Rational Developer

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IBM Rational Software Delivery Platform for System i is informally referred to by the acronym RDi

Version history

Rational Developer's predecessor product was WDSC. WDSC's latest version was 7.0, and it was tied to the Websphere Application Server's release numbering rather than the System i's i5/OS numbering. This confused some people because WDSC included both host and client software. The host software was obviously tied to i5/OS, but the client software could operate with different versions of i5/OS.

With this release, IBM Rational have broken the version numbers apart, so now the host tools and compilers have version numbers that match the version of i5/OS they are intended to operate with. The client tools remain tied to Websphere's versioning system.

Rational Developer version i5/OS V5R3 i5/OS V5R4 IBM i v6.1 IBM i v7.1 IBM i v7.2 IBM i v7.3 Client OS
V7.1 Yes Yes Yes  ?  ?  ? Windows
V7.5 Yes Yes Yes  ?  ?  ? Windows
V7.6 No Yes Yes Yes  ?  ? Windows
V8.0 No Yes Yes Yes  ?  ? Windows & Linux
V8.0.3 No Yes Yes Yes  ?  ? Windows & Linux
V9.0 No Yes Yes Yes  ?  ? Windows & Linux
V9.1 No No Yes Yes Yes  ? Windows & Linux
V9.5 No No  ? Yes Yes Yes (9.5.0.3) Windows, macOS & Linux
V9.6 No No  ? Yes Yes Yes Windows, macOS, Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Note: 9.5.0.3 supports Windows 10

Fix packs

Fix packs are IBM-released fixes and patches that repair defects and sometimes add enhancements between full releases. RDi has had fix packs prior to those listed here but they were recorded in the WDSC_Fixpacks article. IBM announces fix packs at the RPG Café and also at the WDSCI-L list on Midrange.com.

To install a fix pack, end RDi, back up your workspace, start IBM Installation Manager and choose Update. Some fix packs can take significant time to complete - users have reported half an hour or more. Try updating over lunch when you won't be tempted to cancel it for taking so long...

RDi 9.5 allows you to check for new fixpacks. Help > Check for Rational Developer for i updates


RDi version ZIP Release notes Full details
7.5.0.3 ZIP Release notes RPG Café
7.6.0.1 ZIP Release notes RPG Café
7.6.0.2 Download README RPG Café


RD Power version ZIP Release notes Full details
8.0.0.1 ZIP Release notes RD Power Hub


RDi version ZIP Release notes Full details
9.0.1 ZIP not yet available Release notes RD Power Hub


RDi version ZIP Release notes Full details
9.1.1 ZIP not yet available Fix list RDi - IBM Rational Developer for i Hub
9.1.1.1 ZIP not yet available Fix list Rational Developer for i Fix Pack 9.1.1.1 for 9.1


RDi version Release notes Release date
9.5.0.1 Fix Pack 1 IBM Rational Developer for i Hub
9.5.0.2 Fix Pack 2 IBM Rational Developer for i Hub
9.5.0.3 Fix Pack 3 IBM Rational Developer for i Hub 2016-04-21
9.5.1.0 Mod Pack 1 IBM Rational Developer for i Hub
9.5.1.1 Rational Developer for i V9.5.1.1 fixpack is now available! 2016-12-22
9.5.1.2 Rational Developer for i V9.5.1.2 fixpack is now available! 2017-04-13


RDi version Release notes Release date
9.6.0.1 Developer for i V9.6.0.1 fixpack is now available plus Data Studio V4.1.3! 2017-12-15


RDi Fix list

Packaging

IBM Rational announced this version of its System i development tools January 29, 2008. Planned release date is March 21, 2008. The PID code for the host tooling is 5761-WDS but there are many separate feature codes -- check the Host tools announcement for details. The PID codes for the client tooling are 5724-T82 and 5733-RDI. Again, check the Client Announcement for details on the many feature codes that will affect your ordering.

  • Host tools
    • ILE compilers
      • Option 31 ILE RPG
      • Option 35 ILE RPG *PRV Compiler
      • Option 41 ILE COBOL
      • Option 45 ILE COBOL *PRV
      • Option 51 ILE C
      • Option 52 ILE C++
      • Option 56 IXLC for C/C++
    • Heritage compilers
      • Option 32 S/36 Compatible RPG II
      • Option 33 S/38 Compatible RPG III
      • Option 34 RPG/400®
      • Option 42 S/36 Compatible COBOL
      • Option 43 S/38 Compatible COBOL
      • Option 44 OPM COBOL
    • Application Development ToolSet — Option 21 Application Development ToolSet
  • Client tools

In addition to the standalone RDi, there is a version of RDi that comes bundled with HATS see Announcement Letter 208-178 Its official name is IBM Rational Developer for System i™ for SOA Construction V7.1 and was first announced in Announcement Letter 208-061

Two product IDs are associated with this:

  • 5724-T83
  • 5733-SOA

Pricing and ordering

The pricing structure for WebSphere Development Studio for System i (5761-WDS) is based on the processor group (also known as software machine group or software tier) of the machine on which the program is used and on the number of named users of the program. Each license entitlement contains the processor group and the user quantity. Additional users entitlements may be purchased as needed.

A user of WebSphere Development Studio for System i (5761-WDS) is defined as a named user who is capable of executing the program.

The customer has the option to order any or all of the three WebSphere Development Studio for System i features separately. Each feature is priced differently.

For upgrades from ADTS (SEU and PDM), there will be entitlements for those on software maintenance ([SWMA]), meaning that a given software tier will come with a certain number of user licenses (called a Proof of Entitlement.) Note that downgrading (e.g. from a P10 to a P05), no credits are given.

For new purchases (not upgrades), each tier will also be required to purchase a minimum number of licenses.

As of 7 February 2008, George Farr (IBM) says there will be no entitlement upgrades from WDSC to RDi. You can upgrade your green screen tooling through entitlement but you'll have to purchase the GUI tooling.

As of 4 Oct 2013, IBM have a web site where one can check pricing and order by credit card if desired: http://www-03.ibm.com/software/products/us/en/dev-ibm-i/


Software tier SWMA entitlement New purchase minimum
P05 4 seats 1 seats
P10 8 seats 3 seats
P20 12 seats 4 seats
P30 16 seats 10 seats
P40 20 seats 15 seats
P50 30 seats 20 seats
P60 40 seats 25 seats

Pricing involves a charge for the processor tier, and a charge for each user. Call IBM or your Business Partner for specific pricing.

Perspectives

RDi comes with several Perspectives (see RDi terminology for an explanation of terms). Third-party Perspectives can be installed via the Eclipse Plug-in mechanism (see below).

Perspective name Purpose
RSE (Remote System Explorer) Connection / library drill-down, Editor, Outline
Debug Debugging editor, Outline, Variables, Breakpoints, Monitors
Database Development Data Source navigator, Editor, SQL Results
i Projects Offline editing. Project navigator, Remote System navigator, Editor, Outline

Plug-ins

RDi, like WDSC can be modified by programmers. The Eclipse platform provides a mechanism called extensions. Writing a plug-in requires knowledge of Java as well as the internal structure of RSE and Lpex. New to RDi is a refactored RSE called variously OpenRSE, Target Management (TM) / RSE and DSDP-TM RSE. Refactored means that if you have written extensions for WDSC or RDi 7.1, they will need to be redone for RDi 7.5. A cautionary note is in order about TM/RSE 2.0 as well: IBM considers this to be a provisional release - any and all interfaces can be changed, breaking backward compatibility. IBM intends that TM/RSE 3.0 will be stable and hardened.

Available plug-ins

Several plug-ins are available especially for IBM i programmers. In addition, any plug-in that is compatible with the base Eclipse version can be installed via Help -> Install new software.

Installation Issues

After installing, there is a separate step to apply the licence. How to get the Activation Ket to license RDi (DeveloperWorks wiki)

Additional installation information.

Windows 7

Due to changes in the Windows OS, Rational Developer applications cannot be installed in "Virtualized" directories unless you run the application with administrative privileges. The default application directory in Windows, "Program Files" (and "Program files (x86)"), are virtualized.

If you install the Rational Developer applications in those virtualized directories you will have to launch the application by right-clicking on the shortcut and select "Run as administrator".

Alternatively, you can install the application in another directory on the system that is not virtualized. Any directory you create off the root will not be virtualized.

Windows 10

IBM announced support for Windows 10 beginning with RDi 9.5, fixpack 3 (9.5.0.3) released 21 April 2016.

TCP/IP ports used

RDi uses TCP/IP to communicate to IBM i. The base set of ports in use come from the Java Toolbox for i. An additional set of ports are used by RDi itself for functions like debugger callback and interactive job support.

RDi TCP/IP port list
Port name Port SSL port Purpose
drda 446 448 RSE, Record level access
as-srvmap 449 - RSE
Integrated i Debugger 3825 - Debugger
STRRSESVR 4300 - Interactive job support
as-central 8470 9470 RSE
as-database 8471 9471 -
as-dtaq 8472 9472 Interactive job support
as-file 8473 9473 IFS (optional)
as-netprt 8474 9474 -
as-rmtcmd 8475 9475 RSE
as-signon 8476 9476 RSE

Remote System Explorer functions: including filtering, editing, compiling, and running: 8470, 8475, 8476, 446, 449 Integrated File System (IFS) access: 8473 Interactive job support (via the STRRSESVR command): 8472


WDSC 7.0 & RDi 7.1

It is possible to install WDSC 7.0 & RDi 7.1 in Windows 7, although it's been reported that you need the current version of the Installation Manager application. The Installation Manager can be downloaded from http://www-947.ibm.com/support/entry/portal/Downloads/Software/Rational/IBM_Installation_Manager. For more details, see WDSC installation

Linux

  • Depending on how you copied the installer to your linux system, you might have to adjust permissions on some of the files.
    • Add execute permissions to InstallerImage_linux/jre_5.0.3.sr8a_20080811b/jre/bin/java
    • Add execute permissions to InstallerImage_linux/install
  • On Ubuntu 64 bit, if you have 64 bit Java and JVM ends with exit code 13 when installing, you can try this: edit file install.ini and change the line that reads "jre_5.0.3.sr8a_20080811b/jre/bin/java" to "./jre_5.0.3.sr8a_20080811b/jre/bin/java".

Silent Install

IBM has provided ways to perform the installation via scripting that eliminates most if not all user interactions. See Rational Developer Silent Install for these scripts and a quick readme file.

External links

IBM

Industry articles

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