RPG MODERNIZATION
Why Modernize RPG?
RPG (Report Program Generator) powers critical business applications on IBM i (AS/400, iSeries) systems. While IBM i remains stable and reliable, RPG code written in the 1970s-1990s faces challenges: fixed-format limitations, green-screen interfaces, difficulty integrating with modern systems, and a shrinking talent pool of RPG developers.
Common RPG Challenges
- Fixed-Format Code: Column-specific syntax from RPG II/III era
- 5250 Green Screens: Terminal interfaces incompatible with web/mobile
- Indicator Hell: *IN01-*IN99 making code unreadable
- Tight Coupling: Business logic embedded in display files
- DB2/400 Lock-in: Direct file access without abstraction
- Developer Shortage: Aging workforce, few new RPG developers
- Integration Difficulty: Connecting to REST APIs, cloud services
- Testing Challenges: Hard to automate tests on green screens
Our RPG Refactoring Process
- Migrate RPG II/III/IV to free-format RPG ILE or modern languages
- Convert fixed-format to free-form syntax (fully free RPG)
- Replace indicators with named variables
- Extract business logic from display files
- Modernize 5250 screens to web/mobile interfaces
- Create REST APIs for RPG business logic
- Abstract database access with service layers
- Generate comprehensive test suites
- Document business rules and data flows
Industries We Serve
- Manufacturing: ERP, inventory management, production scheduling
- Distribution: Warehouse management, order processing, logistics
- Retail: Point-of-sale, inventory, customer management
- Banking: Core banking, loan processing, account management
- Insurance: Policy administration, claims processing
- Healthcare: Patient records, billing, inventory
- Government: Tax processing, licensing, case management
Pricing
- $0.20 per line (up to 250,000 lines)
- $0.12 per line (250,001-500,000 lines)
- $0.08 per line (500,001+ lines)
- $250 minimum charge
What You Receive
- Modernized RPG ILE (free-format) or migrated to Java/Python/.NET
- Web-based UI replacing 5250 green screens
- REST APIs exposing RPG business logic
- Named variables replacing indicator spaghetti
- Service layer abstracting database access
- Comprehensive test suite (unit and integration)
- API documentation (OpenAPI/Swagger)
- Migration guide for deployment on IBM i or cloud
- Business logic documentation
- 24-hour download access (then auto-deleted)
Migration Paths
- Modern RPG ILE: Free-format, subprocedures, embedded SQL
- Java on IBM i: Keep data on platform, modern language
- Node.js/Python: Event-driven APIs for RPG functionality
- C#/.NET: Full migration off IBM i to cloud/Windows
- Hybrid Approach: APIs + web frontend, RPG backend
UI Modernization
- 5250 Screens → React/Angular: Modern responsive web UI
- Display Files → HTML Forms: Browser-based data entry
- Subfiles → Data Grids: Sortable, filterable tables
- Green Screen → Mobile Apps: iOS/Android native or PWA
- Print Reports → PDF/Web: Modern reporting
Database Modernization
- Replace native file I/O with embedded SQL
- Add stored procedures for complex logic
- Implement triggers for data validation
- Create views for reporting and analytics
- Optimize queries with indexes and query plans
Business Benefits
- Developer Hiring: Access modern talent (Java, Python, React)
- Web/Mobile Access: Users access systems from anywhere
- API Integration: Connect to e-commerce, CRM, cloud services
- Cloud Migration: Option to move off expensive IBM i hardware
- Better Testing: Automated unit and integration tests
- Improved Productivity: Modern IDEs, version control, CI/CD
Security & Compliance
All code is encrypted in transit and at rest. Automatically deleted after 24 hours. No human access. IBM i security models preserved or enhanced with modern authentication (OAuth, SAML).
Ready to modernize your IBM i applications?