IBM Bob

Modernize

Java · Jakarta EE · Liberty · IBM i · RPG

Enterprise modernization: Java upgrade walkthroughs and IBM i RPG transformation

Labs 6–7   •  All Labs  •  Resources

Continuation from Touchpoint (Part 2)

By the end of Fortnight 3 you will: run Bob's Java Upgrade Modernization walkthrough on a real project, understand Liberty migration, convert Fixed-format RPG to Free Form, and generate architecture documentation for legacy IBM i applications.

•    Week 5: Java Modernization — Spring/Jakarta EE upgrade, Liberty migration, Mermaid visualisations

•    Week 6: IBM i / RPG transformation — Fixed→Free Form, OSPEC→printerfile, RPGII→ILE

Time commitment: 3–4 hours per week

Prerequisites: Fortnight 2 complete. Bob IDE running, IBM/bob-demo cloned.

Note: Direct IBM i filesystem access requires the IBM Bob Premium Package add-on. The prompts in Lab 7 work on any RPG files accessible locally.

FN 1 ✓

Get Started

FN 2 ✓

Build & Review

FN 3 ← NOW

Modernize

FN 4

Ship & Scale

 Java Modernization: Spring → Jakarta EE → Liberty

Java Modernization: Spring → Jakarta EE → Liberty

Objective: Run Bob's Java Upgrade Modernization walkthrough end-to-end and understand the Liberty migration pattern.

📖 Required Reading

•    IBM Bob for Java — IBM Community deep-dive

•    IBM Bob 1.0 announcement

•    Working with large projects — telemetry-driven prioritisation for large Java codebases

•    Vibe Coding with IBM Bob — Niklas Heidloff — Java modernization patterns

🎬 Videos  (youtube.com/@ibm-bob)

•    Seamless Java Upgrades with Bob

•    Modernize Everything: Java Upgrade meets Liberty Power

•    Java UI Modernization using Quarkus

•    Java Modernization (full end-to-end)

🔬 Lab This Week

•    Lab 6: Java Modernization Walkthrough — /java_modernization, SDKMAN setup, literate coding on a Java project

Why Modernize Java? (from Chetan Hireholi, IBM Bob PM)

✅ Week 5 Checklist

□    Cloned github.com/realworld-apps/angular-realworld-example-app

□    .vscode/settings.json created with {"bob-code.walkthrough": "java-upgrade"}

□    /java_modernization command run in Bob chat

□    Bob analysed at least one Java file and produced upgrade recommendations

□    Date filter widget added to Angular UI using a literate coding instruction

□    SDKMAN installed (if running Java locally)

WEEK 6   |   IBM i / RPG Modernization

IBM i / RPG Modernization

Objective: Apply Bob's RPG transformation capabilities to convert legacy code to modern formats.

📖 Recommended Reading

•    IBM Bob for watsonx.data — configuring Bob — cross-platform Bob usage

•    IBM Bob 1.0 GA — IT Jungle (IBM i focus)

•    Beyond the Demo: COBOL, PL/I, JCL testing

🎬 Videos

•    Application Modernization on IBM i  (youtube.com/@ibm-bob)

🔬 Lab This Week

•    Lab 7: IBM i / RPG Transformation — Fixed-format to Free Form, OSPEC to printerfile, RPGII to ILE

Important Notes for IBM i Customers

✅ Week 6 Checklist

□    Fixed-format RPG file converted to free-form with preserved business logic

□    OSPEC updated to printerfile format

□    6-character variable names renamed to descriptive modern names

□    At least one RPGII program transformed to ILE Free Format

□    Architecture diagram generated from RPG source files

Overview

Time: ~60 min   |   Difficulty: Advanced   |   Modes: Ask, Plan, Code

Goal: Run Bob's Java Upgrade Modernization walkthrough on a real project. Demo used by Chetan Hireholi, IBM Bob PM in live sessions.

git clone https://github.com/realworld-apps/angular-realworld-example-app

{ "bob-code.walkthrough": "java-upgrade" }

/java_modernization

curl -s "https://get.sdkman.io" | bash

source "$HOME/.sdkman/bin/sdkman-init.sh"

sdk version

# Easy onboarding — use these first in Ask mode:

What is this application's purpose?

How do I start this application?

# Literate coding example in the Angular component:

// Add a new section called "Last seen" here

# Build a new feature with Code mode:

The requirement is to have a filter option on the UI so that I can filter

the articles based on when they were published. Add a date widget.

Strategy from Chris Marvin, IBM (real Slack post)

High Priority (analyse first): Most-executed code paths, performance-critical sections, highest error rates, most inter-dependencies

Medium Priority: Moderately used features, stable well-tested modules

Low Priority (defer or eliminate): Dead code (never in telemetry), deprecated features, test harnesses

Use a shared .md file to capture analysis as a shared resource across sessions. Max 37 tools per agent for 78% accuracy (IBM Dev Day, Jan 29 2026).

✅ Success Criteria

•    /java_modernization walkthrough launched and visible in Command Palette

•    Bob analysed at least one Java file with specific upgrade recommendations

•    Date filter widget added to Angular UI using a literate coding instruction

Overview

Time: ~45 min   |   Difficulty: Advanced — IBM i knowledge helpful   |   Modes: Code

Goal: Apply Bob's RPG transformation capabilities. Use any .RPG or .RPGLE files accessible on your system.

# Convert Fixed-format RPG to Free Form RPG:

Convert @/src/MYPROGRAM.RPG from fixed-format to modern free-form RPG.

Maintain all business logic. Update OSPEC to printerfile format.

# Rename 6-character variables:

Review @/src/BILLING.RPGLE and rename all 6-character legacy variable names

to modern descriptive names. Preserve all business logic.

# Transform RPGII to ILE Free Format:

Transform @/src/LEGACY.RPG from RPGII to modern RPG ILE Free Format.

Use readable variable names. Update OSPEC to printerfile.

# Generate architecture documentation:

Produce a Markdown folder with architecture diagrams showing how programs,

data stores and control flows relate. Show internal component Programs,

file interactions, and control logic. Highlight legacy types.

✅ Success Criteria

•    At least one RPG file converted from fixed-format to free-form

•    6-character variable names renamed with preserved business logic

•    Architecture documentation generated from RPG source

Key Resources

Docs: bob.ibm.com/docs   |   Download: bob.ibm.com/download

Demos: github.com/IBM/bob-demo   |   Tutorials: github.com/IBM/galaxium-travels

Videos: youtube.com/@ibm-bob   |   Product: ibm.com/products/bob

IBM Bob Customer Success Team