AI Coding Tools
Rocket added AI to iCluster and DevOps. No price tag either
Rocket Software's August 2026 AI update covers RPG modularization, unit test generation, and iCluster tuning. Here's what it does and what's missing.
· 7 min read
All articles
Developer-to-developer AI coverage.
Reviews, comparisons, and tutorials. No press releases.
Tutorials
BRMS went subscription. Half of IBM i shops haven't moved
BRMS 5770-BR2 costs $400 per core per year, nearly double the old license. What breaks on 7.5 and 7.6, and why September 30 forces the question.
· 8 min read
Tutorials
Power8 can't run IBM i 7.5. That makes this a hardware bill
Power8 caps at IBM i 7.4, which loses standard support on September 30, 2026. What the Service Extension misses, and what new Power iron actually costs.
· 9 min read
Tutorials
Your IBM i is patched. The laptops connecting to it aren't
IBM i shops patch the server and never patch the clients. CVE-2026-7770 is a CVSS 8.8 RCE in ACS, and IBM ships security updates only for the current version.
· 9 min read
Tutorials
IBM Bob's IBM i free trial: pay $20 for month one, not $60
The IBM Bob free trial does not cover IBM i. The first-month waiver does. The path to a $20 month, what 50 Bobcoins buy, and what month two costs.
· 8 min read
Tutorials
IBM i 7.4 end of support is September 30. Here is the bill
IBM i 7.4 end of support lands September 30, 2026. The exact Service Extension multipliers, what the money stops covering, and why 28 days is not enough.
· 10 min read
Tool Comparisons
Oracle 26ai speaks EBCDIC now. Your RPG code doesn't care
Oracle AI Database 26ai finally preserves EBCDIC sort order. Here is what that fixes for a Db2 for i shop, and the six things it leaves untouched.
· 8 min read
Tutorials
IBM i security PTFs, August 2026: three things they break
The August 2026 IBM i security PTF batch carries 40 CVEs. Three of the fixes break things, and IBM has published a fix for none of them yet.
· 10 min read
Tutorials
IBM's new IBM i modernization Redbook: what's actually in it
IBM published 810 free pages on IBM i modernization as Redbook MD260020. What it covers, how it reads, and two ways to download the wrong file.
· 9 min read
Tutorials
IBM i Migrate While Active: what it costs and what it won't do
IBM i Migrate While Active costs $2,000 per core per year, and IBM says it is not a DR solution. What the summer TRs added to MWA, BRMS, and tape.
· 10 min read
AI Coding Tools
IBM Dev Day Bob in Action: is it worth it for IBM i shops?
IBM's free Bob in Action event runs August 27 with an IBM i track. Who should go, what the hackathon really demands, and the cost IBM doesn't mention.
· 8 min read
Tool Comparisons
Astera ReportMiner for IBM i reports: worth a demo call?
Astera built AI extraction for IBM i and mainframe reports. Here's what it costs, how it works, and how it stacks up against what IBM i shops already run.
· 6 min read
Tutorials
IBM i 7.6 can now lock your own IPL behind an encryption key
IBM i 7.6 TR2 adds bring-your-own-key encryption via IBM Key Protect. It can also stop your system from IPLing without the right key. What to check first.
· 8 min read
Tutorials
Will AI replace your ERP? The IBM i answer is different
Agentic AI is supposed to end the ERP era. But 73% of IBM i shops run homegrown apps, not packaged ERP, and that changes the question entirely.
· 9 min read
Tutorials
Steve Will retired as IBM i chief architect. What changes
Steve Will retired after 41 years. Kris Whitney is now IBM i chief architect. What the handoff means for your roadmap, and the deadline that matters.
· 8 min read
Tutorials
The IBM i skills gap is now a bigger worry than security
Fortra's 2026 IBM i Marketplace Survey shows the skills shortage has overtaken security as shops' top concern, while AI use jumped from 43% to 55% in a year.
· 8 min read
Tutorials
IBM i's first 2026 tech refresh lands, with a new entry server
IBM i 7.6 TR2 and 7.5 TR8 finally shipped July 24, alongside the Power S1112. Here's what's actually in it and what IBM i shops should do now.
· 9 min read
AI Coding Tools 3.5/5
Fresche X-Modernize AI review: is it worth the sales call?
An honest review of Fresche X-Modernize AI: what it does, the 50% faster claim, and why there's no public price to report.
· 6 min read
Tutorials
IBM i PTF management in 2026, what this month's CVEs mean
Six CVEs landed in one IBM i Java update this month. A practical look at ibm i ptf management and the checklist to run before the next Guide drops.
· 7 min read
AI Coding Tools 4/5
IBM Bob 2.0 review: what actually changed for IBM i shops
IBM shipped Bob 2.0 on July 9. Here is what changed under the hood, what stayed the same in the Premium Package for i, and whether it moves the June verdict.
· 7 min read
Developer Productivity 4/5
IBM i Access Client Solutions review: what's good, what's not
An honest review of IBM i Access Client Solutions: what ACS does well, where it's still clunky, and how to get it without hitting the licensing trap.
· 8 min read
Tutorials
AI just killed security through obscurity on IBM i in 2026
IBM i security through obscurity is dead in 2026. Here's what the Fortra and IBM X-Force data show shops need to lock down now, with AI in the mix.
· 8 min read
AI Coding Tools 4.5/5
Claude Sonnet 5 review: what changed and should you upgrade
Claude Sonnet 5 launched June 30, 2026 with near-Opus coding scores at lower prices. Pricing, benchmarks, and a real upgrade decision framework.
· 6 min read
Automation
Claude Code scheduled agents and dynamic workflows explained
Claude Code dynamic workflows, Routines, and scheduled agents are three different things. What each does, what it costs, and when to use one.
· 9 min read
AI Coding Tools 4/5
IBM Bob Premium Package for i review: worth it yet?
An honest review of IBM Bob Premium Package for i: native IBM i access, RPG-to-SQL conversion, unit tests, and whether it is worth buying yet.
· 8 min read
Tutorials
AS/400 to modern architecture: what actually happens
Every AS/400 migration guide reads like a sales brochure. Here is the honest view of what really happens when IBM i shops move to modern architecture.
· 9 min read
Tutorials
What happens when the last RPG developer leaves
When the last RPG developer retires, your IBM i programs keep running. That is the trap. Here is what actually breaks, and what you can recover.
· 9 min read
Tutorials
The IBM i retirement wave: what to do before 2030
IBM i runs to 2035, but your RPG developers don't. A priority-ordered plan for the IBM i developer retirement wave and what to do before 2030.
· 8 min read
Tutorials
RDi vs VS Code for IBM i development in 2026
VS Code just surpassed RDi in usage among IBM i developers. Here's what that means for your team and which IDE you should actually be using.
· 8 min read
Tutorials
Documenting COBOL code with AI: a practical guide for mainframe developers
How to use Claude, ChatGPT, and specialized tools to document COBOL code in 2026. Prompt templates, honest AI limits, and a realistic workflow for mainframe teams.
· 8 min read
Tutorials
IBM i modernization with AI: tools, pricing, where to start
Bobcoin pricing, ARCAD MCP, Fresche, and a practical starting sequence for IBM i shops moving to AI in 2026. Honest about what works and what doesn't.
· 10 min read
Tool Comparisons
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n8n vs Zapier vs Make: Which Automation Tool Should Developers Use in 2026?
A direct comparison of n8n, Zapier, and Make for developers in 2026. Real pricing, workflow complexity, AI features, and a clear answer on which one fits your use case.
· 7 min read
Tool Comparisons
affiliate links
Best Automation Tools for Developers in 2026: n8n, Make, Zapier, Pipedream Compared
A developer's honest comparison of n8n, Make, Zapier, and Pipedream in 2026. Real pricing, real trade-offs, and a clear recommendation based on how you actually work.
· 9 min read
Tool Comparisons
Cursor vs GitHub Copilot: Which AI Coding Assistant Is Actually Better in 2026?
A developer's honest comparison of Cursor and GitHub Copilot, features, performance, pricing, and which one you should use for real work.
· 6 min read
AI Coding Tools 4.5/5
Cursor AI Review 2026: Is It Worth $20/Month?
An honest Cursor AI review from a developer who uses it daily. Features, pricing, Composer mode, what it's bad at, and whether the $20/month Pro plan is justified.
· 8 min read
AI Coding Tools
Best AI Coding Assistants in 2026: Cursor, Copilot, Claude Code, and Windsurf Compared
A working developer's comparison of the top AI coding assistants in 2026. Real pricing, real trade-offs, and a clear answer on which one to use.
· 10 min read
Automation
affiliate links
12 n8n Workflows Every Developer Should Automate in 2026
The best n8n workflows for developers in 2026, with node-by-node architecture for DevOps, AI agents, GitHub/Jira sync, and self-hosted vs cloud cost breakdown.
· 9 min read
AI Coding Tools 4/5
GitHub Copilot Review 2026: Is the $10/Month Pro Plan Worth It?
An honest GitHub Copilot review from a developer in 2026. What it's good at, where Cursor beats it, the new usage-based billing model, and who should actually pay for it.
· 7 min read
AI Coding Tools
Codeium vs GitHub Copilot in 2026: Which AI Coding Tool Wins?
Codeium (now Windsurf) vs GitHub Copilot compared in 2026. Free tier, agentic features, IDE coverage, and which one to choose depending on your situation.
· 6 min read
Tool Comparisons 4.7/5
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n8n Review 2026: The Automation Tool Developers Actually Want
An honest n8n review for developers in 2026. Self-hosted setup, workflow builder, AI agent capabilities, pricing vs cloud alternatives, and who it's built for.
· 7 min read
Tutorials
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How to Automate Repetitive Coding Tasks with AI in 2026
A practical guide to identifying and automating the repetitive parts of software development using AI tools and workflow automation. With real examples and tool recommendations.
· 8 min read
Developer Productivity
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Best AI Productivity Tools for Developers in 2026: Beyond the Code Editor
The AI tools that make the work around coding faster, note-taking, project tracking, launcher utilities, and documentation. Notion AI, Linear, Raycast, and more compared.
· 8 min read
Developer Productivity 3.8/5
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Notion AI Review for Developers in 2026: Is the Business Plan Worth $20/Month?
An honest Notion AI review for developers in 2026. Custom Agents, workspace Q&A, pricing breakdown, and whether it's worth upgrading from the free tier.
· 7 min read
Developer Productivity
affiliate links
Linear vs Jira for Software Teams in 2026: An Honest Comparison
Linear vs Jira compared for engineering teams in 2026. Speed, AI features, customization, pricing, and a clear verdict on which one to use based on team size and needs.
· 6 min read
Tutorials
AI Tools for IBM i Developers in 2026: What Actually Works
A practical guide to AI tools for IBM i and AS/400 developers in 2026. IBM Project Bob, watsonx Code Assistant, and how general-purpose AI handles RPG IV, CL, and DDS.
· 8 min read
Developer Productivity 4.8/5
affiliate links
Raycast Review 2026: The Mac Tool That Replaced Four Apps
An honest Raycast review for developers in 2026. What it does, whether Pro is worth $8/month, how it compares to Alfred, and why the extension ecosystem matters.
· 6 min read
Tutorials
Documenting RPG IV Code with AI: A Practical Guide for IBM i Developers
How to use Claude, ChatGPT, and IBM Project Bob to document RPG IV and legacy IBM i code. Prompt templates, what works, what doesn't, and a realistic assessment.
· 8 min read