COMMON POWERUp 2026

While many developers would love to never speak to another human being, it is inevitable that someday they will have to. When software engineers leave their cubicles or home offices or whatever dark cave they write code in, they'll need the skills to communicate effectively. Communication skills come in handy even if you're sending an email instead of just standing up and walking 10ft to a colleague's desk.

This is a session not just for developers, but for anyone who has to talk to another human being, because effective communication is the key to success in your relationships, careers, and everyday life. As a professional in marketing and sales (Anna) and a software engineer who recently joined the IBM i platform (Justin), we’ve had to learn strategies to access complicated information and make it accessible to ourselves and our customers.

Join us to learn some new strategies that you can not only take back to the office, but utilize the moment you walk out of the session room. We’ll have time to workshop with attendees at the end of the session. Attend this session to maximize your conference experience!

Learning Objectives:
- Learn the steps of a successful communication process and how to avoid common pitfalls.
- Learn communication strategies for conversations with those outside your area of expertise.
- Learn how an AI tool can assist you with communication.

Since its introduction 30 years ago, JavaScript has fast become the most prominent programming language on the Internet. You would be hard-pressed to find a single page on the web today that does not employ some amount of JavaScript code. Learning JavaScript, along with basic HTML and CSS concepts, should thus be at the top of the to-do list for every RPG developer looking to get started with serious web development. This session serves as an introduction to the fundamentals of the JavaScript language, drawing comparisons to coding concepts that should be familiar to all RPG programmers. No prior experience with web development is assumed. Topics to be covered include basic variable declaration, comparison & assignment operators, conditional statements, arrays, loops and functions -- all of which will be directly compared to their RPG equivalents. The instructor will demonstrate how you can practice these basic JavaScript concepts on your own using console tools inside the Google Chrome browser, and provide suggestions for further study of the language.

Learning Objectives:

• Know how to code and test blocks of JavaScript inside their own browser (specifically, we'll look at the DevTools inside Google Chrome) • Understand the differences and similarities between JavaScript and RPG • Know where to go for further study of the language and what to focus on learning first

Dive into VS Code and CODE for IBM i / DB2 extensions with this perfect starter Lab. Many RPG developers are unfamiliar with VS Code, and beginning with this IDE can feel daunting. This lab offers a introduction to both VS Code and the Code for IBM i / DB2 development environment. To Participate the attendee MUST BRING A LAPTOP! The attendee will receive access to an IBM i system to engage in lab tasks. By the end of the lab: The basics of VS Code. Installing and VS Code extensions Navigating the Code for IBM i development environment.

Learning Objectives:

Overview of VS Code Introduction to the VS Code IDE Installing IBM i extensions Connecting to the IBM i system Editing and compiling modules, service programs and creating runnable RPG objects Running and Debugging a program Using SQL DB2 in VS code

Node.js empowers IBM i developers to build modern web services and APIs, leveraging a vast ecosystem of ready-to-use packages via npm (Node Package Manager). This session introduces Node.js through an RPG perspective, demonstrating a simple web service that queries a physical file on IBM i using the idb-connector module and serves JSON data to a browser. The instructor will showcase Node.js basics, compare them to RPG concepts like subprocedures and file operations, and deploy the service on IBM i. No prior Node.js experience is required, but it would be helpful to have a basic understanding of JavaScript (as covered in the preceding JavaScript 101 session). Topics for this session will include Node.js setup, modules, asynchronous programming, Express.js for web services, the benefits of npm’s extensive package repository, and deployment steps. Attendees will receive a handout with code, setup instructions, and resources for further study.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand Node.js, its relevance for RPG developers, and the power of npm’s vast library of packages for rapid development. • Learn how to use idb-connector to access IBM i database tables and serve data via a web service. • Gain insights into Node.js setup, coding, and deployment on IBM i, with resources for continued learning.

Are you a programmer now responsible for administrating your IBM I system? Would you happen to know what you need to manage the system successfully? What commands do I need to know? This session will cover the basics of System Administration that you need to know to manage your IBM i. You can learn what you need to know to do your system's daily care and feeding.

Learning Objectives:
1.) Understand how to check your system messages to know everything is ok.
2.) Make sure that you are saving the right stuff.
3.) Basics of security
4.) What are PTFs, and how to manage PTFs

AI and DevSecOps is a rapidly evolving area of functionality where there is overlap between the open systems world and the IBM i. In this session I will look at tools we can use right now to help us progress on our DevSecOps journey and also areas where the AI knowledge lags behind. I will show actual examples that will speed up your adoption of DevSecOps and enhance you use of these tools to streamline your Application Lifecycle management workflow, from the developer to deployment and everything in-between!

Learning Objectives:

Learn what AI tools can be successful be applied to IBM i specific requirements and what tools aren't quite ready yet.

We’re bringing a full pickleball court right to the Expo floor! The court will be available throughout the conference - even outside of official Expo hours. Whether you’re a seasoned player or picking up a paddle for the first time, come rally with fellow attendees. Watch social media and your inbox for details on joining the tournament bracket and competing head-to-head!

Lunch will be served from 12PM-1PM.

IBM i has long been the backbone of mission-critical enterprise workloads, prized for its reliability, security, and integrated database. But as AI evolves beyond simple chat interfaces into autonomous, action-taking agents, the IBM i ecosystem stands at an inflection point. AI agents can now reason, plan, and execute multi-step tasks. Imagine the power when married to a platform with decades of business logic and operational knowledge!

This session explores the convergence of agentic AI and IBM i, covering the emerging architecture patterns that allow AI agents to interact directly with IBM i systems. Among other things, we will examine the Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open standard that gives AI agents a structured way to discover and invoke tools, query databases, and interact with system resources. Plus, we'll give a sneak peek of some exciting offerings that may be coming in the near future!

There’s no better way to recharge than with a fewfurry friends. We’re partnering with a local shelter to bring you our Pups & Cups event on Wednesday. Grab a coffee, take a break, and spend some time getting to know some adorable local pups. It’s the perfect mix of caffeine and canine connection.

SQL is a very powerful language for processing data. There are many ways to write SQL statements to get the desired results. However, not all queries are created equal. This session will compare different ways to approach a problem from an SQL perspective in terms of code maintenance and performance. Taking the right approach for writing SQL helps Db2 for i help you.

Learning Objectives:

Understanding of SQL Set-based processing Learn SQL coding techniques to avoid for poor performances Tools to help capture SQL errors

IBM Navigator for i continues to evolve with ongoing enhancements and new features. Whether you're a long-time user or just getting started, this session offers a live demo of the latest capabilities Navigator for i has to offer. Discover how these updates can improve your system management experience and streamline daily operations.

Learning Objectives:

`- Explore the newest features and improvements in IBM Navigator for i - Learn how to apply these enhancements to optimize system administration tasks

Effective performance data management is essential for maintaining a healthy and responsive IBM i environment. In this session we will cover best practices for configuring and using IBM i performance data collectors—including Collection Services, Job Watcher, and SQL collectors—balancing proper data collection with efficient use of storage. Attendees will learn how to set up data collection according to IBM-recommended guidelines, determine appropriate data retention policies, and choose storage locations for historical data. Whether you're troubleshooting performance issues or building long-term trend analyses, this session will equip you with the strategies and configurations needed to make the most of IBM i’s powerful performance data collectors and visualizers.

Learning Objectives:

Understand how to configure IBM i performance tools following best practices for proper and efficient data collection. Gain insights on how to balance proper data collection with efficient use of storage. Learn how to determine appropriate data retention periods and storage strategies based on your needs and goals.

Python on IBM i has been around for a while now. In this session we explore many of the various tips I’ve run across over the last few years. These tips apply to both Python and/or the IBM i environment running the Python scripts. Tips include best practices, IFS features, pathing and MUCH more.

Learning Objectives:

1) Little bit of everything to help the Python developer 2) Standards based code development and linting. 3) Features that improve Python performance

Staying in for the free night on Wednesday? Join usfor trivia! Gather a team and put your collectiveknowledge to the test as you compete forthe top spot.And don’t worry - we promise it’s not a quiz on yoursession notes.