My primary job as an advocate is to ensure users that people can create new exciting systems on IBM i, as well as make use of their existing stack.

In my day job, I am writing JavaScript, TypeScript, RPG, and COBOL - and occasionally C. I have been fortunate to collaborate with people all over the world in open-source projects, including noxDb, db2util, and many others.

In the year 2021, not only did I have the chance to speak at remote events but also worked/started on my biggest open-source project in the IBM i space: Code for IBM i - the only extension to allow the development (edit, compile, manage, etc) of RPG, COBOL, and all the ILE languages through Visual Studio Code.

Creating this project allowed developers to use the greatest IDE for all of their development needs, plus it also created a community of developers. It has brought the IBM i community together and altogether has made 15 new collaborators to open-source software. It's fantastic.

• Code for IBM i repository
• Code for IBM i users

Alongside Code for IBM i, we also ship many IBM i extensions for Visual Studio Code, including Code Coverage, Integrated Testing for RPG, and a git client for IBM i.

• Other open-source IBM i extensions

As well as that, I am finally hosting my own online event for IBM i: IBM i Developer Day. A free, online event, using Twitter Spaces, which is going to have discussions on the coolest stuff happening in IBM i! We have IBMers and speakers from lots of industries (hopefully someone from GitHub!)

• IBM i Developer Day landing page

Also, when I have the time I am an avid blogger. I do have my own blog, but I also write for Seiden Group and have written (+ been in) articles for MC Press, ITJungle and TechChannel.

• My blog
• Posts on Seiden Group's blog
• TechChannel articles
• ITJungle articles

In the future, I want to create more chances for the IBM i community to collaborate together - through events, but primarily through open-source software for IBM i.

Previously, I was also the maintainer of ILEditor, the predecessor to Code for IBM i.

• ILEditor repository

Why sponsoring would help me

Of course, I am self-employed. All of my income comes from the contract work I have (as well as some of the money for support on some projects). I'd love to spend more time focusing on open-source and allow my business and development work to become more transparent. I want to improve the IBM i space by introducing awesome development tools and great dev practices.

Some of the things I want to spend my time working on:

• Db2 for i database tools for Visual Studio Code
• ILE (RPG/COBOL) debugger for VIsual Studio Code
• Enhancements to RPGLE language tools the and IBM i Testing extension
• Cleaning up documentation