IBM Launches watsonx Code Assistant for IBM i to Modernize RPG Legacy Systems with AI Precision

Armonk, NY – In a significant push to breathe new life into legacy enterprise systems, IBM has announced the watsonx Code Assistant for IBM i, an AI-powered development tool built to help modernize applications written in RPG (Report Program Generator)—the foundational language of the IBM i platform, formerly known as AS/400.

Currently in private preview, the new assistant is tailored for the unique challenges of IBM i environments, where aging but mission-critical applications still run vast portions of global ERP infrastructure.

A New Era for RPG Developers

For decades, RPG has been the backbone of business applications in sectors such as finance, manufacturing, and logistics. However, modernization efforts have been historically slow and costly, largely due to the complexity of the code and the dwindling number of RPG experts.

IBM’s watsonx Code Assistant aims to transform this bottleneck into a breakthrough.

“We’re giving developers a bridge between the legacy and the future—powered by AI trained specifically for IBM i systems,” said an IBM representative.

Key features include:

• 🧠 Context-aware code explanations to help developers quickly grasp legacy logic.

• 💡 AI-assisted code refactoring, generating modern equivalents of legacy RPG constructs.

• 🔍 Obsolete pattern detection, flagging outdated coding practices and offering improved alternatives.

AI That’s Fluent in RPG

Unlike generic code assistants, watsonx Code Assistant is built on a specialized large language model trained with IBM’s deep domain knowledge in IBM i systems. It not only understands the syntax of RPG, but the business logic patterns, modular structures, and performance sensitivities that define mature enterprise applications.

For instance:

• It can interpret data flow across DDS files and suggest relational model refactoring.

• It identifies fixed-format logic that can be converted to free-format RPG or even modern language constructslike Java or Python.

• It assists in the modularization of monolithic programs, aligning with microservices or cloud-native design patterns.

Enterprise Modernization, Accelerated

Legacy ERP platforms are notoriously difficult to upgrade, often requiring months—if not years—of manual effort. With watsonx Code Assistant for IBM i, IBM is offering a tool that can dramatically shorten modernization timelines by automating much of the code understanding and transformation process.

This means:

• 🚀 Faster time-to-market for modernized ERP features

• 💰 Lower cost and risk associated with code refactoring

• 🧰 Empowerment of newer developers unfamiliar with RPG to contribute meaningfully

What’s Next?

While the tool is currently in private preview, IBM has signaled that broader availability is planned following real-world testing with select enterprise customers. The move is part of a broader strategy to extend watsonx capabilities across IBM’s ecosystem, turning AI into a full-stack enabler for modernization—not just a chatbot or code snippet generator.

TL;DR

• 🛠️ IBM introduces watsonx Code Assistant for IBM i, tailored for modernizing legacy RPG applications.

• 🤖 Built on AI trained specifically for the IBM i environment, it offers code explanations, refactoring suggestions, and modernization insights.

• ⚙️ Accelerates ERP upgrades and lowers modernization costs by automating complex code analysis and transformation.

• 🔒 Currently in private preview, with plans for enterprise rollout soon.