WMCPA iCON2025

Getting Started VS Code Workshop
This is a great opportunity to get started with VS Code and the IBM i extensions. Many RPG developers have never used VS Code and getting started with the IDE can be frustrating. This lab will introduce the attendees to VS Code and IBM i development environment

Attendees will need a laptop and will be provided with a login to an IBM i system. Allowing them to work through some simple tasks. At the end of the Lab, you will have an understanding of the following topics.

Topics covered will include:

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 DB2 in VS code

Getting Started VS Code Workshop
This is a great opportunity to get started with VS Code and the IBM i extensions. Many RPG developers have never used VS Code and getting started with the IDE can be frustrating. This lab will introduce the attendees to VS Code and IBM i development environment

Attendees will need a laptop and will be provided with a login to an IBM i system. Allowing them to work through some simple tasks. At the end of the Lab, you will have an understanding of the following topics.

Topics covered will include:

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 DB2 in VS code

This year IBM created data marts that allow us more control over the way we can monitor data from the system audit journal and special authorities. Learn how to create and use these data marts, and how it becomes an easy way to gather and store this information for your LPAR.

Some of us are lucky enough to have a single job for our entire career, but for most, we will at some point change jobs - either by our choice or our employer's choice. It just makes sense to be prepared for that reality, in case it happens. The irony is that many of the things you can do today to make yourself more employable in the event you ever do find yourself fired also may just make it far less likely that you ever will be fired!
During this session we'll discuss:
How to maximize your value and your employability to make it far less likely you'll ever be let go from a job
Building your networking skills to widen your professional circles
Practical considerations you should do today to be prepared in case you ever do find yourself let go
How to handle yourself in the situation of being fired
Best ways to conduct your job search
Interviewing tips to maximize your chances of finding your new dream job as quickly as possible
Audience:
Everyone who wants to make the most of their career and be prepared for all possibilities would benefit from attending! Join us for this very practical session on what you can do now to protect and prepare yourself!

Brand new session for 2024!

Session Abstract:
Get a detailed look at the enhancements brought to the CL language from i5/OS V5R3 through IBM i 7.1.
See examples of the new functions like DOFOR, DOWHILE, DOUNTIL and SELECT, and how they allow programming CL in a much more structured format.
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:
What IBM has added to the language in the last several releases.
How to leverage some of these enhancements to better access user spaces and APIs
What IBM has added to Command objects in recent releases.
Audience:
IBM i Developers and System Administrators.

In this session we will discuss: Many things that you did NOT plan for that would cause you to need an HA, or at LEAST a DR partition. Virtually every one of these are items from my personal customers, not made up or 'read it on the internet.'
You will be surprised and potentially even shocked by some of these occurances.
Despite your security policies, the quality of your building, reliability of power and cooling, you cannot think of everything.
Learning Objectives:
A realization that you can't prevent every disaser!
Audience:
IBM i System Administrators

TBD