The future of IBM i is written in .NET
The IBM i has never stopped evolving, but access to its data, programs, and services has long remained frozen with tools that no longer keep up with the pace a modern information system requires.
Faced with this inertia, many CIOs consider the so-called “radical” solution: abandoning the IBM i for an off-the-shelf platform, convinced it will bring simplicity. The idea may seem appealing, but history shows it often leads to greater losses. Disappearance of the business logic that makes the difference, dilution of expertise, complete dependence on the vendor… And above all, an expensive replacement that never truly reproduces the functional richness patiently built over time.
Today, a safer and more sustainable alternative exists. It relies on .NET, a platform designed to build modern applications, with standardized practices and widely available skills on the market. But to truly align with the IBM i, one essential component was missing: a connector capable of interfacing natively with the system, without external drivers and fully integrated into the .NET ecosystem.
NTi Data Provider finally opens the door to a controlled evolution of the system. Based on ADO.NET, it provides native access to IBM i (SQL, DB2, CL commands and RPG program calls), with portable, cross-platform code and no installation required on the IBM i side. It allows you to directly call your existing programs (RPG, CLP, 36) and leverage your resources, while remaining agnostic to system versions.
For some companies, mobilising an internal .NET team can be difficult. No matter: a network of specialised service providers around .NET and the IBM i makes it possible to move forward without hiring. You keep your application heritage, entrust the development of interfaces or modules to external teams, and gain both agility and clarity, while keeping functional ownership at the core of the i. It is a sustainable approach that preserves a highly customised business tool and finally allows it to evolve at the pace of your company.