AS400 Experience - Useful or not? 3

[cgwillard]

I am new to IT (1 year), and I am a year away from my BS in Business Information Systems. I work in an environment with an AS/400. I enjoy writing and troubleshooting programs, but I'm wondering how useful those skills are in other companies. Is AS/400 popular? Are companies seeking AS/400 programmers?

I'm wondering if I should focus on learning more about AS/400 programming or start on a different path and become certified in Oracle, Microsoft, Cisco, etc.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[butchrecon]

AS/400 is very popular among industrial companies. It would be VERY useful if you know and understand the Setup and languages used. You should attempt to learn as much as you can about each. (AS/400, Oricle, MS, etc.) You can never know too much and knowing too little is bad. AS/400 programmers with a couple years experience can make in upwards of 65K+. So learn all you can. Dont stick to one verticle. James Collins
Computer Hardware Engineer
A+, MCP

email: butchrecon@skyenet.net

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[iSeriesCodePoet]

As an AS/400 professional myself (1 year expirience), I have seen that many businesses use the AS/400 (or iSeries as IBM calls it now) for webservers, file servers, etc. As butchrecon stated, the market is big and the good programmers are few, RPG programmers seem to be a dying breed, but IBM is trying to lure the young back the the iSeries with the ability to do Java and websites.
Mike Wills
RPG Programmer

"I am bad at math because God forgot to include math.h into my programming!"

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[cgwillard]

Thanks so much for the encouragement. I'm glad to know I'm not wasting my time on obsolete technology. I'll kick it into high gear now!

 

[iSeriesCodePoet]

Definately _not_ obselete. The only thing that is obselete about it is posibly the green screen. IBM is pushing the GUI interface of Operations Navigator and WebSphere Developers Studio (which is a completely GUI interface for creating applications and website) with V5R1.
Mike Wills
RPG Programmer

"I am bad at math because God forgot to include math.h into my programming!"

Please let us (Tek-Tips members) know if the solutions I provide are helpful to you. Not only do my posts help you but they may help others.

 

[butchrecon]

I have a relative who works for a popcorn company and makes 70K a year as a AS/400 programmer. He started at 60K and has moved up since then. So I know they CAN make some money. Maybe not everyone can but it is possible. Just depends on where you work. James Collins
Computer Hardware Engineer
A+, MCP

email: butchrecon@skyenet.net

Please let us (Tek-tips members) know if the solutions we provide are helpful to you. Not only do they help you but they may help others.

 

[iSeriesCodePoet]

In a way AS/400 is a specialized field, just like a good Linux/Unix Admin. Not everyone knows how to, or cares to learn this "ancient technology". What they don't realize is that this "ancient technology" is running quite a few of the major websites out there.

Anyway...good luck on your learning, if you have any questions, you know where find me!

Mike Wills
RPG Programmer

"I am bad at math because God forgot to include math.h into my programming!"

Please let us (Tek-Tips members) know if the solutions I provide are helpful to you. Not only do my posts help you but they may help others.

 

[marchristensen]

The AS/400 is the most incredibly stable platform you can work on. I envision more and more the AS/400 acting as a server as part of a network. Most AS/400 installitations have their system connected to their LAN. Getting involved in the connectivity issues seems to be a good move - Also the development of front-end "sexy" looking aps that tap onto data living on the AS/400. IBM doesn't do a nearly good enough job of marketing the AS/400. It's a rock solid machine and will be for a time to come.