By Russ Afton, Sales Manager at Arbor Solutions
For organizations running critical workloads on IBM i (AS/400) systems, legacy applications remain some of the most valuable assets in the business. These systems are reliable, secure, and deeply integrated into daily operations—but they often come with a major challenge:
The applications still work, but few people fully understand how they work.
Over decades of updates, developer turnover, and evolving business requirements, many IBM i environments have become difficult to document, maintain, and modernize. Business logic is often buried inside RPG, COBOL, or CL programs, and outdated documentation creates uncertainty whenever changes need to be made.
That’s where IBM Project BOB can help.
What Is IBM Project BOB?
IBM Project BOB is an AI framework designed to assist with development, documentation and modernization of IBM i development practices. While it is commonly associated with DevOps and automated build processes, Project BOB also provides organizations with valuable insight into their existing IBM i applications, calculated business rules, and code structure.
Using modern analysis and dependency tools, Project BOB helps teams better understand legacy IBM i environments without disrupting production systems.
Why Legacy IMB i Applications Become Difficult to Manage
Many IBM i applications have evolved over the decades. During that time:
- Documentation becomes outdated or disappears entirely
- Senior developers retire or move on
- Application dependencies become unclear
- Enhancements increase code complexity
- New developers struggle to understand business logic
This creates risk whenever organizations need to update applications, integrate new technologies, or plan modernization initiatives.
How IBM Project BOB Helps
Project BOB gives organizations greater visibility into their IBM i codebase by helping teams:
- Analyze Applications and code like RPG, COBOL, and CL
- Identify program dependencies and relationships
- Understand application flow and logic
- Improve internal documentation
- Document found business calculations and rules
- Support modernization and integration planning by recommending replacement code
- Reduce risk before making application changes
Instead of rewriting applications immediately, organizations can first gain clarity into what their systems currently do today and begin planning for where to upgrade and improve it.
That visibility becomes the foundation for smarter modernization decisions.
The Business Value of Better IBM i Visibility
Understanding your IBM i applications is more than a technical exercise – it directly impacts business operations.
With improved insight into legacy systems, organizations can:
- Reduce risk during updates and enhancements
- Accelerate onboarding for new developers
- Improve long-term maintainability
- Identify technical debt and obsolete code
- Support API integration and modernization efforts
- Make more informed IT investment decisions
For many businesses, Project BOB provides an opportunity for the first clear picture of application dependencies and business logic in years.
Modernization Without Starting Over
One of the biggest misconceptions about IBM i modernization is that systems must be completely replaced.
In reality, many organizations simply need a better understanding of their current environment before deciding on next steps. This can include suggestions for upgrading and enhancing current code with PHP, Java, and other modern languages.
Project BOB supports a practical, phased approach to modernization by helping businesses:
- Preserve valuable business logic
- Improve documentation
- Modernize incrementally
- Integrate IBM i with modern platforms and tools
Extend the life and value of existing applications
Why Organizations Partner with Arbor Solutions
At Arbor Solutions, we help organizations simplify the complexity surrounding legacy IBM i environments. Our team works with customers to evaluate tools like IBM Project BOB and align modernization efforts with real business goals – not just technology trends.
We help clients:
- Assess their IBM i application environment
- Identify modernization opportunities
- Improve visibility into legacy code
- Reduce operational risk
- Build a long-term modernization strategy
Gain Clarity Into Your IBM i Environment
Your IBM i applications contain years (often decades) of business knowledge. With the right tools and strategy, that knowledge can be documented, understood, and leveraged for future growth.
If your organization is struggling with undocumented IBM i applications, legacy code complexity, or modernization planning, Arbor Solutions can help you move forward with confidence.
Contact Arbor Solutions today to learn how IBM Project BOB can help bring clarity and control to your IBM i environment.
- https://bob.ibm.com/ ↩︎