Code Quality on IBM i

Many legacy IBM i applications are burdened by areas of code that are over-complex or monolithic and difficult to maintain. At the same time, areas of ‘dead code’ – sometimes as much as 30% of a code base in volume – occupy valuable developer time and add to overall complexity of the system. These ‘hotspots’ generate unnecessary technical debt that can negatively impact the long-term viability of software and drain the revenue of your business.

Over time, neglected applications become brittle, making them increasingly more expensive to support. In turn, enhancements become cost prohibitive, creating a vicious cycle.

IBM i business applications have proven so secure and reliable over the years that they are often considered too valuable or too risky to replace. Yet their RPG or COBOL code may have been maintained by multiple developers over 20-30 years, escalating the risk of technical debt.

Common characteristics include:

In addition, security vulnerabilities can creep into source code as IBM i database logic is exposed to external applications and devices.

If coding defects reach production, they can cause costly downtime and damage the reputation of your business. Unaddressed technical debt can impact an IBM i organization in multiple ways: