We are pleased to announce the general availability of IBM® Rational® Developer for i RPG and COBOL Tools Edition V9.9, bringing modern tooling updates and enhanced developer productivity to IBM i teams. Rational Developer for i is a strategic development environment for IBM i programmers who want to modernize applications while maintaining and enhancing existing RPG and COBOL code. Version 9.9 builds on that foundation, with updates that improve usability, integration, and alignment with modern development workflows. This release helps development teams move forward with modernization initiatives while continuing to leverage their existing skills and investments.
A Modern IDE for IBM i Development
IBM Rational Developer for i provides a single and secured integrated development environment for creating, maintaining, and modernizing IBM i applications. Built on the widely adopted Eclipse framework, Rational Developer for i integrates search, editing, build, analysis, refactoring, and debugging capabilities into a unified experience that helps developers work more efficiently and with greater confidence. Rational Developer for i supports traditional RPG and COBOL development while enabling extensions to services and application clients built with other technologies, making it a key tool for IBM i modernization initiatives. This approach allows development teams to evolve existing applications incrementally while preserving the stability and reliability of their IBM i environments.
What is new in Rational Developer for i 9.9?
The major enhancement in Rational Developer for i 9.9 is support for Eclipse 4.31, which delivers updated base functionality and improved integration with modern development tools. This release also introduces several targeted enhancements designed to streamline day-to-day development work, including improved support for IFS-enabled projects with RPG actions to further strengthen Git-based workflows, tighter integration with Access Client Solutions Host Emulator Files that allow emulator settings to be defined directly in connection properties, and more reliable reconnection handling when timeouts occur. In addition, Rational Developer for i 9.9 includes updated RPG and COBOL language support as well as the latest versions of the Java Toolbox, helping IBM i developers adopt modern practices while continuing to work efficiently with core IBM i technologies. Together, these enhancements make it easier for teams to modernize development workflows without disrupting existing processes or skills.
Important Installation and Licensing Notes
Rational Developer for i 9.9 is a new release, not a fix pack, and requires a new installation. This version also introduces a new license activation kit, which should be considered when planning upgrades. IBM recommends reviewing system prerequisites and licensing requirements in advance to ensure a smooth transition. Development teams should also plan upgrade activities to minimize disruption and take full advantage of the new capabilities introduced in this release.
Platform Support
IBM Rational Developer for i 9.9 is supported on Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS and interoperates with all supported versions of IBM i, giving development teams flexibility across platforms. This cross-platform support enables developers to work in their preferred desktop environments without compromising access to IBM i. It also helps organizations standardize development tools across teams while supporting a mix of operating systems. As a result, teams can onboard new developers more easily and maintain consistent development practices across the enterprise.
Availability and Ordering
IBM Rational Developer for i RPG and COBOL Tools Edition V9.9 is available as an electronic download through Passport Advantage and ESS. Physical media is available when Rational Developer for i 9.9 is ordered through the Power channel. RPG and COBOL Tools are refreshed as part of this release, and updated feature and maintenance offerings are available for new and existing clients. Clients can also align licensing and maintenance options with their development needs and upgrade timelines.
Learn More
To explore documentation, system requirements, and additional technical details, visit the IBM Rational Developer for i Hub. With Rational Developer for i 9.9, IBM continues its commitment to helping IBM i developers modernize with confidence, bringing current tooling, stronger integrations, and a familiar development experience to the platform teams rely on every day. Developers who want to get started quickly can also visit the IBM Rational Developer for i product page to download a free trial and experience the latest capabilities firsthand. This provides an easy way to evaluate Rational Developer for i 9.9 and determine how it fits into existing IBM i development workflows.