Overview
Use IBM Bob Premium Package for i to extend IBM Bob's AI capabilities to IBM i application development environments.
Overview
IBM Bob Premium Package for i extends IBM Bob with AI capabilities tailored for IBM i application development. By providing Bob with access to your IBM i, it enables you to work more effectively across the entire application lifecycle. Bob can help generate & explain code, build and test projects, create documentation, and even modernize legacy applications.
Key features
- Leverage IBM i modes: Specialized AI personas purpose-built for IBM i development — capturing the IBM i-specific context, terminology, and best practices needed to work effectively across application and database workloads.
- Work with source on IBM i: Read, write, and search source code in QSYS or the IFS, and run CL commands, SQL statements, and PASE commands directly against a connected IBM i system.
- Retrieve IBM i documentation: Search and retrieve official IBM i documentation using semantic search to ground responses in accurate, up-to-date content.
- Utilize IBM i skills: A built-in library of specialized knowledge — automatically activated by Bob based on context — to produce consistent, accurate results for specialized IBM i tasks.
- Execute structured IBM i workflows: Guided multi-step workflows for RPG modernization, business rule extraction, unit test plan creation, SQL index strategy advising, and much more.
Getting started
To install the IBM Bob Premium Package for i, see installing premium packages and ensure that all prerequisites are met.
Connect to an IBM i
IBM Bob Premium Package for i requires an active connection to an IBM i system via Code for IBM i. Code for IBM i connects over SSH, so SSH must be running on your IBM i system — see the IBM i prerequisites above for details.
When installing Bob, you might have been prompted to port your existing VS Code settings. If you chose to do so, your IBM i connections defined in Code for IBM i are already available — no further setup is needed. Simply open the IBM i: Servers view and connect to your system.
If you did not port your settings or are new to Code for IBM i, create and connect to an IBM i system:
- Open the IBM i: Servers view from the activity bar.
- Click New Connection and follow the prompts to add a new connection.
- Connect to your system.
For detailed instructions, see the Code for IBM i quickstart guide.
Next steps
Explore the following topics to get started using IBM Bob Premium Package for i:
Modes
Use specialized IBM i modes to tailor Bob's behavior for your specific IBM i tasks
Workspaces
Work with source code on your local PC or directly on IBM i (QSYS or IFS)
Tools
Read & write to members or stream files, run CL commands, SQL statements, and much more
Skills
Use IBM i specific skills to achieve consistent results for specialized tasks
Slash commands
Re-use pre-defined prompts that automate repetitive IBM i tasks
Workflows
Tackle complex use cases using a structured flow of agentic and non-agentic steps
RAG
Improve Bob's response accuracy using official IBM i documentation
Settings
Configure IBM i tool behavior with extension settings
Security guidelines
Use Bob safely and responsibly on IBM i
Getting help
If you need assistance: