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I'm a code monkey, an AS400 geek, a cheese addict (obviously with a splash of red wine) and doting father of three. Originally from England, I now enjoy living on a Beach with lots of palm trees.

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Nick Litten blog

It started off as an electronic diary, a journal of sorts with an IT focus. But it's evolved into a digital archive of random brain explosions. Don't read it. I waffle a lot.

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what is Nick Litten working on

I love working on IBMi and old AS400 applications, Drupal websites and (to be honest) just about anything to do with information technology.

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contact nick litten

I'm always on the lookout for new and interesting projects. If you need an established, reliable IBMi RPG consultant who delivers on time and in budget, or you're looking for help with a website, drop me a line.

 

From AS400 to iSeries to System i to Power Servers and beyond

The IBM "i" operating system runs on the IBM POWER family of e-business servers and midrange computers. With it's heritage growing from the world famous IBM AS400, evolving to the IBM iSeries systems and then onto the IBM System i range and most recently the newest line of super computers are called IBM Power Systems and the operating system is now called IBMi (or IBM i on POWER SYSTEMS to give its full title).

This flexible machine offers a secure platform capable of running thousands of the world's most popular business applications - all on a single, highly integrated, powerful system.

ibm system i

The IBM Power System is the physical machine and IBM-i is the operating system. This integrates a trusted combination of relational database, security, Web services, networking and storage management capabilities.

It has long been recognized for delivering business value through innovations and programs that reflect industry-leading technologies and best practices. IBM i's integrated design helps reduce cost with its famous 99.999% availability and increases productivity of your existing IT infrastructure and system users.

The bottom line is:

The IBM Power System with IBMi is the worlds leading business platform, running a totally secure operating system that interfaces with every other computer and software application that your business may be using. A safe, secure, reliable and hitech solution for business in the Internet age.

I've spent the bulk of my professional life working as an IBM i Specialist so maybe I'm slightly biased  ;)

Projex4i - the free IBMi Developer Toolkit

Just what is Projex4i ?

Essentially PROJEX4i (previously known as Projex400) is a free IBMi application for [as400] developers and operators. 

It's an application bursting with goodies designed to make life easier for every developer, operator and user of the IBMi AS/400 iSeries i5/OS. Speeding application development and boosting problem investigation is going to save you time and money. Projex4i is, and always has been, free!

Projex400 has been around since 1990 (originally branded PGMRAID it was renamed PROJEX400 in 1994 and is in the process of PROJEX4i right now!) and this library of commands and applets has multiplied many times over during this time. The bundle contains some really neat tools that enable you to use provided commands or menu options to present you with data in very readable formats.

Essentially PROJEX4i is a collection of Software tools; utilities, commands, procedures or any other way you choose to describe them.

Everything in the PROJEX4i Toolkit is command driven. This allows you easy access from any command line. Another bonus is that you can apply commands to areas like PDM with ease. For example, if you wanted to use the SRTSRCMBR command to upgrade your RPG source you could simply create a PDM User Defined option running the SRTSRCMBR command and then repeat that for the entire source file that you have selected using PDM.

The tools are constantly evolving and new commands, enhancements to existing commands and other optional details are being added all the time.

The main aim of PROJEX4i is simply to add functionality to areas of the IBM iSeries that are not necessarily simple to use, enhance existing commands within the operating system and to generate clear and simple displays providing detailed information in an easy to understand format.

as400 shareware 5250 screenPROJEX4i has evolved over a number of years and several different versions of OS/400: The current version is available in Risc flavours for i5/OS v5r4+

The toolkit contains many utilities aiding IBMi developers and End users in areas as diverse as:

  • Program development
  • Object Management
  • Database management
  • Documentation
  • Problem determination
  • Debugging
  • Year 2000 data management and impact analysis
  • Time planning and reporting
  • Multi-platform communications tools
  • Source file editing tools
  • User Games
  • and much more!

Extensive On-line Help1 text is available against all parameters for each command, and also available from any displayable screen.
 


NEWSFLASH (2012)

PROJEX4i is the new name for PROJEX400. It's going to be Open Source. It's work in progress but should have it all done within the next few weeks. All compiled objects sets (EGGS) will be available to download and install directly from here.

Web Portfolio

If you want a memorable website that attracts new customers, a website that explains who you are and explains how to contact you... You've come to the right place.

I have always focussed on quality affordable websites handbuilt from my design studio based in South Carolina (USA) ;)   Over the Years I've developed websites for clients worldwide. Once the website is delivered I still stay with you because building your website is only half of the job, your website needs to be properly marketed to generate fresh visitors and sales.

  • Need a website?
  • Want a cool domain name?
  • Email that you can access just like Hotmail?
  • A family website for sharing photos and videos like YouTube?
  • Is your search engine ranking high enough?

I've built websites ranging from single pages to complex ecommerce sites allowing customers to interact with each other on a forum. The key is in listening to your needs and creating a solution that exceeds your expectations.

I tend to recommend Drupal as the backbone for you website (guess whats behind this website?) It's a fantastic open source content management system that allows your website to be online quickly with dynamic content and all the necessary web2.0 features. CMS's can be used to easily manage every aspect of your website. Making it easy to add custom content and images with just a few clicks of your mouse. Instantly you will see that your website will never be the same again!

Migrating a static site to Drupal

If you want to make the jump to a web based content management system, there is no CMS better suited than Drupal. Your cost of migration will be low, your content will be safe and using Drupal is simple and intuitive (look what your doing right now ;) )

Migration of content and design

I can migrate your static website including content and design to a Drupal-based website. If necessary, I will provide you with a fresh new website design and host the web site at our hosting center or install it at your preferred hosting solution - including your own application server.

Gollive, Handover and Expert support

This is possibly the most important step in bringing any website to the masses of people in the world wide web. Frequently overlooked by other web design teams - we focus on your business requirements: your customers requirements. We want you to be able to maintain your website easily, to add new content to your website with absolute ease and comfort.

If you can use facebook, myspace, twitter or any of these style websites... you will be able to use your own projex designed website. Yes, its that easy.

Let the me help grow your business by utilizing the Internet. I would be delighted to discuss your requirements so please contact Nick Litten for a free no-commitment and fully-inclusive quote for your upcoming project.

 

Projex dot com is the cyber home of Nick Litten an AS400 IBMi developer, RPG programmer, Web2.0 advocate, Drupal nut, early adopter and all round IT addict.

Nick Litten looking dazed while refactoring some RPG2 code to kick it into this century

Born and raised in England, now enjoying programming on the beach in Sunny Southern USA. Founder of SOFTWARE PROJEX.