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!

10:00am CDT

Code for IBM i & Co : contribute to an Open Source project !

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

Balcony L

Evaluation Survey

Code for IBM i, the popular open source extension that brings modern IBM i development to VS Code is developed and maintained by developers, for developers. Why not join that community driven project ? More than 50 people already did and contributed to it, so, come on, join the fun ! There are many ways to contribute, not only through code but also by submitting ideas or bug reports, writing documentation or just spreading the word about how nice it is! Through this session given by some of the extension's Core Team members, step through the looking glass and come discover what the Open Source model has to offer and how you, too, can join the adventure. It doesn't matter if you're a developer or not - everyone is welcome!

Learning Objectives:

`- Understand what "open source project" means - Discover how the Code for IBM i project is managed - Meet the core team - Discover how to contribute to this project or others

Speakers

Sébastien Julliand

Tech Lead R&D, I AND ME - IT TRAINING

Hi, I'm Seb! I am the R&D Tech Lead for i and me - IT Training and Solutions GmbH and an active contributors to IBM i open source projects.

Let's talk about anything related to software development, on IBM i or not, it doesn't mater to me. RPGLE, Java, TypeScript...I love them all... Read More →

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

General Programming, Personal Development, Programming: General

11:15am CDT

AI and IBM i Trends and Directions

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

Balcony I-J

Evaluation Survey

In a world where artificial intelligence is becoming more and more prominent, how will your business adapt and thrive? Your journey can start here, with an exploration of IBM's strategy and offering set. In this session, we will explore the available AI technologies and what they mean for IBM i.

Learning Objectives:

An understanding of AI tools to build out your company's strategy with AI

Speakers

Jesse Gorzinski

STSM and Senior Business Architect - AI and Open Source, IBM

Experienced business architect from IBM and a specialist in the IBM i platform. My passion is enabling enterprises to adopt artificial intelligence and open source technologies.

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

General Programming, Artificial Intelligence (AI), IT Strategy

11:15am CDT

OAuth: What it is, how it works and why you want to use it

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

Galerie 6

Evaluation Survey

OAuth is a critical security framework for modern web and mobile applications, enabling secure access to resources without sharing user credentials. We will start with the history, foundational concepts and terminology of OAuth. We then describe the different types of OAuth clients and the appropriate authorization flows, grant types, and scopes. We will explore the different types of tokens, explain JWTs, and introduce OpenID Connect. Whether you're a developer, security professional, or someone looking to understand OAuth in more depth, this session will provide a solid introduction to one of the most essential standards in the world of secure authentication and authorization.

Learning Objectives:

1. The need/history of OAuth 2. Terminology 3. Client types 4. Authorization flows 5. Tokens

Speakers

Patrick Behr

Senior Consultant & Instructor, Seiden Group & imPower Technologies

Monday April 27, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
Galerie 6

General Programming, Programming: General

3:15pm CDT

Introduction to Open Source on IBM i

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

Galerie 3

Evaluation Survey

Introductory and survey level discussion that looks at the installation of the Open Source solutions on IBM i. We'll also review many of the components available via open source and discuss the PASE environment. If you've been on the outside looking in at Open Source, this is the place to start..

Learning Objectives:

1) Understand how to install open source solution on IBM i. 2) PASE basic understanding 3) Explore the solution in the open source packages

Speakers

Mike Pavlak

Solution Architect, Programmers.io

Mike Pavlak has been working with IBM midrange solutions since 1992 and IBM Mainframes before that. After years of developing applications using RPG, CL and PHP he managed IT development and IT for power protection manufacturer Tripp Lite. Later Mike was instrumental in developing... Read More →

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

General Programming, Systems Management

3:15pm CDT

Understanding LLM and Transformer

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

Balcony I-J

Evaluation Survey

A beginner level and generalized explanation of the modern face of Artificial Intelligence: the Large Language Model (LLM) coupled with the Transformer architecture. Fairly rigorous in places (Danger! Math!), but the overall tone of the presentation is a colloquial and metaphoric.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understanding LLM architecture 2. Understanding Transformer architecture 3. Understanding the strengths and limitations of this approach to AI.

Speakers

Jack Woehr

Senior Engineer / Senior Consultant, Consulting to Procern Technology Solutions and Seiden Group LLC

40+ years development. IBM Champion 2021-2026.
IBM Qiskit Advocate since 2019. Secretary, OpenQASM Technical Steering Committee. MongoDB Creator status. Prolific Open Source creator/contributor. Former Contributing Editor, Dr. Dobb's Journal.
Consult on IBM i AI modernization... Read More →

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

General Programming, Artificial Intelligence (AI)

4:30pm CDT

CL 2025: What’s New and Useful

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

Studio 1-2

Evaluation Survey

Control Language (CL) remains a core tool for IBM i system operations, and recent releases have added features that make scripting faster, cleaner, and more powerful. In this 20-minute session, Simon Hutchinson will provide a hands-on look at the most useful new CL commands, built-in functions, and SQL integration techniques. Attendees will learn how to modernize legacy scripts, automate system tasks, and streamline everyday operations using the latest CL features.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this session, attendees will be able to: - Identify and use the most important new CL commands and functions. - Integrate SQL statements into CL scripts for database operations. - Modernize legacy CL code with practical tips for efficiency and readability. - Apply CL features to automate routine system tasks.

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 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Studio 1-2

General Programming, Programming: General

4:30pm CDT

Intro to Modern Application Integration via API

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

Studio 3-4

Evaluation Survey

We no longer live in a world where we have one system of record that is used for all business functions. IT is an everchanging blend of tools, applications, and platforms. Integration is top of mind for most businesses. If there is one common way to link all these systems, it is an API layer. Your IBM i should speak the language of APIs, both consuming and hosting. In this session, let’s look at the big picture with regards to APIs and IBM i.

Learning Objectives:

• Importance of APIs in modern architecture • Common API integration needs • Replacing legacy interfaces_ • Elements of a successful API implementation

Speakers

Brian May

Principal Technology Evangelist, Profound Logic

Professional IT Leader, Speaker and WriterSpecialties:Team Building, Development and RetentionTechnical SalesSolutions ArchitectureSoftware DevelopmentEnterprise Systems Manufacturing ProcessesApparel IndustryAccounting Principles

Monday April 27, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Studio 3-4

General Programming, Programming: General, Technologies Integrated with IBM i

4:30pm CDT

Recursion, Recursion, Recursion

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

Galerie 6

Evaluation Survey

Why write endless loops when your code can elegantly call itself? This session will demystify recursion and show practical examples in RPG and SQL - perfect for cracking hierarchical data problems. With this superpower in your toolkit, you'll be ready to replace clunky iteration with clean, powerful recursion.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand what recursion is 2. Use recursion in RPG 3. Use recursion in SQL

Speakers

Patrick Behr

Senior Consultant & Instructor, Seiden Group & imPower Technologies

Monday April 27, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Galerie 6

General Programming, Database, Programming: RPG

9:15am CDT

Getting Started with SQL Functions and Procedures

Tuesday April 28, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT

Studio 7-8

Evaluation Survey

SQL includes a full-fledged programming language, SQL PL. Come learn about the programming constructs, including error handling, that this language contains. You will leave with all the knowledge you need to start writing your own SQL functions and procedures.

Learning Objectives:

`- Understand the difference between SQL procedures, scalar functions, and table functions. - Become familiar with the SQL statements used for writing SQL routine logic.

Speakers

Ryan Moeller

Software Engineer, IBM

Ryan Moeller is a software engineer working on Db2 for i, specifically on the SQL Query Engine (SQE) team. He joined the team in the Rochester, MN development lab in 2020. Ryan specializes in SQL, database development, and query performance analysis.

Tuesday April 28, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
Studio 7-8

General Programming, Database

10:45am CDT

Modern CL Programming

Tuesday April 28, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am CDT

Balcony I-J

Evaluation Survey

IBM Made a huge number of enhancements to the CL language starting with V5R3 through i 7.1. WHile the changes slowed after that most CL programmers ignore all these changes and continue to write unreadable code with gotos and tags. Come to get a detailed look at examples of the new functions including DOFOR, DOWHILE, DOUNTIL and SELECT, and how they allow programming CL in a much more structured format, and allow you to banish goto to the bit-bucket. Learn about the many new process flow options and variable types in the CL language such as integer, signed integer, and pointer variables and how to use them. Get tips on how to simplify the compiling of CL programs and command objects. Find out how to provide direct feedback to IBM on your needs for the CL language -- they want to know if these changes are helping you and what to enhance next.

Learning Objectives:

Learn what IBM has added to the CL language since your learned it Learn how to leverage some of these enhancements to better access user spaces and APIs Learn what IBM has added to Command objects in recent releases.

Speakers

Larry Bolhuis

Principal IBM Power Systems Architect, Service Express

Larry has grown up with computers since his father became a CE in 1967. He obtained a bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Calvin College in 1982.After 2 years working with early PCs and servers her began working on IBM midrange equipment with the S/34 and S/36 He moved to AS/400 at its introduction In 1988. Early in his career he was a developer, then migrated to networking, system design, upgrades and general systems... Read More →

Tuesday April 28, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am CDT
Balcony I-J

General Programming, Systems Management

10:45am CDT

Secure Coding on IBM i: Fortify Your Applications Against Real-World Threats

Tuesday April 28, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am CDT

Balcony L

Evaluation Survey

Even well-designed IBM i applications can harbor hidden vulnerabilities. This session, built for developers working in ILE languages such as RPG, C, CL, and related languages, dives into the security nuances often overlooked during development. Through real-world examples drawn from sample applications, we’ll identify and correct issues involving object authority, adopted authority, and library list exposure. You will learn how these weaknesses arise, why they matter, and how to apply practical coding techniques to eliminate them. By the end of this session, you will have a clear roadmap to writing more secure IBM i software that is ready to withstand the threats in the wild.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the basics of IBM i object based security 2. Learn the basics of creating more secure software on IBM i

Speakers

Brian Nordland

Director of Development, Fortra

Brian Nordland is the Director of Development for IBM Power Development at Fortra. Brian has been a prominent speaker at events, webinars, and user groups, including COMMON and LUG for over a decade. He is a co-inventor on multiple patents and has authored technical publications in... Read More →

Tuesday April 28, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am CDT
Balcony L

General Programming, Security

5:05pm CDT

Supercharging CL with SQL: Modern Techniques for Everyday Tasks

Tuesday April 28, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT

Galerie 1

Evaluation Survey

Did you know your CL programs can run SQL statements directly — no RPG required? In this quick, practical session, you’ll learn how to combine the simplicity of CL with the power of SQL to automate and simplify everyday IBM i operations. Simon will demonstrate how to use the RUNSQL and RUNSQLSTM commands to perform tasks such as clearing or updating data, saving results to output files, and even controlling system operations dynamically. You’ll see examples of using SQL for file maintenance, logging, and automation — all inside standard CL programs. If you still think CL is limited to DLTF, CPYF, and SAVLIB, this session will change how you write job control forever.

Learning Objectives:

Learning Objectives = After attending this session, participants will be able to: - Use the RUNSQL and RUNSQLSTM commands within CL programs. - Perform file updates, inserts, and deletes directly from CL. - Capture SQL results and use them to control job flow. - Combine CL and SQL for more efficient batch and automation scripts.

Speakers

Simon Hutchinson

Founder & author, RPGPGM.COM

Tuesday April 28, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Galerie 1

General Programming

8:00am CDT

JavaScript 101: First Look from an RPG Perspective

Wednesday April 29, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT

Studio 9-10

Evaluation Survey

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

Speakers

Robert Swanson

Senior Partner, CNX

Rob has worked as an in-the-trenches IBM i developer since 1992, with the past 15 years focused on developing modernization efforts for legacy systems written in RPG. Currently serving as Senior Partner for CNX Corporation in Chicago, Rob is a strong advocate of introducing highly... Read More →

Wednesday April 29, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Studio 9-10

General Programming

Track Student

8:00am CDT

SQL Services for the Developer

Wednesday April 29, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT

Balcony M-N

Evaluation Survey

IBM i offers a wide array of SQL services to allow programmers to interact with database and system resources. In today’s modern SQL world, SQL can replace coding to many APIs, all while being more flexible and easier to use. This session will cover a wide variety of powerful SQL services, including how to view and manage data areas and data queues, an example of interacting with IFS files, running CL commands from SQL, and much more.

Learning Objectives:

`- Learn how to manage data queues and data areas with SQL - Learn to read/write from IFS files with SQL - Learn strategies for debugging SQL procedures and functions - Learn how to develop more efficiently with the help of SQL services (SPLIT, SEND_EMAIL, SPOOLED_FILE_DATA, QCMDEXC, RELATED_OBJECTS)

Speakers

Ryan Moeller

Software Engineer, IBM

Wednesday April 29, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Balcony M-N

General Programming, Database

9:15am CDT

AI on Power

Wednesday April 29, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT

Studio 1-2

Evaluation Survey

The speaker's insights into running AI workloads on Power. Some history of how the Power approach to Machine Learning, Large Language Models, and Transformers evolved up to Power 11 and Spyre.

Learning Objectives:

1. Python libraries for AI on Power 2. CPU/MMA support for AI on Power 3. Spyre on Power

Speakers

Jack Woehr

Senior Engineer / Senior Consultant, Consulting to Procern Technology Solutions and Seiden Group LLC

Wednesday April 29, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
Studio 1-2

General Programming, Artificial Intelligence (AI)

9:15am CDT

Node 101: Getting started on IBM i

Wednesday April 29, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT

Studio 9-10

Evaluation Survey

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.

Speakers

Robert Swanson

Senior Partner, CNX

Wednesday April 29, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
Studio 9-10

General Programming

Track Student

10:45am CDT

Deep Dive with Bob

Wednesday April 29, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am CDT

Balcony I-J

Evaluation Survey

In this session we will put Project Bob to work. We will do a live demo of Project Bob, how the powerful interaction between the developer and the AI tooling can help you solve problems, gain insight and understanding that was not possible in the past. We will explore several user cases on how Project Bob can be leverage by the Architect as well as the core programmer.

Learning Objectives:

Project Bob

Speakers

Liam Allan

Software Advocate, IBM

I am a developer and open-source advocate. Ask me about Node.js, VS Code, app deployment and CICD :)

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 →

Tim Rowe

STSM - IBM i Business Architect, IBM USA

Tim Rowe is a Senior Technical Staff Member within IBM i development and spends most of his time working as the Architect for Application Development and Systems Management. He has been working on the IBM i operating system since 1989. Tim is a frequent author, industry speaker and... Read More →

Wednesday April 29, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am CDT
Balcony I-J

General Programming, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Programmer Tools

10:45am CDT

Securing Open Source on IBM i

Wednesday April 29, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am CDT

Galerie 2

Evaluation Survey

Open source software brings innovation, flexibility, and modern development tools to IBM i, but also new security responsibilities. In this session, Alan Seiden explains how to keep your IBM i environment safe while benefiting from open technologies. You’ll learn how to assess and strengthen your open source supply chain, including precautions for VS Code extensions and lessons from recent Node.js npm attacks. Alan will share practical guidance on patching and updating PHP and other open source components, defending against denial-of-service threats, and applying IBM i-specific measures and permissions. The session includes some of the latest developments in web and application security that every IBM i administrator and developer should understand to protect today’s connected systems.

Learning Objectives:

`- Evaluate and strengthen the open source supply chain. - Apply practical security measures for open source technologies on IBM i - Implement IBM i-specific hardening techniques

Speakers

Alan Seiden

Principal Consultant, Seiden Group

How to modernize and create something new while leveraging your valuable business logic. Supporting developers, mentoring, staff augmentation, architecture, development and programming. Seiden PHP+ Server for IBM i,
APIs, IBM i, open source, web, PHP, Node.js, Python, RPG, ERPs... Read More →

Wednesday April 29, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am CDT
Galerie 2

General Programming, Security

3:45pm CDT

DevAITstSecOps - the modern way to do DevOps

Wednesday April 29, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm CDT

Studio 9-10

Evaluation Survey

The definition of "DevOps" has changed tremendously over the last few years; no longer is it simple Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD), but rather an interwoven process that begins with the typical Compile/Debug/Edit cycle, but that now also leverages Artificial Intelligence; Testing and Security steps that many supposed DevOps adopters are ignoring; and then and only then does it move to traditional CI/CD.

Learning Objectives:

Understand what terms like "DevOps" and "DevSecOps" really mean. Learn how to leverage new AI tools like GitHub Copilot as part of the development process. Reinforce how important Testing and Security are to DevSecOps.

Speakers

Kuldip Vikram

Senior Technical Staff Member, Architecture & Technology, Rocket Software

Kuldip is a Senior Technical Staff Member at Rocket Software responsible for modernizing IBMi applications/workloads and their development through a combination of Generative AI and pure/hybrid cloud deployments. He has a rich and diverse experience architecting, designing, developing... Read More →

Andrew Clark

Andrew Clark is the Senior Principal Software Engineer for IBM i at Rocket Software. Andrew has over 35 years of experience on IBM i beginning with the "secret Mankato Project" on a pre-release version of OS/400, and an internship at IBM Rochester working on the Query team. He... Read More →

Herman Rensink

Wednesday April 29, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm CDT
Studio 9-10

General Programming, Artificial Intelligence (AI), DevOps, IT Leadership & Management, IT Strategy, Program Testing, Programmer Tools, Security, Technologies Integrated with IBM i

3:45pm CDT

Use AI to Build an IBM i Web App in Under 10 Minutes — No Coding Required!

Wednesday April 29, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm CDT

Galerie 1

Evaluation Survey

Valence, the leading web and mobile framework for IBM i, is getting even smarter. In this fast-paced demo, we’ll show you how Nitro App Builder (NAB) — Valence’s browser-based low-code development tool — enables anyone with solid IBM i database knowledge to build and deploy modern web or mobile apps in minutes. But that’s just the beginning. You’ll get an exclusive sneak peek at Valence 6.4, featuring powerful new IBM i–centric AI capabilities designed to accelerate development like never before. With the integrated AI assistant, you can:

Instantly generate app components
Build dashboards and inquiry apps with download-to-Excel functionality
Create intuitive data entry apps
Even generate RPG or SQL logic with AI assistance

No coding required — but fully extensible for developers who want it. Whether you're a seasoned RPG developer, a super user who knows your physical files inside and out, or a programmer comfortable with HTML5 and JavaScript, Valence adapts to your skill level. And now with AI integrated directly into the development experience, much of the heavy lifting can be done for you. The bottom line?
You can build real, production-ready IBM i web apps — fast. Join us for a live demo of Valence 6.4, see AI in action on IBM i.

Speakers

Robert Swanson

Senior Partner, CNX

Richard Milone

Managing Partner, CNX

Richard Milone has worked as an application developer on the IBM i platform and its predecessors of various names for over 25 years. Richard served as Director of IT for Packaging Resources until co-founding CNX Corporation in Chicago in 1996, where his initial focus was on ERP enhancements... Read More →

Wednesday April 29, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm CDT
Galerie 1

General Programming

5:00pm CDT

Understanding Your Integration Options: A Practical Guide for IBM i Shops

Wednesday April 29, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm CDT

Galerie 4

Evaluation Survey

When you need to connect IBM i to other systems, you face overwhelming choices. APIs, web services, message queues, file transfers, EDI, database replication... the list goes on. How do you choose? This session cuts through the confusion with practical guidance. You'll learn the fundamental patterns behind all integration approaches, understand the tradeoffs between different options, and see when each approach makes sense. We'll cover what questions to ask vendors, what red flags to watch for, and what matters versus what's just marketing hype. You'll see real examples of successful integrations using different approaches and learn from failures too. We'll discuss security basics everyone should understand, performance considerations that actually matter, and how to plan for growth. Whether you're evaluating vendor solutions, building integrations yourself, or just trying to understand what your options are, you'll leave with practical knowledge to make better decisions.

Speakers

Dan Magid

Eradani

Eradani extends modernization by transforming the people, tooling, and development languages used in IBM i businesses. Eradani "Connect" serves as a Enterprise Integration Hub for IBM i organizations, providing developers and operators exception volume, performance, and security when... Read More →

Aaron Magid

Chief Architect, Eradani

Aaron Magid, Chief Architect at Eradani, has over a decade of experience in software development and technology. He specializes in modernizing legacy systems like IBM i/AS400 using Python, Node.js, and Java. Aaron excels in bridging old and new technologies together for clients, helping... Read More →

Wednesday April 29, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm CDT
Galerie 4

General Programming

Level Suitable for All

8:00am CDT

IBM i Shops: Prepare for DevOps

Thursday April 30, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT

Balcony I-J

Evaluation Survey

DevOps is a long twisting road that has no destination. But even more harrowing can be the tasks needed to prepare before embarking on this life-changing adventure. In the session we will explore several aspects that should be explored before embarking down the DevOps Road, all based upon open source implementations which means there is no price of admission! We will cover concepts like preparing the code, developers, management and users. In additional we will review a basic open source road map for leveraging DevOps features in an IBM i environment.

Learning Objectives:

1) Learn the basics of DevOps. 2) Explore how best to prepare the environment for a DevOps journey. 3) Review open source tooling and references for educating the team on DevOps.

Speakers

Mike Pavlak

Solution Architect, Programmers.io

Thursday April 30, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Balcony I-J

General Programming, DevOps

8:00am CDT

The Modern IBM i Development Workbench: An Integrated Approach to Modernization

Thursday April 30, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT

Galerie 1

Evaluation Survey

Modernization isn't just about updating user interfaces or moving to the cloud. It's about creating a comprehensive, integrated development environment that brings IBM i into alignment with modern enterprise standards. It’s about future proofing your environment so that you are ready to handle any new technologies that arise. This session explores how leading organizations are building complete development workbenches that combine DevOps automation, API integration, AI-assisted development, and modern tooling into cohesive platforms. You'll see how these integrated approaches enable developers to work more efficiently, how they improve collaboration across teams, and how they allow IBM i systems to participate fully in enterprise architecture. We'll discuss the components of a modern development workbench, show real examples from organizations that have successfully implemented integrated approaches, and provide practical guidance for building your own modernization roadmap. Whether you're just starting your modernization journey or looking to connect existing initiatives, you'll leave understanding how to create development environments where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Learning Objectives:

Attendees will understand how to create integrated development environments for IBM i modernization. They'll learn about key components of modern development workbenches, see examples of successful integrated approaches, and develop strategies for connecting DevOps, integration, AI, and tooling initiatives into cohesive platforms that maximize development productivity.

Speakers

Aaron Magid

Chief Architect, Eradani

Thursday April 30, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Galerie 1

General Programming, DevOps, Technologies Integrated with IBM i

9:15am CDT

AI-Powered DevOps: From Code Generation to Production Deployment

Thursday April 30, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT

Galerie 1

Evaluation Survey

Generating code with AI is impressive, but it's only half the story. How do you build it? How do you deploy it? How do you manage dependencies when AI creates new components? This session explores the critical connection between AI code generation and DevOps automation for IBM i. You'll see how modern DevOps platforms can automatically identify dependencies in AI-generated code, determine build requirements, and manage deployments across environments. We'll demonstrate how non-IBM i developers can leverage AI to create RPG programs without understanding compilation processes or deployment procedures, because the DevOps infrastructure handles it automatically. You'll learn strategies for creating AI-assisted development/promotion pipelines, understand how to integrate AI-generated code into existing DevOps workflows, and see real examples of organizations using AI throughout their entire development lifecycle. This isn't just about writing code faster. It's about creating a complete, integrated development environment where AI and automation work together to make your team more productive.

Learning Objectives:

Attendees will understand how to integrate AI code generation with DevOps automation for complete development workflows. They'll learn about dependency management for AI-generated code, automated build and deployment strategies, and approaches for creating AI-enhanced development pipelines that handle the entire application lifecycle.

Speakers

Aaron Magid

Chief Architect, Eradani

Thursday April 30, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
Galerie 1

General Programming, Artificial Intelligence (AI), DevOps, Programming: General

10:45am CDT

Start using ILE RPG Modernization Techniques

Thursday April 30, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am CDT

Galerie 1

Evaluation Survey

Developing ILE code requires the developer to change their thought processes, gone are the large programs that do complicated processes. ILE requires the developer to think in small easily managed procedures. Reusable procedures, modules, and service programs. This session will not only explain “Why you need to change", it will have examples that are easy to understand, and you can start using immediately.

Learning Objectives:

Why use Model View Controller architecture Improve developers understanding of service programs Learn to write service programs that can easily be used as API's Learn why Service programs should be data centric rather than application centric Learn how correctly designed service programs will make your life easier

Speakers

Jim Buck

CEO & Head Instructor, imPower Technologies

Jim Buck’s career in IT has spanned more than 35+ years, primarily in college education, manufacturing, and healthcare industries. Past president (13 years) of the Wisconsin Midrange Computer Professional Association (www.wmcpa.org) and has served on several teams developing IBM... Read More →

Thursday April 30, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am CDT
Galerie 1

General Programming, IT Strategy, Programming: RPG

10:45am CDT

Using Large Language Models

Thursday April 30, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am CDT

Studio 1-2

Evaluation Survey

What are the strengths of the modern Large Language Model approach to Artificial Intelligence? What are the weaknesses? Where and how is it safe to apply this enticing yet dangerous technology? Where are the usage models headed right now? Inquiring minds want to know!

Learning Objectives:

1. Understanding the strengths of Large Language Model and Transformer architecture 2. Understanding the weaknesses of Large Language Model and Transformer architecture 3. Reviewing the technical, epistemological, and existential critiques of Large Language Model and Transformer architecture 4. Making actionable suggestions on this technology in the enterprise

Speakers

Jack Woehr

Senior Engineer / Senior Consultant, Consulting to Procern Technology Solutions and Seiden Group LLC

Thursday April 30, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am CDT
Studio 1-2

General Programming, Artificial Intelligence (AI)

1:00pm CDT

SQL for the RPG Programmer “How To”: Working with SQL Services

Thursday April 30, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Balcony K

Evaluation Survey

SQL is THE recommended interface from applications into your data. This session focuses on how using SQL services extends what you can do in these application. This session Includes services added with IBM i 7.6.

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn what SQL services are and where to get more information 2. Focus on SQL services that are most useful for developers

Speakers

Vern Hamberg

Senior iSeries Developer, OneMain Financial

Vern has worked on IBM midrange systems for over 35 years, beginning with the System/38 and AS/400. At present he is a Senior iSeries Developer at OneMain Financial. He serves on the Strategic Education Team (SET) of COMMON and is one of the SMEs for Db2. He is also honored to have... Read More →

Thursday April 30, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Balcony K

General Programming, Database

1:00pm CDT

What’s New with Open Source & IBM i

Thursday April 30, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Balcony I-J

Evaluation Survey

Open source solutions have been on the IBM i platform for many years but recently the number of solutions deployed here has blossomed. Join Mike as he explores the latest news regarding packages and solution features available in IBM i Open Source Package Management and beyond.

Learning Objectives:

1) Review updates to the popular languages like PHP, Python and Node.js. 2) Explore new(er) packages available via the ACS: Open Source Package Management. 3) See examples of how the community is contributing to IBM i open source.

Speakers

Mike Pavlak

Solution Architect, Programmers.io

Thursday April 30, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Balcony I-J

General Programming

4:15pm CDT

Security as a developer, why should I care?

Thursday April 30, 2026 4:15pm - 5:15pm CDT

Balcony L

Evaluation Survey

Security is the hottest topic in today's society and yet many developers don't have it in the forefront of their minds. We will look at todays trend, risks and why you as a developer should develop with security in mind.

Learning Objectives:

Understanding security as a developer Bring awareness to some of the possible security bugs you can introduce into your code.

Speakers

Marina Schwenk

Senior Programmer/Analyst IBM i Admin, Innovative Software Solutions

Thursday April 30, 2026 4:15pm - 5:15pm CDT
Balcony L

General Programming

4:15pm CDT

Stored Procedures for Hybrid Development

Thursday April 30, 2026 4:15pm - 5:15pm CDT

Studio 9-10

Evaluation Survey

Accessing business logic from Open Source application and off platform has evolved a great deal over the years. In this session we’ll look at some of the reasons for centralizing this business logic in the database via Db2 Stored procedures. We’ll look at RPG and SQL procedures and work through examples of how these are used from exhibit languages like PHP and Python.

Learning Objectives:

1) Learn how to create and execute stored procedures in SQL and HLL (RPG). 2) See examples of how to use Db2 Stored Procedures in OSS languages. 3) Review tips and best practices when working with Db2 Stored Procedures.

Speakers

Mike Pavlak

Solution Architect, Programmers.io

Thursday April 30, 2026 4:15pm - 5:15pm CDT
Studio 9-10

General Programming, Database

4:15pm CDT

Using AI ethically: an open discussion

Thursday April 30, 2026 4:15pm - 5:15pm CDT

Galerie 3

Evaluation Survey

While the capabilities of artificial intelligence will drive plenty of new business value, it's important that moral principles are still applied. In this guided (but open) discussion, we will talk about several ethical points to consider, soanning the obvious and hidden.

Learning Objectives:

Ethics in AI

Speakers

Charles Guarino

CEO & IBM Champion, Central Park Data Systems

Charles Guarino believes in the “power” of IBM Power Systems. His career reflects his dedication and interest in bringing the platform and its solutions to others and as a result has been recognized as an IBM Champion.

He is a member of COMMON’s Speaker Excellence Hall of Fame and a proud recipient of the Al Barsa Memorial Scholarship Award. Additionally, he participates on COMMON’s Strategic Education Team. Other professional endeavors have included the roles of President and monthly Q&A host... Read More →

Jesse Gorzinski

STSM and Senior Business Architect - AI and Open Source, IBM

Experienced business architect from IBM and a specialist in the IBM i platform. My passion is enabling enterprises to adopt artificial intelligence and open source technologies.

Thursday April 30, 2026 4:15pm - 5:15pm CDT
Galerie 3

General Programming, Artificial Intelligence (AI), IT Strategy, Personal Development, Technologies Integrated with IBM i

10:00am CDT

11:15am CDT

11:15am CDT

3:15pm CDT

3:15pm CDT

4:30pm CDT

4:30pm CDT

4:30pm CDT

9:15am CDT

10:45am CDT

10:45am CDT

5:05pm CDT

8:00am CDT

8:00am CDT

9:15am CDT

9:15am CDT

10:45am CDT

10:45am CDT

3:45pm CDT

3:45pm CDT

5:00pm CDT

8:00am CDT

8:00am CDT

9:15am CDT

10:45am CDT

10:45am CDT

1:00pm CDT

1:00pm CDT

4:15pm CDT

4:15pm CDT

4:15pm CDT

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