Amy Lantz

What’s New & Exciting in PHP on IBM i in 2024

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A proven IBM i solution for API, mobile, and web application development, PHP is now at version 8.3. Solid and dependable, today’s PHP is fast, easy to code, yet powerful for the modern developer.

In the video below, courtesy of Toronto User Group (TUG), Alan Seiden explores modern uses for PHP. He provides tips and code samples, discusses recent PHP enhancements, and offers his recommendations for security and performance. You’ll also learn how:

  • IBM i users enjoy easy updates and fast performance.
  • The PHP package comes with key extensions, tested and working out of the box.
  • Each new PHP release is faster, more powerful, and encourages better development practices, to reduce technical debt.

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Alan Seiden

Finding Security Fixes for Apache on IBM i

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API and web security for IBM iThe Apache-based IBM HTTP Server for i is a vital defense in web and API security for IBM i. As such, it requires regular attention.

IBM Support’s PCI Compliance web page is a resource we use to help our clients protect their systems.

Even if your organization does not process, store, or transmit credit card information, applying the PTFs recommended for PCI compliance constitutes a general best practice for IBM i web and API security.

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Alan Seiden

Measure Performance Using IBM i Apache Directives

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UPDATED August 21, 2025

Apache HTTP Server ProjectSpeed is critical when serving APIs and web pages. The IBM HTTP Server (powered by Apache) for i can log the speed of each request.

Here’s how to ensure that the web server will track HTTP request speed at the desired level of precision.

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Calvin Buckley

Basic Authentication Credentials are Encrypted with TLS

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https://You may have heard claims that HTTP “basic” authentication (classic user/password popup prompt or via an API call) leaves credentials unencrypted and exposed. While it’s true that basic auth itself doesn’t encrypt credentials, this doesn’t matter in practice.

Modern sites and APIs should be using HTTPS, which encrypts everything over the wire, protecting basic authentication credentials in transit. This article will explain why that’s the case.

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Richard Schoen

curl Your RPG Apps with QSHCURL

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curlIn this post we’ll take a closer look at how IBM i developers can use the QSHCURL command to easily reach out from CL or RPG and talk to internet-based services and APIs, then consume the resulting data, without a lot of extra effort.

First we’ll provide a short curl intro, and then we’ll look at an example of how to use the PASE-based curl command with an RPG program.

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Alan Seiden

Does Our PHP API Need a Framework? A Q&A with Rob Allen

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API To follow up on Rob Allen’s article about choosing a PHP framework for APIs, here is an edited discussion between Rob and a developer at a Seiden Group client regarding their new API.

In this discussion, Rob addresses common developer concerns about frameworks for APIs.

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Rob Allen

How to Choose a PHP API Framework

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APIAlan and I provide API strategy for a software company who asked us whether they should use a PHP framework and, if so, which one would be best. They also wondered whether to invest in a commercial API gateway.

My thoughts on APIs and frameworks struck Alan as useful for any language and platform. Alan encouraged me to document my “philosophy of frameworks” here for anyone planning to develop web apps or APIs.

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Alan Seiden

Tutorial: Integrate Node.js with RPG without a Connector

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Node.js IBM iWe’ve been hearing from clients wondering whether they need commercial connectors to integrate open source technology with Db2, RPG, and COBOL data.

Liam Allan has shown the power of using open source tools that are available to everyone. He recommends accessing IBM i business logic and data using open source tools, without proprietary connectors.

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Liam Barry Allan

Node.js and IBM i – Getting Started Guide

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This guide will outline writing your first Node.js application. Node.js is a packaged version of the V8 Javascript engine, created by Google and shipped in Chromium. Although Node.js is cross-platform, specific tips for IBM i are given in section 8.

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Alan Seiden

State Sales Tax Ruling Spurs IBM i Integration

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IBM i integrationIBM i integration via APIs has been central to many of our development projects, especially those involving web/mobile applications, software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions, and cross-platform data sharing.

Lately we’ve been helping customers prepare for new state sales tax rules on internet sales by integrating APIs with their IBM i systems.

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