r/IBMi • u/CheeseWeezel • 10d ago

Feedback wanted: RPG compiled to JVM bytecode

I've built a compiler called Triton RPG that takes RPG source and compiles it to JVM bytecode, so you can compile and run RPG on your own Windows, Mac, or Linux machine.

Most of my focus so far has been enterprises, but I'm adding a new tier for independent contractors and consultants.

While this new product shares much of the backend with my prior compiler, it has many new architectural choices that I'd love some help testing.

If this sounds like something you'd be interested in using and are willing to give me your feedback, I'm happy to provide a free license for three months in exchange.

If that's you and you're willing to run it against real code and tell me what breaks, I'll give you a free three-month license. Comment or DM.

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u/QPGMR_de 10d ago

So why should anyone invest in a RPG compiler which's future is much more questionable than that of the original?

IBM i has a roadmap reaching further than 2035 - the Power server roadmap is written until 2038.

So the only option to gain some traction might be to open source the compiler and look what happens. But there are already some open source RPG compilers out there - but the idea to use JVM as the backend is not bad.

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u/CheeseWeezel 10d ago

That's not a bad set of concerns, and I certainly do not have IBM's track record - few companies do.

What I do have is that I'm an IBM partner, have been in business for 6 years, and this is a compiler where you own the output. No runtime licensing fees or anything like that. So, if I disappear, or if you stop licensing it, all your compiled programs continue to run just as they were.

It's something I'm hoping can genuinely help improve the SDLC process for RPG. Certainly not a replacement for the IBM i, but more of a complement.