Bobs Getting Better!

The IBM i community is about to get something it has never had before: a first‑class, platform‑aware AI development partner built specifically for RPG, CL, COBOL, SQL/Db2 for i and the unique architecture of the IBM i platform.

On 24 June 2026 (my wedding anniversary!), IBM will release the IBM Bob Premium Package for i, a major extension to the Bob AI development environment that finally brings native IBM i connectivity, IBM i specific skills and a dedicated IBM i Developer Mode to the platform.

For years, IBM i developers have watched the explosion of AI‑assisted coding tools across the wider IT world and wondered when something truly built for us would arrive. Generic AI tools can generate snippets of RPG or CL, but they lack the context, the platform awareness and the understanding of IBM i’s deeply integrated architecture.

IBM Bob for i is the first tool that closes that gap — not by treating IBM i as an afterthought, but by embedding its “special sauce” directly into the product.

Why Bob Matters for IBM i

IBM Bob launched earlier this year as a platform‑agnostic AI partner designed to support the entire software development lifecycle: understanding code, modernising applications, generating documentation and orchestrating workflows across multiple AI models. IBM reports that Bob has already delivered 45% productivity gains across 80,000 internal users, making it one of the most impactful internal tools IBM has ever deployed.

But the base version of Bob had a major limitation for IBM i developers: it couldn’t work directly with source members stored in libraries! Developers had to copy code off the system into a PC or Git repository, a non‑starter for many shops that rely on traditional IBM i development workflows.

The Premium Package for i removes that barrier completely.

Native IBM i Connectivity — The Game‑Changer

The most important feature arriving on 24 June is native IBM i connectivity.

Bob can now work directly with source members stored in libraries, using the same underlying connection technology as IBM’s Code for i VS Code extension.

This means:

• No more copying source members off the system
• No more disconnected workflows
• No more “AI that doesn’t understand IBM i”

As IBM i CTO Steve Will put it, the Premium Package acts as the “glue” that connects Bob to the native IBM i environment, allowing developers to work exactly where they always have, but with AI‑powered assistance layered on top.

For many developers, this single feature will justify the entire product.

IBM i Developer Mode

Bob includes several modes; Code, Ask, Plan, Advanced and Orchestrator, each acting like a persona tuned for a specific task.

The Premium Package adds a new one: IBM i Developer Mode.

This mode is trained specifically for:

• RPG (all flavours, including free‑form)
• CL
• SQL/Db2 for i
• COBOL
• DDS

This is not generic AI guessing at RPG syntax, it’s a mode built to understand the structure of IBM i applications, the realities of monolithic codebases and the constraints of mission‑critical workloads.

40+ IBM i Specific Skills & Agentic Workflows

The Premium Package includes a curated set of over 40 IBM i specific skills designed to help Bob perform tasks correctly, safely and consistently. These skills encode platform knowledge such as:

• How to modernise RPG without breaking business logic
• How to refactor monolithic programs into service modules
• How to generate technical documentation for legacy code
• How to create unit tests for RPG and CL
• How to navigate IBM i objects, libraries and source members

These skills are paired with agentic workflows, allowing Bob to orchestrate multi‑step tasks, such as analysing a program, generating documentation, proposing refactoring steps and producing updated code, with platform‑aware guardrails.

This is where Bob moves beyond being a coding assistant and becomes a genuine AI partner for IBM i development teams.

Designed to Preserve, Not Replace IBM i Expertise

One of the most important messages from IBM is that Bob is not intended to replace IBM i developers. Instead, it is designed to preserve and extend their expertise.

Bob is a sign that IBM sees AI as a way to strengthen IBM i skills, not diminish them.

This matters. Many organisations are facing:

• Shrinking RPG teams
• Decades‑old codebases
• Pressure to modernise faster
• Rising expectations for documentation and testing

Bob addresses these challenges by automating the tedious parts of the job while keeping developers firmly in control.

What This Means for IBM i Shops

The release of IBM Bob Premium Package for i marks a turning point for the platform.

1. Modernisation becomes more achievable

Bob can analyse, document and refactor legacy code with platform‑aware intelligence.

2. New developers can onboard faster

Bob can explain code, generate examples and guide best practices.

3. Existing teams can deliver more with less

With IBM reporting 45% productivity gains internally, IBM i teams should expect meaningful improvements.

4. IBM i finally gets a seat at the AI table

This is the first AI tool built for IBM i, not merely compatible with it.

A Milestone Moment for IBM i

The IBM Bob Premium Package for i is more than a product release, it’s a statement.

IBM is investing in the future of IBM i development, acknowledging the platform’s unique needs and delivering an AI tool that respects its architecture, its languages and its developers.

On 24 June 2026, IBM i shops will gain access to the most significant development tool the platform has seen in years. And for many teams, it will be the beginning of a new era: one where AI doesn’t replace IBM i expertise but amplifies it.

Conclusion

So yes, IBM i has officially entered the AI era and, for once, it hasn’t arrived ten years too late!

If Bob delivers on its promise, RPG developers may soon find themselves with an assistant that actually understands their code, their platform and perhaps even their mysterious three-letter file names.

Frankly, that might be the most futuristic thing IBM i has ever seen.

Now all that remains is the small matter of pricing, because if Bob really is this clever, I just hope we can afford it.