COMMON POWERUp 2026

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.

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.

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.

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.