DEV Community: Programmers.io

Top IBM i Service Providers in the USA

Programmers.io — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 12:26:58 +0000

IBM i, formerly known as AS/400, is a powerful and reliable platform that continues to be a cornerstone for many businesses. Several companies in the USA specialize in IBM i services, offering modernization, migration, and support solutions. Below is a ranking of the top IBM i service providers in the country.

IBM
IBM is the original developer of IBM i and remains the leading provider of solutions, hardware, and support for the platform. They offer a comprehensive suite of services, including cloud hosting, modernization, and AI integration to enhance the capabilities of IBM i environments.
Programmers.io
Programmers.io is a well-established IBM i service provider offering end-to-end solutions, including modernization, migration, and custom software development. With a strong team of IBM i experts, the company has built a reputation for delivering high-quality development and support services to businesses across various industries.
Infoview Systems
Infoview Systems specializes in integrating IBM i with modern cloud and enterprise applications. Their expertise in API development, modernization, and migration solutions has made them a trusted partner for companies looking to enhance their IBM i capabilities.
GlassHouse
GlassHouse provides managed services, cloud migration, and disaster recovery solutions for IBM i environments. Their focus on security, automation, and performance optimization helps businesses maintain a stable and secure IBM i infrastructure.
Procern
Procern offers innovative IBM i solutions, including application modernization, system integration, and consulting services. Their team of experienced professionals helps businesses optimize their IBM i systems for better efficiency and scalability.
LANSA
LANSA is a leading provider of IBM i application development and modernization tools. Their low-code solutions enable businesses to transform legacy applications into modern, user-friendly software with minimal coding effort.
Profound Logic
Profound Logic specializes in IBM i modernization, providing tools and services that transform green-screen applications into web and mobile-friendly solutions. Their expertise in RPG, Node.js, and open-source technologies makes them a preferred choice for many enterprises.
Srin Soft
Srin Soft delivers end-to-end IBM i solutions, including cloud migration, ERP integration, and application modernization. Their expertise in automation and digital transformation ensures seamless IBM i operations for their clients.
Midrange Dynamics
Midrange Dynamics focuses on IBM i change management and modernization solutions. Their tools help businesses streamline software development processes, ensuring seamless updates and deployments.
Eradani
Eradani is known for its API-driven approach to IBM i integration. They help businesses connect their IBM i applications with cloud-based and modern enterprise systems, improving agility and scalability.

These companies continue to lead the IBM i ecosystem in the USA, helping businesses leverage the platform’s strengths while modernizing for the future. Whether you need development, integration, or IBM i support services, these providers offer reliable solutions tailored to your needs.

The Power of .NET Development Services

Programmers.io — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 15:21:56 +0000

Expert .NET Developers for Complex Projects

The complexity of modern software projects often requires specialized expertise. Skilled .NET developers possess a deep understanding of the framework’s intricacies. It allows them to tackle intricate tasks and develop custom solutions tailored to your requirements. Having experienced .NET developers on your team can significantly impact the project’s success, whether you’re working on a large-scale enterprise application or a niche software product.

Full Stack .NET Developers: Versatility at Its Best

A successful software project involves many components, including front-end user interfaces and back-end server logic. Full Stack .NET developers are proficient in front-end and back-end development, allowing them to integrate different application parts seamlessly. This versatility ensures that the final product functions smoothly and provides a seamless user experience.

Custom .NET Solutions for Business Growth

One size does not fit all in .NET development. Each business has unique challenges and objectives that demand tailor-made solutions. Expert .NET developers can analyze your business requirements, understand your goals, and develop custom solutions that address your needs. This personalized approach enhances the efficiency of your application, maximizes its performance, and sets the stage for future growth.

In-House vs. Outsourced Development: A Comparative Analysis
In-House Development

In-house software development requires building and maintaining an internal team of developers, designers, and project managers. It has several advantages, including direct control over the team, real-time collaboration, and a deep understanding of the company’s culture and goals. But there are also many challenges, such as high recruitment and operational costs, lengthy hiring processes, and limited expertise for specialized projects.

Outsourced Development

Outsourcing .NET development brings a different set of benefits to the table. By partnering with an external development agency like Programmers.io, you gain access to a pool of expert .NET developers with a proven track record. This approach offers cost-effectiveness, flexibility, scalability, and access to a diverse talent pool. Outsourcing allows you to focus on your area of expertise while leaving the technical complexities to the experts.

Offshore .NET Developers: A Global Advantage

Geography is no longer a limitation when finding the right talent. Offshore .NET developers offer a global advantage that can propel your projects forward.

Cost-Effectiveness without Compromising Quality

A major reason businesses opt for offshore .NET developers is the cost-effectiveness they provide. Offshore talent often comes at a fraction of the cost of hiring an in-house team, which can significantly impact your project budget. However, the cost savings on outsourcing means something other than compromising on quality. Reputable outsourcing companies, like Programmers.io, can provide access to top-tier developers who deliver exceptional results.

Access to a Vast Talent Pool

Offshore development opens the door to a diverse talent pool. You’re no longer restricted to the talent available within your local market. Instead, you can tap into globally dispersed skilled developers to find experts who align perfectly with your project’s requirements. It allows you to assemble an experienced and enthusiastic team about your project’s goals.

Operational Flexibility and Time-Zone Advantage

Time-zone differences can work to your advantage when collaborating with offshore .NET developers. Your development team continues to work on your project while you’re asleep, ensuring progress is made around the clock. It can enable faster development cycles and quicker time-to-market for your applications.

Top 8 Things to Know about .Net Development Platform

Programmers.io — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 15:17:15 +0000

.Net Framework has been one of the best evolutions by Microsoft for web applications, desktop apps and website development. .Net developers and people who have been in constant connect with this platform already know that it has its own library of languages, framework and further developments. Beginners and business owners should know that from a simple architecture, .Net framework has evolved to a complete ecosystem providing support and development techniques for all kinds of applications. Here are top 8 things you should know about .Net Development before you hire expert .Net developers for your project.

8 Facts that .Net developer must know

.Net is no more for only windows applications
Yes, this is true, the .Net development platform now consists of .Net framework, .Net Core and Xamarin. .Net Core is one such platform that has its own tools and libraries that support the development for products which can be easily run on Windows, Mac OS and Linux. This cross build platform is open source and is free to use.

What is The .Net development Platform
The .Net Development Platform is any ecosystem which comprises of the .Net framework, .Net Core and Xamarin. All these have their own frameworks and libraries to develop various products/software.

Xamarin joined this platform in 2016
Xamarin was owned as a proprietary product by Microsoft, in 2016 it was acquired as a complete open source branch of the dot Net development platform. It uses the mono runtime and a version of the .NET Framework to work with APIs for iOS, Android, and Xamarin.Mac.

.Net Standard
Along with .Net Core another platform, .Net Standard was also introduced in 2016. It is basically a standard library which contains all the APIs listed in the entire .Net ecosystem. This helps the developers to use this single library rather than accessing three different libraries. This up gradation in the .Net development platform has made the system easier and quite efficient. As .Net Standard has unified the ecosystem it has improved consistency in cross platform development and reuse of various components.

Hire .NET Developers

About Visual Studio IDE
.Net Programmers know the importance of Visual Studio IDE. For those who do not know what Visual Studio IDE is, it is an integrated development environment which provides all the tools, debugging options for development across all the platforms including IOS and Android. The code written in different languages can also be compiled, run and debugged on IDE. It also provides various customization features according to user’s choices.

ASP.Net and automatic monitoring
The .Net Framework has three application models PF, Windows Forms, ASP.NET Forms. Wherein PF and windows forms are used to create desktop applications, ASP.NET is used to develop dynamic websites and web applications. It has in built automatic monitoring system. The Windows Web Server monitors the web pages very closely and raises alerts regarding the issues captured. This ensures transparency and prompt troubleshooting if any.

Robust Caching System
A caching system is important to store the data temporally and use it whenever required. .Net has a strong and reliable caching system that can be used in case of retrieving any previous information or duplicating any data. This in built caching system allows developers to create a custom cache which can be used for improving performance and scalability server applications.

Deployment and maintenance
Applications developed in dot Net Core can be easily deployed. You can either install it with the application or separately. As .Net Core provides the modular design, you can easily work on other projects seamlessly, while the deployment of one takes place.

In the end…
Many budding programmers and coders believe that .Net is mostly used to develop enterprise systems, but this still remains a debatable topic. As Microsoft is working effortlessly and providing various new up gradations in the platform, .Net programming still remains one of the most sought for programming and development platforms.

Common Software Issues & and How You Can Fix Them

Programmers.io — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 08:13:07 +0000

Technology is an important part of the world today. Not only does technology determine the way businesses operate today, but it also sets the pace of development in many industries across the globe. Human progress and business growth are left at the whim of technology, as the pace of technological advancement determines the pace of development and growth in the business world.

Knowing our dependency on core IT functions and processes, minor issues in software and hardware operations can lead to long stoppages and downtimes. Be it a remote employee working from home, or an organization with a database of their own, IT issues and problems can lead to long downtimes and can hinder efficiency and productivity.

While there are new IT and software problems popping up around us, the more you know about these problems, the easier it is for you to solve them. Corrupted computer software can significantly hinder the speed of work inside an organization. Poor software can also lead to associated problems in other related applications and hardware.

Inappropriate software can also slow down office systems, leading to delays in work, general inefficiencies and a lack of productivity. In this article, we look at some of the common software problems and what you can do to fix them. Knowing more about these problems will help enhance your response to them.

Corrupt Drivers

A corrupt driver is one of the most common reasons behind a software problem in your system. Corrupt drivers usually show up in the form of the blue screen of death, also known as the BSOD. A corrupt driver would mean that your system screen freezes, and you are unable to work on anything else on it.

You can rectify a corrupt driver by working on the following steps:

Open the device manager in your system and write down the command devmgmt.msc in your Run tab.
Expand the menu categories you now see the different drivers that are running on your system. Once you have a list of drivers in front of you, you should look for a yellow icon next to the drivers to see the corrupt status.
Once you find any corrupt drivers, the yellow sign is usually an indication of them. You can right-click on the driver and update it to bring things back to normalcy.

Malware Attack

Software and network security are of high importance to most businesses today. A secure network can help organizations manage key operations and get the best results possible from processes. Having a well-managed network that is secure in nature is highly important for businesses to mitigate attacks and the damage suffered through them.

Hackers do not discriminate in businesses and are on the search for businesses that are easy to breach and have left their network security open. You should start by ensuring that your network security is top-notch so that all malware attacks are kept to a minimum. All the data in your systems must be backed up correctly so that you don’t have massive downtimes and outages due to a malware attack. You can also work with security companies to devise an IT security strategy to eventually safeguard your system from malware attacks.

Inability to Access Email

Emails play an important role in your daily operations today. Inability to run emails can lead to a few problems. The right way to fix email issues is to log out from your app and then restart it. Once you restart it, log back in with your credentials.

Try logging in through the web. If you are able to login through the web and not through your app, the problem is with the app.

Windows Displaying Blue Screen

Your Windows or Operating System could be displaying a blue screen for many reasons:

If the screen shows up when you start your system, you can go for the ‘start windows normally’ option and check if you see an improvement.
You can force restart the system by clicking Ctrl, Alt and Delete together. Now go back to the windows option and see if it still shows the blue screen.

You can press the F8 menu and choose safe mode from the Windows Startup Menu. Running the computer in a safe mode usually helps clear away errors.
Go for the ‘last known good configuring option’, which will restart your system based on the last setting that worked.
If none of the techniques above work, go for a system restore.

Slow Downloading and Uploading

Slow downloading and uploading is another common software problem faced by many today. Your internet speeds can seriously suffer if there are more people at home. You can run a speed test online to see where your speeds are currently and if there need for improvements. Also, check your browser background for any files that could be downloading or uploading.

You can try resetting the modem, check your network card for expiry and eventually call your service provider if nothing else works.

New Applications Don’t Install

Most users get a software issue when they aren’t able to install new files into their system. Based on the nature of your work, you would want to download and install new systems and files on your PC. While the inability to install new files is mostly attributed to space issues, it can also be due to malware. You should first try freeing up the space in your computer to see if the file now installs. If this step doesn’t work, you should look for malware.

Your computer’s software can cause trouble because of a variety of reasons. However, you shouldn’t be concerned by them, as software issues to be rectified through expert help.

Outdated systems
Software issues also occur when you miss the right audit of your system and software. A constant check on the updates is very important to maintain the credibility of your system and software. If you don’t remember if you have updated your system or not your system may face frequent shut down or other issues. A routine update or audit is required to maintain the health of your software.

Lack of a plan
You and your team should always be ready with options or a long-term plan for your software or system. Any issues can arise anytime and therefore you should know how to avoid any problem from happening. The long view plan must have new technologies to enhance your software processes and more proactive solutions.

Python With Django - Best Development Combination

Programmers.io — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 14:21:58 +0000

Selecting the right technology for web development is a growing challenge for developers today. While there are multiple programming languages and frameworks available to work on, not many developers are able to pick the right solutions from the lot.

Not many programming languages or frameworks can meet client expectations in a manner as comprehensive as that done by Python programming language with the Django framework. Python continues to be the most popular programming language in the world today, with Django its most popular framework. When both these powerhouses come together, they create strong web apps that are fun to work on and give desirable results.

In this article, we take a look at the partnership of Django with Python and why the two continue to be the number one combination for most developers. Stay with us to understand the pros and learn more.

Frontend vs Backend vs Fullstack Developers

Programmers.io — Wed, 04 May 2022 14:26:45 +0000

Most people believe that all web developers essentially do the same work. They all create websites, web apps, and other web related applications. So, it’s not easy to tell them apart. Despite the similarity, web development is not a single skill, but an ecosystem of dynamic technologies and frameworks that are evolving everyday.

Needless to say, creating a fully functioning website which contain all the latest features is a challenging task. Web developers must become well-versed in a range of technologies and frameworks to develop fast, lightweight, and reliable websites.

In most cases, no one person has the skill to develop a high-performing website alone. Therefore, developers must work in teams, according to their dedicated roles to create websites we see and interact with every day.

To make things easier for developers, we divide them into three categories; frontend Developers, backend Developers, and fullstack developers. These categories are based on the role a web developer plays during web development.

Here, we will present a between frontend vs. backend and full stack web development and explore what sets them apart from each other.

The Best Object-Oriented Programming Languages

Programmers.io — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 12:08:10 +0000

What is Object-Oriented Programming?

Before we proceed any further, it is highly necessary for programmers and developers to understand what object-oriented programming is and how it works. Object-oriented programming, also commonly referred to as OOP, is one of the most common and popular forms of programming today.

OOP was a drastic shift in programming, as this approach relies on objects and classes for the language to work. Both these constructs can be confusing for developers to work on together, which is why there is some confusion and difficulties. A class is basically defined as a software blueprint through which objects are created and then identified. Hence, we can summarize that a class is a template that assists in the creation of a blueprint.

We can simplify this further by taking an easy example. You can begin by thinking of an object as something tangible that you can touch. Think of a record, a phone or a cup – anything that matches the requirement of being touched.

Classes are then created to put objects into different categories. For instance, you can group phones, tablets and laptops in a different class called mobility, while you can group records, cassettes and CDs into a different class called music. These classes form the basis of OOP and help organizations take them forward.

OOP is based on four simple principles, including:

Encapsulation: Using this principle, an object can keep its current status private and hidden, even when it is present within a class.

Abstraction: As per the principle of abstraction, objects hide all interactions other than those considered relevant and necessary to disclose to other objects surrounding them.

Inheritance: This allows the software to create a child class based on the same fields and methods as the parent class. This cyclical development is natural, without errors or flaws.

Polymorphism: Finally, the concept of polymorphism is common in OOP and allows objects to take multiple forms as per the context they are being used in.

OOP makes it easier for organizations to collaborate through the development process and categorize things rightly.

Programming Languages for Object-Oriented Programming

7 Advantages of Vue JS

Programmers.io — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 14:31:36 +0000

It’s important to choose the right technology when building a web application. The right framework can increase your app’s performance and decrease development time.

There are a number of popular JavaScript frameworks used in front end development. VueJS is a new, progressive framework that’s easy to integrate with existing projects.

Although it’s quite new, the VueJS framework is gaining in popularity. More and more programmers are trying out VueJS and finding it easy to use.

Below are 7 reasons why you should consider using VueJS for your next project.

What Is VueJS?

VueJS is a JavaScript framework used for building front end applications. JavaScript is a programming language used in web development. JavaScript powers interactive web components and applications, from animated graphics to photo slideshows.

Most front end developers work with JavaScript frameworks when building websites and web apps. A Javascript framework is a collection of JS code libraries that provide developers with templates of pre-written JS code.

This speeds up the development process and enables a more structured and smoother process.

VueJS is a relatively new, progressive framework that is designed to be easy to use. VueJS extends HTML attributes called directives and provides functionality to HTML-based applications.

ReactJS vs VueJS vs AngularJS

There are a number of JS frameworks used by front end developers. Two of the biggest ones are React and Angular. Facebook built ReactJS and Google made AngularJS. Recently VueJS has also cemented a spot at the top as one of the most popular frameworks to use.

It’s Lightweight

The VueJS framework is very small. Unlike some other massive frameworks, VueJS is only 18-21kb in size. That’s up to four times less than minified JQuery. Having such a lightweight frontend framework is one of the biggest advantages of VueJS.

With such a small size, VueJS can be downloaded in no time. It also has advantages for load time, which plays a big role in SEO. Having such a lightweight framework is not only beneficial for development but also for performance.

Easy to Learn

The whole idea of VueJS is to enable developers to achieve amazing results with as little effort as possible. Most software developers agree that VueJS does not require heavy learning. In fact, it is easy to pick up.

Developers only need to know the basics of JavaScript, CSS and HTML to start using Vue successfully. VueJS can also be used with all common code editors. Both small and large scale applications can be developed using VueJS and errors are easy to trace.

The team behind VueJS has also released some really handy browser extensions for their framework that increase usability. Chrome and Firefox both support these tools.

Extensive Documentation

Good documentation is really important when using a new framework. Detailed documentation makes the technology easy to use and bugs easy to fix.

The VueJS documentation is extensive. This means you only need to know a little bit of HTML, CSS, and JS to get started using VueJS. Furthermore, the documentation is regularly updated to reflect recent JS changes and best practices.

Easy Integration

In the world of software development, new technologies are constantly changing and trends stick around for only a matter of months. That’s why JS frameworks need to be flexible and scalable.

VueJS supports many third-party libraries and components, making it easier for developers to integrate VueJS with existing applications. This saves a tremendous amount of time for developers who are trying to keep up to date with new trends in the industry.

VueJS can be added on top of other JS frameworks. It’s as simple as including the VueJS CDN. VueJS is a great replacement for JQuery and can be used for building new applications or altering existing ones.

Great Community and Support

VueJS has a great community of developers behind it, working to improve the framework and add more features. The community of developers using VueJS is passionate about the framework and works hard to fix any issues that arise.

A responsive community is important when working with new technology because you want to make sure that new bugs and other problems are dealt with fast. If you have any questions about the framework, the responsive VueJS community is sure to answer them.

Unforeseen problems always arise during development. And when they do, it’s nice to know that there is a supportive community of other developers out there ready to help you out.

Suitable for Different Projects

VueJS is a scalable framework that can be used for small projects or large-scale applications. The VueJS ecosystem provides developers with various tools for building large-scale, single-page applications.

Two popular frameworks that inspired the creation of VueJS are ReactJS and AngularJS. VueJS combines the best of both of these frameworks to provide a balanced development process.

Used By Major Companies

Several major companies adopted VueJS for use in their software applications. There are a number of well-known corporations that have trusted VueJS to improve their software.

Facebook used VueJS to build part of its Newsfeed. Netflix also utilized VueJS when building two of its smaller, internal applications. Adobe Portfolio, a website builder designed for users to showcase their work, also used VueJS for their frontend. Adobe also found that VueJS was easy to integrate with their existing code base.

Other companies that use VueJS including:

*Behance
*Xiaomi
*Grammarly
*Codeship
*Zoom

These are some of the many benefits of VueJS.

Current pandemic has exposed a hole in the programming workforce

Programmers.io — Mon, 04 May 2020 10:27:17 +0000

We Are Exposed (to a lack of COBOL Programmers)

The current pandemic has exposed a hole in the programming workforce, one that insiders reported on for almost ten years. The hole is the lack of COBOL programmers to support COBOL mainframes that power crucial commerce, government, and financial systems. For the record, COBOL is a 50+-year-old programming language invented to power IBM’s AS400 mainframes. In the Fifties, implementing mainframes saved industries millions of dollars paying for man-hours. It replaced manual data-entry, computation, and manipulation. In 2020, it still powers 95% of any ATM swipes and 80% of in-personal financial transactions. According to a 2014 report in American Banker, 92% of top banks and 71% of Fortune 500 still used mainframes. Then COVID devastated the economy, and the systems used to mitigate the crisis couldn’t keep up with the demands.

Consider how the Social Security Department has systems that include 60 million lines of COBOL code. That department, the IRS, and states’ unemployment offices can’t keep up with the tasks of recording and sending relief to millions of US citizens. For the most part, COBOL is still secure and reliable, but it needs to be scaled, if not migrated. Many states and companies have started COBOL migration but much of the work halted with the shelter in place orders, that is until state and federal departments realized they are handicapped by 40 or 50-year-old systems. Then they put out an “All Hands on Deck” call for COBOL developers, most of whom have retired.

How This Gap Happened

With 220 billion lines of code still in use worldwide, how did this gap happen? In part, technological evolution, a shift in training towards new languages, and a dismissive attitude towards COBOL programmers and the IBM AS400 mainframes contribute. COBOL was treated as on its way to obsolescence. It was a language to maintain, its developers no longer earned top salaries, and colleges pushed COBOL courses to second tiers. The population of COBOL experts aged; the average age is 60+. “Younger” COBOL developers are often in their 40’s and 50’s. Hiring COBOL programmers out of college was like finding the needle in the haystack. In the programming industry, COBOL was described as “not sexy” and like swallowing a painfull pill. Not only did it feel stodgy because programmers couldn’t design anything fresh, but also one coder described it as loaded “with technical debt… modified, extended, moved to new hardware.” Worse yet, documentation was missing or out of date. In fact, most of the documentation was like a disappearing language, stuck in the heads of retired COBOL AS400 programmers . They hold the key to the language that needs updating to COBOL.net or to migrate to newer systems.

COBOL Programmers Are Essential (Workers)

It’s striking how COBOL developers are “essential workers” now that we are in crisis. They had been sidelined, their industry slowly paying developers less and less, not unlike CNA’s in a long-term care facility. Now that systems cannot keep up with the unemployment claims and CARES distributions, COBOL developers are on the front lines. And there are not enough of them.

To be fair, Computerworld reported in 2017 that IBM had ramped up its partnerships to increase the number of training programs. At that time 75 colleges taught COBOL. IBM invited almost 70,000 students into its “Master the Mainframe” Contest between 2012-2014 and has since provided fellowships and scholarships to about 15,000 students a year to learn COBOL. This month IBM partnered with Linux Open Source on three initiatives to help companies find developers. They boast a new callout the forum, a temporary technical forum for managing issues and sharing techniques, as well as a COBOL with VSCode training program.

Retirees Are Leaving Big Holes In IBMi Team Knowledge

Programmers.io — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 14:06:14 +0000

According to HelpSystems' 2019 IBMi Marketplace survey, the outlook for IBMi platforms looks stable and promising. Nearly two-thirds of industries using IBMi platforms plan to retain or expand their #IBMi use and 73% of the survey’s respondents report that more than half of their business-critical applications use IBMi. But IT departments around the country are having a hard time staffing RPG programmers because of baby boomer retirement. Behind this great news lurks a trend that IT departments are only beginning to prepare for: the retirement of skilled as400 green screen programmers. It’s a serious concern across industries. Right now 1 in 6 Americans plan to retire this year but that number will grow to 1 in 4 by 2060.

Read What does RPG stands for?

This is the “millennial gap” for which companies should be preparing to fill. Solutions abound. Companies are exploring options including retiree-hiree mentorship programs, automation, consolidation, and outsourcing.

Some companies have offered graduated retirement packages where experienced iseries(AS/400) programmers who know their companies’ needs partner with younger programmers who know newer languages and high-demand platforms such as mobile, web and GUI. Companies who plan to maintain and expand may hire younger IBM i programmers who are more skilled in the latest platforms to develop new tools and management systems but experienced programmers who keep their systems reliable are needed to aid in the transition. The mentorships may prove a solid solution for companies who can find the right candidates, but younger developers willing to learn legacy programming languages are hard to find.

Read Current State of IBM i Systems

Some companies may lack candidates, not because there is an industry-wide shortage, but due to local options. In that situation, they may propose automation and consolidation, trying to do more with fewer people and hoping to find the “magical” iSeries programmer with experience in their company’s needs, the older systems, and a drive to stay educated on the latest, while working to streamline and automate for fewer IT professionals. Such proposals indicate the trustworthiness of IBM i but doesn’t protect against the limitations of high ability automation and the possibility of human error. It puts the onus on a small IT department to resolve the ever-evolving capacities of IBM i or any system. It limits the capacity of the IT professional from evolving with IBM i because of the day-to-day, company-centered issues.

It’s not that there is a shortage of iSeries programmers, it’s that programming and the IT industry changes as rapidly as Moore’s law predicts. That means industry professionals have to commit themselves to constant learning. It’s always a new thing: a new language, platform or application.

Outsourcing with companies such as Programmers.io provides a creative solution. Outsourcing is another succession plan that allows companies to prepare over the long term for the skills gap before the retiring programmer population leaves. Professionals who know their company’s systems can advise management on a fitting partnership with a larger pool of younger iSeries programmers. Companies can maximize their IT resources, innovating and protecting in-house systems while leveraging partnerships to be nimble with new regulations, platforms, and social responsibility requirements. Instead of requiring a dependable employee to divide attention and expertise to new training or education, the generation of soon-to-be retirees can provide the mentorship to protect the company’s stable offerings. Meanwhile, management can spend more time on vision than on recruiting and training from the narrower, increasingly competitive pool of direct hire applicants.