COMMON POWERUp 2025: Full Schedule

Unlock the Power of IBM i at POWERUp 2025!

Join us in Disneyland, California, for POWERUp 2025, the premier conference for IBM i professionals. Whether you’re an experienced expert or just starting your IBM i journey, this event offers unparalleled education, hands-on workshops, and valuable networking opportunities. Stay ahead of the curve with insights from industry leaders, explore the latest innovations, and connect with a thriving community that shares your passion for IBM i. Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your knowledge, grow your skills, and power up your career!

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11:15am PDT

An introduction to Node.js

Monday May 19, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm PDT

South Ballroom B

JavaScript and TypeScript have become the go-to tools for crafting modern applications, powering both the sleek frontends and robust backends of today's software. At the heart of many backend systems lies Node.js, a runtime that’s revolutionized the way we build scalable and efficient applications.

In this session, we’ll dive into why Node.js has become a developer favorite, exploring its unique benefits and versatile capabilities. Through practical examples and code, you’ll gain a clear understanding of the core principles that make Node.js tick. Whether you're new to backend development or looking to sharpen your skills, this talk will arm you with the knowledge to write clean, effective Node.js applications, sidestep common mistakes, and accelerate your path to success. Join us and kickstart your Node.js journey with confidence!

Speakers

Michael Dawson

Monday May 19, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm PDT
South Ballroom B 1150 Magic Way, Anaheim, CA 92802

Programming: General

11:15am PDT

Getting Started with Web Development

Monday May 19, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm PDT

Nile

Knowing where to start in your web development learning journey can be difficult. In this session, we will cover a high level view of the languages and practices to learn to plan the first steps of your web career.

Speakers

Jasmine Kaczmarek

Vice President of Technology, M.R. Williams

With over ten years of experience on the IBM Power System, Jasmine's passions include modernization, API development, integration of gamification techniques into business applications and mentoring new developers. Jasmine is an avid promoter of adopting open-source languages into... Read More →

Monday May 19, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm PDT
Nile 1150 Magic Way, Anaheim, CA 92802

Programming: General

11:15am PDT

Modern CL Programming

Monday May 19, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm PDT

Castle

IBM Made a huge number of enhancements to the CL language starting with V5R3 through i 7.1. WHile the changes slowed after that most CL programmers ignore all these changes and continue to write unreadable code with gotos and tags.

Come to get a detailed look at examples of the new functions including DOFOR, DOWHILE, DOUNTIL and SELECT, and how they allow programming CL in a much more structured format, and allow you to banish goto to the bit-bucket.

Learn about the many new process flow options and variable types in the CL language such as integer, signed integer, and pointer variables and how to use them.

Get tips on how to simplify the compiling of CL programs and command objects.

Find out how to provide direct feedback to IBM on your needs for the CL language -- they want to know if these changes are helping you and what to enhance next.

Speakers

Larry Bolhuis

Cloud and Datacenter Engineer, IBM Champion, Service Express Inc.

Larry has grown up with computers since his father became a CE in 1967. He obtained a bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Calvin College in 1982 and soon after began working on IBM midrange equipment with the S/34 and S/36. Larry began working on the As/400 at its introduction In 1988.After spending many years as a developer Larry began working on communications, networking, and systems management tasks. Years of... Read More →

Monday May 19, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm PDT
Castle 1150 Magic Way, Anaheim, CA 92802

Programming: General

3:15pm PDT

RPG Code Assistant Update

Monday May 19, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm PDT

South Ballroom A

In 2024 at POWERUp, Steve Will, CTO & Chief Architect of IBM i, launched a project to create a tool that would use an AI Large Language Model, trained to understand RPG, to make life much easier for programmers who work with RPG, and to allow businesses to more confidently hire programmers and know there was a tool that could help any programmer work with existing RPG code. That project, the RPG Code Assistant project, has had a year to mature. In this session, Steve will give you the latest update. Joining him will be Edmund Reinhardt, the lead developer on the project, who will give insight into what it takes to create and train the tool.

Speakers

Steve Will

IBM i CTO & Chief Architect, IBM

Steve is the CTO and Chief Architect for the IBM i Operating System. Spending the past fourteen years of his IBM career in this position, he has become an award-winning speaker, author of the influential blog "You and i," (https://bit.ly/You-and-i-blog) and is one of the most sought-after voices at customer briefings and events. Steve has worked on IBM i and its predecessors since before the creation of the AS/400, and is currently responsible for setting the strategy of the IBM i operating system, as well as deciding which enhancements will be implemented. In his role, he talks to clients and pa... Read More →

Edmund Reinhardt

IBM i Application Development Tools Lead, IBM

Edmund Reinhardt has been working on application development tools for IBM i for over 25 years. Starting with the green screen tools in 1989 through each technology iteration from OS/2 to Java. As the architect for Rational Developer for i, he is passionate about engaging and delighting... Read More →

Monday May 19, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm PDT
South Ballroom A 1150 Magic Way, Anaheim, CA 92802

Programming: General

3:15pm PDT

What’s New with Open Source & IBM i

Monday May 19, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm PDT

Nile

Open source solutions have been on the IBM i platform for many years but recently the number of solutions deployed here has blossomed. Join Mike as he explores the latest news regarding packages and solution features available in IBM i Open Source Package Management and beyond.

Speakers

Mike Pavlak

Solution Architect, Perforce Software

Mike Pavlak has been working with IBM midrange solutions since 1992 and IBM Mainframes before that. After years of developing applications using RPG, CL and PHP he managed IT development and IT for power protection manufacturer Tripp Lite. Later Mike was instrumental in developing... Read More →

Monday May 19, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm PDT
Nile 1150 Magic Way, Anaheim, CA 92802

Programming: General

4:30pm PDT

Contributing to Open Source

Monday May 19, 2025 4:30pm - 4:50pm PDT

Safari

Open-source contributions are a great way to improve your skills and give back to the community. This session will walk attendees through the process of contributing to an open-source project on GitHub. We’ll cover forking a repository, working in a branch, pushing changes, and submitting a pull request for review.

Speakers

Joseph Wright

Owner / Consultant, Wright4i

Monday May 19, 2025 4:30pm - 4:50pm PDT
Safari 1150 Magic Way, Anaheim, CA 92802

Programming: General