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Informing the IBM Community

Hackers Delight

Hackers Delight – Introduction

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Welcome to our comprehensive blog series on mastering packed fields and bitwise operations in RPG Free!

In this series, which will be published over the next few months, we will delve deep into the intricacies of these essential concepts, providing you with the knowledge and practical skills you need to enhance your programming proficiency.

Chapter 1 kicks off with an exploration of packed fields, highlighting their structure, the benefits of storage efficiency using BCD (Binary-Coded Decimal), and the role of the sign nibble.

Through illustrative examples, it will be demonstrated why packed fields are advantageous compared to other data types.

In Chapter 2, we delve into the world of bitwise operations – specifically, %BITAND, %BITOR, %BITNOT, and %BITXOR – in RPG Free.

We’ll explain the functionality of these operations and their practical applications, focusing on manipulating packed fields and performing format conversions.

Chapter 3 provides a step-by-step guide to converting JSON numeric values into packed fields. We’ll cover parsing, bit manipulation and sign handling, supported by a relevant code snippet to solidify your understanding.

In Chapter 4, we’ll turn the tables and decode packed fields back into JSON numbers. You’ll learn about nibble interpretation, sign detection and numeric formatting, all illustrated with practical code examples.

Finally, in Chapter 5, we will recap the key concepts discussed throughout the series. We’ll emphasise their relevance in modern RPG applications, particularly for JSON-based integrations, ensuring you’re well-equipped to apply these techniques in your own projects.

Join us on this journey to unlock the full potential of packed fields and bitwise operations in RPG Free.

Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just getting started, this series promises to provide valuable insights and practical knowledge.

About the Author

Wim Jongman is a distinguished software engineer and CTO of Remain Software.

With a robust background in RPG and a passion for cutting-edge technology, Wim has been instrumental in developing innovative solutions that bridge traditional and modern programming paradigms.

As a seasoned expert in RPG Free and JSON-based integrations, Wim brings a wealth of knowledge and practical insights to this blog series. His dedication to exploring the intricacies of packed fields and bitwise operations has led to the creation of comprehensive guides that empower developers to enhance their coding proficiency and efficiency.

Wim’s commitment to the software community is evident through his contributions to various technical publications and his active participation in industry conferences. His approachable teaching style and clarity in explaining complex concepts make this blog series an invaluable resource for both novice and experienced programmers.

Join Wim as he unravels the complexities of RPG programming, offering practical advice, code snippets and illustrative examples that will enrich your understanding and application of these essential programming techniques.

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