About this blog | About the author
About this blog
I created this blog to share ideas on how to do things using the IBM i operating system and IBM Power servers (formerly known as AS/400, iSeries, and System i).
Not everyone is an IBM i "black belt", with many years of experience with the IBM i operating system and who already knows all or most of the details in the posts of this blog. There are many "white", "yellow", and even "purple belts" who do not, and these need to be nurtured and encouraged to become the "black belts" of the future.
I do not claim, or pretend, to be the person who knows the best way of doing everything. I hope that when I post on a subject if you know an alternative or better way of doing it you describe your method in the comments section for others to read.
Many of the ideas for these posts come from questions I have been asked by others.
Read what others are saying about this blog
Who has a RPGPGM.COM-unity ribbon?
About the author: Simon Hutchinson
I am an IT professional with many, many (35+) years of experience with the IBM i, and its former forms.
I first started as a programmer with the IBM System/36, and soon moved to programming on the AS/400. During those years I have used all flavors of RPG from RPG II to RPG for i (totally free format RPG), on IBM i, CL, SQL, and a whole variety of IBM i based tools.
I started my IT career in the United Kingdom, before emigrating to the USA.
 Starting my first job on IBM midrange in 1988 (I am fourth from left, or right) |
Currently I live in Central Texas with my wife, Francesca, who is also an IBM i developer type. During our marriage she taught me a lot and been a fantastic sounding board, for which I am very grateful.
Since its founding, in 2020, I have been the president of the Central Texas IBM i User Group, CTXiUG.
In August 2025, I joined the System i Developer consortium.
I have presented to various IBM i local user groups across the USA and in other countries, either online or in person. If you would like me to talk to your group contact me and we can make the arrangements.
Being presented with the COMMON Education Foundation |
I am not an employee of IBM, or any of their subsidiaries. All of the opinions on this website are mine, unless otherwise stated.
Feel free to contact me by using the Contact Form, on the right.
Awards and recognitions
Interviews and press articles
Written articles
- iTalk with Tuohy: Simon Hutchinson on RPG Code and RPGPGM.com (March 2017)
- IT Jungle: Speaking The SQL Lingua Franca On IBM i (June 2019)
- IT Jungle: Is It Time To Rename RPG? (August 2020) (you need to go about half way down)
- IT Jungle: Here Are the New IBM i Champions for Power (January 2021)
- IT Jungle: No More Shouting The Name "Power" (August 2021) (starting in the sixth paragraph)
- COMMON Eye on i: Community Spotlight - Voices from the Field Part 1 (February 2024) (page 9)
- Erdani: IBM i User Groups: Why Local Tech Communities Still Matter in 2025 (February 2025)
- IBM Champion spotlight (June 2025)
Audio and video
- New Generation Software videos (registration required)
- The Incredible i Show podcast
