How IBM Bob helps overcome the challenges of IBM i development and modernization

IBM Bob: concrete support for those developing on IBM i

Artificial intelligence is introducing new possibilities to the world of software development, but working on IBM i requires specific knowledge of the platform and the applications that comprise it. Generic AI tools often lack the necessary context to understand systems that have been developed and modified over many years.

IBM Bob was created to meet this very need. It is an AI assistant designed to support those working on IBM i across various development tasks: from understanding code to creating documentation, and from generating programs to supporting testing and verification activities.

In practice, it can help developers navigate complex applications faster, retrieve information that would otherwise require in-depth research, and reduce the time spent on repetitive tasks. It can also facilitate knowledge sharing within the team, making it easier for new staff to understand applications and logic developed by their colleagues.

The goal is not to replace the skills of developers, but to empower them to work better with a tool that supports them while leaving the control over decisions and changes in human hands.

‍IBM i modernization: leveraging what already works

One of the most delicate aspects of managing IBM i concerns the application portfolio built over time. Many companies use programs that support fundamental processes and, precisely because they are well-established, cannot be modified without careful evaluation. Often, however, documentation is outdated, and knowledge of how the systems function relies primarily on the experience of a few senior developers.

This situation can slow down maintenance, make onboarding new staff more complex, and leave little room for new projects. Meanwhile, business needs are changing, and there is a growing necessity to make applications easier to manage, update, and integrate.

IBM Bob can offer help in these very activities: it facilitates the analysis of existing code, contributes to documenting applications, and supports developers in reviewing and modernizing programs. This allows for more agile handling of tasks that, in the past, might have required significant time and the heavy involvement of the most experienced staff.

Modernizing IBM i does not necessarily mean changing everything or giving up on what has been built over the years. It means being able to start from a known foundation, preserving its value, and identifying new possibilities for it to evolve. IBM Bob adds a tool to the IT team's arsenal to tackle this work, with the goal of dedicating more time to innovation and less to managing daily complexities.

Skills and experience to guide change

A tool alone is not enough to solve all the difficulties associated with managing and developing on IBM i. To identify the right opportunities, it is important to know the platform, understand how applications are organized, and know which interventions can provide a concrete benefit without putting operational continuity at risk.

This is where experience comes into play. For years, BlueIT has been supporting companies in the management and evolution of IBM i environments, providing specialized skills and knowledge gained directly in the field. We collaborate with organizations that have chosen to rely on us for their systems and who must find the right balance between continuity, maintenance, and new development needs every day.

We understand the issues that can arise in managing established applications and know how important it is to be able to count on people who understand how these environments function. For this reason, we can also support companies in evaluating and adopting IBM Bob, identifying the activities where it can offer a concrete contribution and the most suitable ways to integrate it into team workflows.

Artificial intelligence opens up new possibilities, but it is skills and contextual knowledge that allow them to be transformed into results. This is where our approach begins: listening to needs, understanding systems, and identifying opportunities for improvement together.

Do you want to discover what IBM Bob can do for your IBM i environment?

If your company uses IBM i and is facing challenges with application maintenance, code management, or finding specialized skills, it is time to explore new possibilities.

Talk to us: we offer our IBM i expertise to help you understand how IBM Bob can support your team and guide the evolution of your systems.