DevOps for IBM i: Git, CI/CD, and the Merlin Experience

IBM Merlin (IBM Developer for IBM i DevOps Experience) gives IBM i developers a web-based VS Code IDE, Git integration, CI/CD pipelines that compile and test RPG on every commit, and RPGUnit as the automated test runner. The MerlinLab repo is the hands-on lab I use with teams making this shift.

The hard part isn’t the tooling — it’s the culture. The lab is designed to be incremental: start with main-branch-only Git, no PRs, just version history. Add automated builds next. Add RPGUnit. Add branches. Each step is a win visible to the team, not a disruption.

RPGUnit is the safety net that makes refactoring safe. Bob generates the test stubs; Merlin runs them on every push. Together: the first time IBM i developers can change code with confidence.