COMMON POWERUp 2026: Full Schedule

Unlock the Power of IBM i at POWERUp 2026!

Join us in New Orleans, Louisiana for POWERUp 2026, the premier conference for IBM i professionals. Whether you’re an experienced expert or just starting your IBM i journey, this event offers unparalleled education, hands-on workshops, and valuable networking opportunities. Stay ahead of the curve with insights from industry leaders, explore the latest innovations, and connect with a thriving community that shares your passion for IBM i. Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your knowledge, grow your skills, and power up your career!

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10:00am CDT

Intro to SQL

Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT

Studio 1-2

Evaluation Survey

If you're new to SQL or just need a refresher in the basics, this sessoin is for you. We'll explore how to use basic SQL commands to make your everday life easier.

Learning Objectives:

Understand 1. How to create an SQL statement 2. How to run an SQL statement 3. Some "gotcha" when using SQL

Speakers

Kent Milligan

Senior Db2 for i Consultant, IBM

Kent Milligan is a Senior Db2 for i Consultant in IBM Technology Expert Labs. Kent has over 25 years of experience as a Db2 for IBM i consultant and developer working out of the IBM Rochester lab. Prior to re-joining the Db2 for i Expert Labs practice in 2020, Kent spent 5 years... Read More →

Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Studio 1-2

Database, Database

Level Beginner

11:15am CDT

Run Away Queries Got You Down?

Monday April 27, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT

Studio 1-2

Evaluation Survey

Having negative performance impacts from query tools like Query/400, QMF, Showcase, Tableau and others because of the "query from heck" eating up system resources? Is your system open to security exposures from wide-open ODBC type connections? This session will cover options including using the new-ish Db2 Query Supervisor to control and/or audit long-running queries.

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn about the Db2 Supervisor to control and/or audit long running queries. 2. Gain insight into the tools you can use to monitor, tune, and prune queries.

Speakers

Kent Milligan

Senior Db2 for i Consultant, IBM

Monday April 27, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
Studio 1-2

Database, Database

11:15am CDT

VS Code for i - Database Extension

Monday April 27, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT

Galerie 3

Evaluation Survey

This session is a review of the newest and most awesome features added to the VS Code4i Database Extension. This is designed to be an interactive, with questions and comments from the attendees, so be ready to interact, cheer, jeer, or inspire us with your good ideas.

Learning Objectives:

1) Understand what's possible today with the VS Code4i Database Extension. 2) Understand when to use VS Code4i vs other tools 3) Interact with the VS Code4i Database Extension technology leaders

Speakers

Scott Forstie

Senior Technical Staff Member, IBM

Scott Forstie is a Senior Technical Staff Member within IBM i development and spends most of his time working as the Db2 for i Architect. He has worked on IBM operating system development since joining IBM in 1989.
Scott is a frequently published author, speaker at industry events... Read More →

Sanjula Ganepola

Software Developer - IBM i App Dev & AI Toolchain, IBM

Sanjula Ganepola is a Software Developer at IBM working on IBM i application development tools. As an open-source advocate, he is an active contributor and maintainer of several Visual Studio Code extensions including IBM i Project Explorer, Code for IBM i, IBM i Testing, Source Orbit... Read More →

Monday April 27, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
Galerie 3

Database, Database, Programmer Tools

Track Student

3:15pm CDT

Stepping through SQL Performance

Monday April 27, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT

Studio 3-4

Evaluation Survey

Every SQL statement has a predefined steps that it must go through before it can complete you data base requests. Each step taken can positively or negatively impact SQL performance - especially on transactional applications that are running the same set of SQL statements over and over again. This session will explain each step needed to run an SQL statement and the structures that Db2 creates that can impact performance. In addition, this session will review application design and settings that can impact the performance of the required steps.

Learning Objectives:

How Db2 manages the runtime execution of SQL. Differences between the 3 types of SQL: Static, Dynamic, and Extended Dynamic (ie, SQL Packages). Performance difference between SQL Full Opens & Pseudo Opens and the factors that determine when a Full Open must be performed.

Speakers

Kent Milligan

Senior Db2 for i Consultant, IBM

Monday April 27, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Studio 3-4

Database

4:30pm CDT

20 Hidden Gems of Db2 for i in 20 minutes

Monday April 27, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT

Studio 9-10

Evaluation Survey

In this new session you'll discover 20 features of Db2 for i that are typically less known or under used. Your presenter is the Db2 for i Architect and he's lead the Db2 for i development team for decades. Invest 20 minutes to raise for your Db2 for i and SQL capabilities!

Learning Objectives:

1) Discover features, tools, or capabilities within Db2 for i 2) Improve how you leverage or use Db2 for i and SQL on i 3) Extend your Db2 for i knowledge

Speakers

Scott Forstie

Senior Technical Staff Member, IBM

Monday April 27, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Studio 9-10

Database, Database

Track Student

5:05pm CDT

SQL - Merge Statement

Monday April 27, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT

Studio 3-4

Evaluation Survey

Add another tool to your SQL toolbelt with this session on the SQL Merge statement. Discover how a single SQL statement can handle Inserts, Updates, and Deletes. Learning Objectives:

Learn how and when to use an SQL Merge statement

Speakers

Mike Zaringhalam

Developer, PC Richard & Son

Have you ever wanted to meet someone who started Hawaiian Shirt Fridays at their work place?
If the answer is 'Yes!', then feel free to reach out with any questions you have regarding Hawaiian shirts... Or IBM i related topics.
My main focuses are RDi, DB2, Modernization, and D... Read More →

Monday April 27, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Studio 3-4

Database, Database, Programming: General

5:05pm CDT

Using SQL Triggers to Track File Changes on IBM i

Monday April 27, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT

Studio 1-2

Evaluation Survey

Need to know who changed what — and when — in your IBM i files? SQL triggers make it easy! In this fast-paced 20-minute session, you’ll learn how to use SQL triggers to automatically capture file changes (inserts, updates, and deletes) and write them to an output or audit file. Simon will demonstrate how to create, test, and manage SQL triggers using Db2 for i. You’ll see real examples of triggers that record user information, timestamps, and before-and-after values — perfect for building audit trails or debugging data issues. If you’ve ever wanted an “audit log” without changing your application code, this session will show you how quick and powerful SQL triggers can be.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this session, attendees will be able to: - Understand what SQL triggers are and when to use them. - Create an SQL trigger that writes file changes to an audit/output file. - Capture key details — user, timestamp, and changed values — automatically. - Manage and remove triggers safely in production environments.

Speakers

Simon Hutchinson

Founder & author, RPGPGM.COM

Simon Hutchinson has worked with IBM midrange servers and the RPG programming language since 1988—starting in the U.K. and continuing in the U.S. for over 35 years. He is best known for his long-running blog, RPGPGM.COM, where for more than 12 years he has shared practical insi... Read More →

Monday April 27, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Studio 1-2

Database, Database

10:00am CDT

11:15am CDT

11:15am CDT

3:15pm CDT

4:30pm CDT

5:05pm CDT

5:05pm CDT

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