Can VS Code be used for older RPG?

[johnstagliano]

We have a mixture of RPG Code... SQLRPGLE, RPGLE, and RPG400.

RPG400 Source Code...

• Can RPG400 source code be migrated to VS Code, git, and local development, deployed to the IFS and compiled with TOBi?
  -- Will it work with /Copy statements with the includes as part of the project?
  -- Do I need to convert my RPG400 source to ILE in order to migrate it?

• Or, can they be updated using the IBMi Object Browser and compiled using an event?
  -- Would I need a custom event?

• Or, is Code4i strictly for ILE source?

Thank you! Any response is greatly appreciated!

[sebjulliand]

Hi @johnstagliano ,
you can update any kind of member from VS Code using the Object Browser and then compile them using an action. Code for i is not intended to be used with ILE only. But since CRTRPGPGM can't generate an event file, problems would not be shown in the problems view after a failed compilation.

Moving to Git is the right way to go but it also requires some preparation and a change of mindset (which is the hardest part, usually 😅). But before doing that, you could at least convert those RPG400 members to RPGLE (CVTRPGSRC for the win). That won't cost you anything and then you'll be able to move forward with the modernization of your code, at your own pace. At least you'll be able to use free format here and there when maintaining those programs.

Converting to ILE is required before moving to Git though, as CRTRPGPGM can't take an IFS path.

Once you've done that, and if you wish to move to Git, then TOBi is a good tool to take care of the build. /include|copy will work too.

Hope this helps!

[chrjorgensen]

Hi @johnstagliano and @sebjulliand

It is true that CRTRPGPGM can't take an IFS path, i.e. compile from source in the IFS. The same limitation goes for CRTCLPGM, CRTDSPF, CRTPF etc.

However, you can overcome this limitation using the CRTFRMSTMF command developed by Brian Garland. CRTFRMSTMF is a wrapper for any CRT-command, and it simply copies the streamfile to a temporary QSYS.LIB sourcefile member before calling the CRT-command.

So if you install CRTFRMSTMF on your server, you can have all your source in IFS and git without having to convert the RPG source to RPGLE.

I've used CRTFRMSTMF for many years with great success. Only caveat is that you loose the link between the object created and the source, since the object will show the temporary source member as the source. For programs, the most important objects, this is not a problem, since you should include the compiler listing in the program object anyway (for true debugging) using OPTION(*LSTDBG) on the CRT-command.

HTH! 😃

[johnstagliano]

Thank you @chrjorgensen and @sebjulliand, I really appreciate your response.

Knowing that I should be able to compile RPG400 programs from VS Code deploying to the IFS and using IBMi Bob to build is beneficial.

I have been able to create dspf, rpgle, sqlrpgle, pf, and tables. But, when I try to compile a RPG400 program, it appears to have issues.

I am a little lost on how to troubleshoot an error encountered when "Building" my RPG400 program. The error logging isn't giving much detail. I try to run the command in bash and I don't think I am getting the same setup.

I posted the issue in the IBMi Bob discussion github page and have not received any response.
Link to issue

If either of you have suggestions on how I can better troubleshoot issues encountered with IBMi Bob, I would greatly appreciate it!

Thank you!

[johnstagliano]

I figured out my problem. I named the source sbg011.pgm.rpg. When I removed the .pgm from the middle of the name and adjusted my rules file, it compiled. But, it's still frustrating that there was really nothing that told me I had to name it without the .pgm. I've tried to name rpgle without the .pgm in the middle and the rpgle won't compile as a program without the .pgm.

If anyone knows how to get better logging when there is an error with the build, I would greatly appreciate knowing. I do get source errors from the compile, but, I never got any useful message from the makei build before I did the rename of my source.

Thank you!

[sebjulliand]

That's linked to the naming convention used by TOBI (and others) to be able to tell the difference between an ILE source that must be compiled into a module or a program.
That differenciation doesn't apply to RPG/400 because it only compiles into program.