I always like to see what else a scripting language is capable of when I am testing. 

I figured since we use QSH and PASE all over the board, then PHP should be able to participate in this mix. 

Feel free to download and use the PHPRUN command.  Source code is included for the CL script if you want to modify and enhance it. 

There’s also a README source member in the source file RJSPHP/SOURCE

Basically the PHPRUN command will run any PHP script with parameters and will allow you to send output back to the regular 400 job by placing STDOUT into a physical *OUTFILE and rolling through the file and processing results. This is a great way to intermix, RPG, CL and PHP. The command also bubbles back the PHP return codes to a data area so you can monitor for a successful script completion from a CL or RPG program. 

PHPRUN Command Download  – Contains RJS FTP Library Installer for RJSPHP library http://downloads.rjssoftware.com/files/commonclasses/rjsphp/rjsphp.exe

REQUEST: If you make any changes or tweaks to the scripts or add any additional functionality, please send them to me so I can incorporate them into the library. I already have several ideas for how to make this more useful, but let’s have some outside input. 

Have fun and send your feedback to me via email.  richard@rjssoftware.com

While RJS will always remain committed to the native iSeries platform we want to make sure our customers know that even if they do select another platform, our document imaging, electronic forms, workflow and report delivery products are all very capable products running in an iSeries or Multiplatform environment as well. Hopefully for those of you committed to the iSeries, you will be on the platform a long time, but if Windows or some other platform is in your future, feel free to give us a call and we can discuss how your information delivery investment is protected by continuing to choose RJS as your valued information delivery provider.

First and foremost this is an improvement on the scenario we have used for the past ten years on the iSeries with the integrated xServer cards.  They have always been one step behind current technology and have been seen as a second class way of deploying Windows on the iSeries.  However I’ve used the integrated server cards for years and found them to be very stable.

From a practical perspective the new Blade cards will allow shops such as RJS to truly consolidate their iSeries, Windows, Linux or AIX environments all together in a shared chassis with shared disk and less cables.  RJS is planning to implement one of the Blade Centers internally to consolidate our own server sprawl. I’ll post updates as we move forward.

Some say this is the end of the System i.  I say it’s just the beginning of a new way of life where our System i servers live harmonious with all of the other servers in our shops. Only time will tell for sure. Goodbye to cable and server sprawl.

I can’t say I agree with the new name change to “i”, but read about the cool new Blade Server technology here at the IBM i web site.

Here are my top ten reasons why .Net is a good way to go for iSeries developers learning how to modernize their iSeries applications or simply needing to write PC or web based applications for other business purposes:

1.) The VB.Net language syntax is very english-like and similar to RPG, so it’s easy to master. Java and PHP are more cryptic and can take up to a year to become proficient with. As an iSeries developer I found it much easier to grasp the english-like VB language than I did the C-style syntax of Java or the odd, unstructured style of PHP.

2.) Your first iSeries database application can be written within 30 minutes of learning how to use .Net. A windows or web based subfile-like inquiry/query application can be developed in less than 50 lines of code. Windows desktop applications are difficult to write in Java and cannot be written in PHP.

3.) Developers don’t need to initially know any HTML to get started with web application development. While I advocate knowing HTML because it’s the screen design syntax for web applications, Microsoft Visual Studio hides a lot of the complexities of HTML design so a developer beginning to develop web applications with Visual Studio can write initial code with little or no HTML design experience. If you use Java or PHP you will need to have a background in HTML design before getting started.

4.) Existing RPG and CL application code can be easily called and used within a windows or web application. This is one of the best features of Visual Studio. Existing business logic written for green screen applications can be re-used in Windows and Web applications.

5.) Web Services can be written very easily using .Net technology and with very little code.

6.) Developers can mix and match VB.Net, C# or Java syntax within a .Net application. Using open source tools such as IKVM, real Java code can be used in a .Net application as well.

7.) The Visual Studio 2005 Express development environment is FREE and very programmer friendly. Eclipse and WDSC which are the primary Java and PHP development environments can be difficult to master. Eclipse is FREE and WDSC is included as part of the iSeries software licensing.

8.) There are several free and commercially available visual custom controls to make windows and web applications look visually appealing. There are not as many visual controls available for Java or PHP.

9.) Web applications written in ASP.Net can be run natively on the iSeries via Apache Tomcat or Websphere/Websphere Portal Server. This is a great way to write code using Microsoft Visual Studio, yet run the compiled code on the iSeries.

10.) Once developers know VB syntax, they can also write macros for MS Word, Excel or any VB script enabled language making their newfound development skills useful in several programming situations.