ABSTRACTS

API Examples Using RPG, Node.js, PHP, and Python

Speaker: Alan Seiden, alan@seidengroup.com

APIs allow IBM i to connect with other systems safely and securely, using the languages you already know. Because IBM i API options abound, you can use your favorite languages and tools.

This talk shows many ways to send and receive data safely, using IBM i business logic, with code examples using various free tools and languages, including RPG, PHP, Python, and Node.js. You will feel empowered to provide and consume APIs with the many examples given here.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand basics of APIs and why they are helpful and secure
2. Learn several RPG techniques to create and call APIs
3. Learn several open source language ways to create and call APIs, using PHP, Python, and Node.js

Integrating Open Source on IBM i: Advanced Topics and Optimization

Speaker: Alan Seiden, alan@seidengroup.com

When your business grows, and you need speed and scalability, how do you find the best mix of open source technology and the integrated capabilities of IBM i? Learn from our years of experience in how to optimize scalability and performance with open source and traditional IBM i programs and capabilities (RPG, COBOL, Db2 etc). Impress your company with the most efficient techniques while avoiding rookie mistakes.

ODBC Up and Running

Speaker: Alan Seiden, alan@seidengroup.com

IBM i now provides an ODBC driver for Db2 that works just like the one on Windows, Linux, and Mac. What does this mean for web and open source developers? Developers can now code “locally” on their PCs, then deploy the same code to IBM i for production. Learn best practices for using ODBC with open source languages, including Node.js, PHP, and Python, and R, as well as .NET, and how to convert proprietary Db2 driver functions to standard ODBC functions.

Learning Objectives:

1. How to install and configure ODBC on IBM i
2. How ODBC can help you develop software that can run on any platform while accessing IBM i data
3. How to use ODBC from the various languages safely and effectively, avoiding common mistakes

Audience

Developers or managers who use open source languages and want to keep current with IBM’s recommendation and greater development efficiency

PHP in 2025 – What’s New and Exciting on IBM i

Speaker: Alan Seiden, alan@seidengroup.com

PHP is moving fast these days. PHP 8.0 and below are completely out of security support by the PHP community. We are up to PHP 8.4 with features that help developers reduce bugs and enjoy writing high quality code with a secured release. In this fast-paced session, Alan will share his favorite new features for IBM i and how to prepare for them. Alan will also show tips on upgrading from older releases, the risks of not upgrading, and will go over recent security enhancements.

Learning Objectives:

1. Power of PHP in today’s market with IBM i
2. Why and how to get on a regular upgrade cycle with PHP
3. Features and benefits of PHP 8.4 for security, performance, and ease of programming

Open Source Performance Tools for PHP, Python and Node.js

Speaker:  Alan Seiden, alan@seidengroup.com

Users love fast applications. Find and eliminate any slow code in your Node, PHP, and Python applications using free, open source performance profiling tools that you can download and use immediately.

Web Server Magic on IBM i

Speaker: Alan Seiden, alan@seidengroup.com

Anyone creating web or mobile applications, or APIs, can benefit from the techniques shown here:

• Do I need a web server? Which one is best for me?
• Securing your site
• Apache and Nginx tips and tricks
• HTTPS encryption (SSL/TLS), including using the free Let’s Encrypt
• Create user-friendly and search-engine friendly URLs over any web application
• What if you become popular? (performance and handling a large number requests)

Learning Objectives

• Understand how to secure the Apache web server on IBM i
• Learn to use Apache’s most useful features, including search engine optimization, logging, and virtual hosts

Audience

Administrators and developers seeking to prepare their systems for web applications, improve performance, and improve security.

Alan’s Favorite Tips for Open Source on IBM i (That Will Impress Your Boss)

Speaker: Alan Seiden, alan@seidengroup.com

Open source delivers new interfaces and functionality for your IBM i applications—and broadens the talent pool for your development team. Python, PHP, and Node.js are among the most popular open source tools on IBM i, for good reason. Combined with today’s ODBC database connectivity, API standards, and RPG/ COBOL integration, they are a powerful way to extend traditional applications to the web, mobile devices, and APIs.

Join Alan to learn his favorite tips for making your open source stack as reliable as your traditional IBM i applications. He’ll share ways to ensure smooth operation of:

• Python, PHP, Node.js
• ODBC
• Apache
• Connections to RPG and COBOL
• and how to manage the rapid pace of updates!

Learning Objectives

1. Tips from the trenches and managing and using open source
2. Best practices for the various languages
3. How to use them in practice and get speed and security

Web & API Language Shootout

Speaker: Alan Seiden, alan@seidengroup.com

Alan will compare and review several open source languages commonly used for web-related development and the role of RPG alongside them. Languages include PHP, Python, and Node.js (javascript). The session contains concrete information about each as well as a lively discussion.

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn what makes each of these languages unique
2. Understand where each language would be best
3. Learn about web and API architecture

Seiden PHP for HD5.0 Customers

Speaker: Alan Seiden, alan@seidengroup.com

HD5.0 now supports Seiden PHP 7.4. With Zend Server Basic discontinued as of June 30, 2021, HD5.0 customers should consider their PHP options. Seiden’s is one that works well, installs quickly via modern RPMs (Yum command), supports all the classic database extensions and the toolkit, PHP 7.3 – 8.3, and a choice of no-charge self-service or paid “Install and Learn” setup and up to 24×7 support. A software update from HD makes configuration a snap. Join Alan Seiden as he shares what’s new and exciting in PHP and how to use Seiden PHP with HD5.0.

Mindfulness at Work

Speaker: Alan Seiden, alan@seidengroup.com

Mindfulness is a practice that trains your brain to gain a fresh perspective on your life and work. Learn how to use this powerful tool to see more calmly and clearly the challenges that you face in your organization. Major corporations have adopted mindfulness training to provide their employees with improved memory, better decision making, and lower stress. Some IT professionals report greater empathy and improved conflict resolution. We will not only talk about it, but actually do a few mindfulness exercises as a group, to experience a calm mind in the midst of a busy conference.

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn simple exercises to bring focus and calm
2. Know several practical applications of mindfulness

At Ease! Relax Your Neck-Back-Shoulders at the Keyboard

Speaker: Alan Seiden, alan@seidengroup.com

In this talk, Alan Seiden shares tools and ideas that will make attendees’ work more comfortable, productive, and enjoyable.

First, Alan will teach how to avoid injury and become comfortable while working; then will teach a gentle exercise that will leave attendees feeling relaxed, refreshed, and more flexible, fostering a stress-free, creative attitude.

Learning Objectives

1. Work in IT comfortably, without injury
2. Have a long career
3. Feel better by the time you leave this class

Notes
Remark from Jon Paris: “I came into this session with a neck ache. I don’t have it any more!”
Additional comment: “Fun and different! This information certainly saved my career.”

Overcoming the Legacy Label

Many CIOs and IT professionals, while appreciating what the IBM i platform does for their organizations, have a slight inferiority complex about the platform, believing that the issues of deferred maintenance and skill replacement are unique to us. They aren’t. Any long-lived platform brings similar challenges, to be met head-on with confidence. The grass isn’t really greener elsewhere. At this session, you will learn how to talk about the challenges of long-lived systems in a way that business people can understand, how to create a plan for moving forward with IBM i modernization (or we might say, more precisely, “paying down technical debt”), if appropriate for your business, and to gain support for doing so.

Learning Objectives

1. Learn to speak in a way that transcends platform and helps other leaders in your organization see a strong business case—in reduced cost, risk, and stress—for retaining and improving your existing IBM i infrastructure
2. Be able to answer questions about benefits and risks of cloud offerings
3. Understand how to work more effectively with business people who may want to dictate technology to you

Audience

1. CIOs and other leaders with responsibility for IT direction, whether experienced with IBM i or not.
2. IBM i professionals who want to communicate development needs to business people in a non-technical way.

CIO Survival Skills

Within our demanding IT environments, presenting a variety of challenges each day, how do we achieve balance and composure? In this unique session, you will learn ways to keep cool when the pressure is on. The techniques will help you maintain a calm attitude, reduce the risk of burnout, manage business expectations, and preserve your personal time and lifestyle. Some of the ideas may surprise you. Come prepared to share your own favorite survival skills, too.

Show the i in your ROI

It’s no secret that perceptions can shape reality. How do YOU perceive your applications and IBM i resources?

Applications hosted on IBM i systems have traditionally delivered a high Return on Investment (ROI), but do your business executives know it? Learn the language of positive change to gain support for your systems, while adopting modern approaches, and leveraging your investment in IBM i technology.

Learning Objectives

• Learn how to discuss change and technology with business people to gain support for your initiatives and the IBM i platform, focusing on return on investment (ROI)
• Increase confidence in your ability to leverage the potential of your systems and effective language to think about and discuss IBM i applications with the business

Audience

IT executives seeking support for keeping the best and modernizing the rest with IBM i!