If you are an AS400 user, you have likely encountered myths like –
- RPG AS400 programming is a disappearing skill
- RPG lacks compatibility with modern cloud technology
- Finding RPG developers is a task as the talent is shrinking
- It’s time to replace RPG IBM AS400 with a modern substitute
To put an end to these misconceptions, we, as an IBM Silver Business Partner, confirm that none of this is true.
Given the evolving business scenario, the attitude toward decade-old RPG programming has indeed shifted. However, AS400 RPG is far from dead and the AS400 RPG programmers are easily available if you know where to find them.
- Are you an AS400 user, striving to boost operational efficiency via modernizing your existing AS400 (Application System/400) applications?
- Are you planning to hire RPG AS 400 Programmers?
If yes, you have landed on the right resource today.
In this blog you will read about –
- Is RPG programming language truly dead?
- What to expect from RPG Programmers? What do they do?
- Who needs to hire RPG Developers?
- Do you need to hire RPG Developers for your AS400 development team?
- How to spot the Right RPG programmers in the market?
- What are the common AS400 RPG programmers hiring challenges?
- What’s the history of IBM RPG programming language?
And much more on your way!
Let’s break the ice!
Is IBM RPG Programming Dead? No, Far from It!
Since its inception, Report programming language (RPG), a high-level programming language, and IBM AS400 iSeries software have simplified the development and execution of business applications.
RPG, which serves a wide range of AS400 business applications, is an IBM-copyrighted module and users can access the majority of its versions on IBM AS400-based systems.
With passing time, the nomenclature and the format of RPG program language and its companion AS400 Operating System may have evolved. But their companionship has been necessary for AS400 users to ensure smooth business processing and reliable business operations.
Thus, to answer your question, yes, we agree that RPG programming language is old, but it is far from dead and remains on top of the high-level programming languages (especially for AS400 users), bridging the gap between legacy systems and modern demands.
Next comes the real heroes of RPG who bring your AS400 aspirations to reality – RPG Developers.
Are you heavily invested in the AS400 systems for your mission-critical applications and business operations?
If yes, you must be well-versed in the importance of RPG developers.
Moving on, we will address key questions about AS400 RPG developers and the IBM RPG programming language.
What to Expect of RPG Programmers? What Do They Do?
AS400 programmers are seasoned professionals equipped with thorough knowledge of RPG language and AS400 systems.
To define, RPG AS400 developer is a highly capable technology professional who leverages RPG expertise to develop, create, and maintain the AS400 applications to ensure their modern relevance.
These IBM AS400 iSeries programmers are trained professionals equipped with in-depth knowledge of RPG’s present, history, and its formidable capabilities to solve your emerging IBM AS400 challenges.
Thinking – “What do AS400 RPG programmers do?”
RPG programmers work on a wide array of tasks every day.
An RPG programmer performs tasks like –
- The creation of new code
- Ensuring proper maintenance of existing codes using RPG programming language
- Analysis, designing, development, and maintenance of the IBM AS400 system
They can create AS 400 applications using software written in a wide range of languages like – RPG, RPG IV, and SQL. They also use these languages to create technical documentation and develop pseudo-codes to realize possible problems or design flows before implementation.
Who Needs to Hire RPG Developers?
RPG programmers are employed by IBM AS400 development companies for the development, integration, modernization, and maintenance of AS 400 applications.
And those applications are further integrated into their business operations to ensure a high level of efficiency.
RPG programmers work on a wide array of tasks daily; they perform functions like- the modernization and maintenance of existing codes. (However, existing regulations might be different from the written RPG codes).
Are you an AS400 user?
The next question for you to consider is – “How do I hire RPG developers?”
There are 2 ways you can hire an AS400 RPG developer for your next initiative.
- IT Staff Augmentation of AS400 iSeries Programmers
- Full-time In-house Hiring of AS400 RPG developers
Each approach comes with its set of pros and cons.
Let’s zoom into both approaches and pick the best one for your needs.
IT Staff Augmentation
| IT Staff Augmentation Pros | IT Staff Augmentation Cons |
| Quick on-boarding process | Undetermined initial investment |
| No-long term commitment | Potential turnovers |
| Access to top talent | Dependance on vendor selection process |
| Suitable for short-term projects | Need for new contracts post-project |
| Low overhead cost | |
| High quality guarantee | |
| Extremely low project failure risk | |
| Highly professional environment | |
| Scale the team size up and down as & when required |
Traditional In-House Recruitment
| In-house Recruitment Pros | In-house Recruitment Cons |
| Long-term asset creation | High investment in hiring & retaining top talent |
| High level of staff and operational control | Lengthy recruitment process |
| Complete control over data security | May require significant training |
| High cultural fitment | Long time to start a project |
| Low project failure risk yet not entirely immune | |
| Difficulty in scaling the team up and down |
Of course, with top talent, high deliverability, and the leverage to scale resources as and when needed, IT staff augmentation is a promising choice.
Should I Hire RPG Developers for My AS400 Development Team?
Whether it’s about modernizing the existing AS400 applications or transforming old RPG applications into RPG-free form, your AS400-reliant organization needs heroes who could promptly troubleshoot your business issues.
So yes, it’s ideal to hire a team of AS400 RPG programmers for effective AS400 application modernization and maintenance.
You can also choose to hire AS400 RPG consultants for acute guidance and tailored strategies to meet your specific needs.
What are the Common Hiring challenges of AS400 RPG Programmers?
It’s no secret that the skill gap is among AS400 users’ major challenges – and it’s only getting worse.
Here are the top 5 challenges recruiters face when hiring AS400 programmers in the USA.
High Demand and Low Supply of AS400 RPG programmers
RPG programming continues to be in use and many industry leaders value its significance for multiple reasons.
However, the job market for RPG developers has seen a decline in the past years.
One of the difficulties in securing top talent is the rising demand for proficient RPG developers.
Competitive Market
It is difficult to secure capable AS400 RPG programmers even though you are successful in finding them. Tech giants often secure them with lucrative offers, making it challenging for SMEs such as yourself to convince the AS400 programmers to join your team.
Specialized Skills
AS400 RPG programming calls for a niche skillset. While you can easily find AS400 RPG developer/s with general skills, those with specific AS400 expertise are harder to come by.
Cost of Training
If you manage to secure experienced RPG programmers, there is nothing like it.
However, hiring young RPG AS400 talent comes with a hefty training investment. They need time and resources to handle your system’s complexities.
Technological Evolution
Some AS400 programmers may lack proficiency in modern tools or integration capabilities, posing a challenge in aligning your AS400 system with modern technology trends.
Don’t fret! There’s a solution!
Instead of focusing on hiring in-house RPG AS400 programmers, reach out to an AS400 services provider.
Engaging with an experienced AS400 technology partner works as a one-stop solution to these challenges.
They equip the brightest RPG consultants and AS/400 programmers for hire on-demand. This also frees you from the need to manage recruitment and training efforts yourself.
How to Recognize the Right RPG Programmers?
Unsurprisingly, the speed of your AS00 initiative depends on your development team. Their skill set and attitude towards collaboration decide how quickly your project progresses and you achieve your goals.
Here are 8 tips to spot just the right AS400 RPG programmers for your AS400 initiatives.
- Avoid the one-man show
- Go for the young and hungry
- Don’t miss on the cultural fit
- Let other IBM RPG programming developers hire your developers
- Look for a mix of AS400 legacy + modern technology expertise
- Assess problem-solving skills under pressure
- Seek out strong verbal skills
- Look for a passion for continuous learning and skill improvement
We are confident that we have answered most of your questions regarding
AS400 programming language and AS400 programmers.
Did you know that the history of RPG is as interesting as its present?
Moving on, let’s dive into the intriguing historical journey that has shaped the RPG programming language into the big wheel it is today.
What’s the History of AS400 RPG Programming Language?
The history of the AS400 RPG programming language is quite long.
IBM developed the language in 1959 as the Report Program Generator.
Back then, it was a tool designed as an alternative to the punch card processing system.
Later, it was updated to RPG II after the development of the IBM system/3. Since then, IBM RPG programming language has evolved into a high-level programming language like COBOL and PL/I.
According to Gartner- RPG, being “just another modern language,” is a fixed-format language for which various attributes need to be defined. If the correct code for the correct column is not inserted, it shows an error. This is a foreign concept developed by IBM, and it was only experienced in other languages before its emergence.
In 1994, the (ILE) or RPG IV version of the RPG programming language allowed for some free-format expressions, but the code was still primarily fixed format in nature.
In 2001, AS400 RPG programmers could write the logical portion of RPG program language in free form, but declarations of data and procedures still required columnar code. This was a significant step in making the RPG syntax more similar to the syntax of modern languages.
The same procedure was followed till 2012 when all the code of the programming language RPG virtually became free form from fixed form.
Today, you can show an application written in modern RPG language to JAVA and C developers, and they will feel at home.
Does this mean they don’t need to invest time to learn the programming language RPG?
No! What this means is – the process will be completely different and modernized than before.
From then to now, IBM RPG programming language has been prevalent among modern AS400 users, with RPG IV, or ILE as its latest version.
The language provides a highly enabling programming environment for IBM i AS400 developers or AS400 RPG programmers to develop modern and efficient applications.
In the initial stage after the development of the programming language RPG, the substantial point was that it was well-versed in the program cycle.
Even every RPG program, during execution, operates within a hypothetical loop, and the same loop can be applied to the same RPG program, to every on-record file.
As a result, there will be a difference between each record and line in the program. Every line can be indicated on the form or not, depending on whether the line indicator has turned on or off. The entire idea of matching records is unique to the RPG II language – to keep or not to keep?
After introducing System/38 in 1979, most of the RPG programmers did not make use of cycles and chose to go with the controlling program flow.
Furthermore, IBM also provided backward compatibility for the process.
This was an intriguing history of RPG AS400 Programming – one of the most preferred high-level programming languages of the 21st Century for AS400 initiatives.
Integrative Systems to Hire RPG Programmers and Revolutionize Your AS400 Initiatives
We are confident that we have added to your knowledge about the programming language RPG and underlined the need for RPG programmers in the modern business landscape.
Are you in search of capable and experienced RPG developers who will refine and enhance your AS400 applications?
Or RPG Consultants who can guide in optimizing your AS400 operations?
We’ve got your back.
We are your go-to tech partners carrying 25+ years of AS400 development experience and expertise. Bring on your challenges, goals, and requirements, and watch us help you succeed first.
Have a look at the AS400 services we offer –
- IBM i Solutions
- AS/400 Integration
- AS 400 Cloud Migration
- AS400 Support Services
- AS/400 Application GUI Modernization
- AS 400 Automation Services
- AS400 Consulting Services
- AS400 Managed Services
- IBM i Modernization
- Hire RPG Developers
Drop us a line at [email protected] and our team of experts will get back to you to take it from there.
