IBM Bob — Premium Package for i

CORE CAPABILITIES

Explain, generate, compile, test & document IBM i code
Understands QSYS and IFS file systems
Iterative workflow: code → compile → test → document
Always loads the relevant skill before answering

WHAT IBM i DEVELOPER MODE UNLOCKS

Workspaces
Local PC · QSYS library list · IFS home directory

Skills
Auto-activated domain knowledge — RPG, CL, DDS, Db2, RPGUnit

IBM i Specific Tools
Read/write members & stream files · Run CL, SQL & PASE commands

Workflows
Structured multi-step pipelines for modernization, testing & analysis

RAG Documentation — Semantic search over official IBM i documentation to ground responses in accurate, up-to-date content.

READ & WRITE TOOLS

Tool	Purpose
`read_member`	Read source members in QSYS
`search_qsys`	Find libraries, objects, members; regex content search
`read_stream_file`	Read stream files in IFS
`search_ifs`	Find files & directories in IFS; regex content search
`write_member`	Create or overwrite source members in QSYS
`write_stream_file`	Create or overwrite stream files in IFS

EXECUTE · BUILD · TEST · DOCUMENTATION TOOLS

Tool	Purpose
`execute_cl_command`	Run library-qualified CL commands on IBM i
`execute_sql_statement`	Run SQL statements (destructive types require approval)
`execute_pase_command`	Run PASE shell commands
`convert_rpg_source`	CVTRPGSRC — convert RPG III/400 source to RPG IV
`get_compile_actions`	Retrieve pre-defined Code for IBM i compile actions
`execute_compile_action`	Execute a compile action on a given file
`generate_rpg_unit_test_stub`	Generate RPGUnit test stubs from RPGLE exports
`run_rpg_unit_test_suite`	Compile & run RPGUnit suites with code coverage
`search_ibm_i_docs_with_rag`	Semantic RAG search over IBM i documentation
`fetch_cl_command_doc`	Fetch CL command docs — params, examples, errors
`search_sql_examples` / `fetch_sql_example`	Find & retrieve Db2 for i SQL service examples

RPG FOUNDATION & LANGUAGE SKILLS

rpg-primer-basics Entry point for all RPG skills. Fundamentals across RPG II, III, RPG/400, RPGLE & ILE RPG. Routes to sub-skills.

rpg-free-format-fundamentals Modern free-format RPGLE syntax, patterns, and best practices

rpg-opm-understanding OPM RPG architecture, program model differences, migration considerations

rpg-ile-understanding ILE concepts: binding, activation groups, service programs, procedure calls

rpgle-specs Column-by-column reference for all RPGLE fixed-form spec types: H, F, D, I, C, O

rpg-legacy-specs Legacy RPG (II, III, RPG36, RPG38) fixed-form specification types and column positioning

rpg-data-structures Data structure types: templates, externally described DS, program status DS, file info DS

rpg-procedures-functions Subprocedures, prototypes, parameter passing, exports, and service programs

rpg-file-operations Record-level access op-codes, file declarations, error handling, RLA best practices

rpg-indicators RPG indicator types and replacement patterns using boolean variables

rpg-embedded-sql Embedded SQL: cursor operations, host variables, compilation differences

rpg-cycle-explained RPG program cycle, control breaks, and when to avoid the cycle in modern code

rpg-debugging-techniques RPG debugging using STRDBG, breakpoints, watch expressions, service entry points

rpg-code-review Code quality analysis: technical debt, performance issues, modernization opportunities

RPG CONVERSION & MODERNIZATION SKILLS

rpg-fixed-to-free Convert fixed-form RPGLE to fully free-form syntax including I-spec & O-spec modernization

rpg-pgmdb-conversion Modernize RPG I-specs and O-specs to free-format RPGLE for program-described DB files

rpg-ospec-conversion Convert program-described printer file O-specs to externally defined printer files

rpg-opm-to-ile Convert OPM RPG programs to ILE RPGLE — CVTRPGSRC, activation groups, binding

rpg-refactor-legacy Refactor RPG: replace GOTO, convert subroutines to subprocedures, improve code structure

rpg-rla-to-sql Convert RLA file operations to embedded SQL for improved performance and flexibility

rpg-sql-cursor SQL cursor declaration, scrollable cursors, multi-row processing in SQLRPGLE

CL SKILLS

cl-primer-basics Entry point for CL skills. Command naming conventions, parameter syntax, common commands

cl-programming CL programming: variables, conditional logic, error handling, program structure

cl-best-practices MONMSG usage, parameter validation, logging strategies, coding standards

DDS SKILLS RPGUnit TESTING SKILL

dds-primer-basics Entry point for DDS. Physical, logical, display, and printer file types

dds-physical-files Physical file DDS definitions, field types, key fields, constraints

dds-logical-files Logical file definitions, join logical files, select/omit criteria

dds-display-files Display file DDS for 5250 screens: record formats, indicators, field attributes

dds-printer-files Printer file DDS: print specs, page headings, overflow indicators

rpgunit-testing RPGUnit: test cases, assertions, setup/teardown, test configuration, test stubs

RPG MODERNIZATION

Convert OPM and fixed-format ILE RPG to modern free-format RPG

LocalLibrary list

Auto-detects RPG variant — routes OPM or ILE fixed-format path automatically
Phase 1 — Externalizes I-specs and O-specs
Phase 2 — Converts H, F, D, and C specifications to free-format; leverages modern best practices, removes GOTO, converts subroutines, and cleans up indicators
Optional pre-conversion compile to validate source before proceeding

BUSINESS RULES EXTRACTION

Analyze RPGLE source and extract business rules into a structured Markdown report

LocalHome directoryLibrary listParallel subagents

Identifies external dependencies — Db2 files, programs, service programs, SQL refs, IBM i APIs
Runs parallel subagents for extraction across the source
8-section executive Markdown report: validations, calculations, decision logic, process flow
Generates visual diagrams for things like process flow, decision logic, and state transitions

RPGUnit TEST PLAN CREATION

Analyze IBM i code and generate structured RPGUnit test plan documents

LocalLibrary listStep 1 of 2

Creates module docs, test suite docs, test utilities doc, and reusable templates
Supports spec-driven development — test plan defines expected behaviour before implementation begins
Runs existing test suites to capture current state before planning
Produces the blueprint used by the Test Suite Implementation workflow

RPGUnit TEST SUITE IMPLEMENTATION

Implement RPGUnit test suites from existing test plan documents

LocalLibrary listStep 2 of 2

Writes test suites from test plan; creates or updates testing.json
Runs test suites and iterates until all newly generated tests pass
Delivers a final summary of test files created and test cases implemented

SQL INDEX STRATEGY ADVISOR

Analyze Db2 for i SQL performance data and establish an optimized index strategy

IBM i DeveloperIBM i Database

Analyzes Db2 for i SQL performance data, including Index Advisor recommendations, MTI usage, and query statistics
Recommends indexes to create to reduce cost, and improve performance and system health
Generates prioritized CREATE INDEX statements for user approval before execution