a key competitive differentiator.
Why open source?
Technologies based on open source have advanced considerably over the recent years, in all the intricacies of the software development world. Is this just because the licenses are free?
Share your IBM i platform with open source tools
IBM continues to encourage greater and more extensive use of open source tools on the IBM i platform. This has helped IBM i become more popular, less “proprietary” and more accessible to young generations of developers. Further, it has opened the platform to a vast software offering produced via the open source model.
Data Protection: a taste of things to come (the world over)
For reasons going back in history, the EU has established itself as pioneer in data protection legislation and 2016 was no exception. In April 2016, after years of preparation, the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was adopted to harmonize patchwork directives across EU member states and safeguard the rights of citizens in the digital economy.
DevOps Would Have Saved the Dinosaurs!
I have been fortunate to attend many events and conferences throughout the years, several on an annual basis. These gatherings bring together industry leaders from all over the world to share their expertise and knowledge about the IBMi and open source ecosystems.
Relevance of a DevOps strategy
When we first heard the term “DevOps” and the buzz it was generating, we asked ourselves whether it was just another case of reinventing the wheel. It’s common in our business that a hot new term signifies an evolution, rather than a revolution. And DevOps is a good example.
RPG Free Form: Why is it so important for you?
The biggest concern that IBM i companies are struggling with is finding good RPG resources. For sure, if you look at things from only that angle, you have every chance of being very, very disappointed. The average age is above 50 and you can roughly get only one developer for the cost of two, not very exciting.
Evolution, not revolution
Back from a trip in different countries in Asia, I’ve clearly seen that the situation in the IBM i market is rather different from Europe and North America – apart from Japan of course, which definitely resembles these two large areas.
IBM i Trends: Managing application parameters
A strong trend is underway and is set to continue: businesses are adopting an increasing number of standard software packages, often in the cloud, into their Information Systems. Today’s period of major technological change fosters this trend.
