I recently got a hands-on use case of being forced to use a combination of RDI, VS Code and my "Work with IBMi" PDM Replacement tool.
https://github.com/richardschoen/workwithibmipdm
Partition got upgraded and PDM and related tools didn't work for a couple weeks because of key snafus.
I should probably fully move to all PC/Mac based tooling as well, but SEU/SDA are just so darn convenient for green screen stuff. My muscle memory just flies through SDA and SEU for small changes.
In fact I just used SDA to add a Git Log client to my iForGit product a couple weeks back.
https://github.com/richardschoen/iforgit
Anyway this has been an interesting thread to watch.
My real reason for surfacing the conversation is that I got a "real question" about which OS to go to for a customer who wants to get a Power 10 or Power 11.
I think Power 11 is fine, but not V7R6 if they have classic IBMi devs who don't want to learn new tools.
I'm patiently waiting for SDA to get PTFed back into the OS. I use it for less than .10% of my development.
Regards,
Richard Schoen
Web:
http://www.richardschoen.net
Email: richard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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message: 2
date: Sat, 26 Jul 2025 12:55:58 -0400
from: Rob Berendt <robertowenberendt@xxxxxxxxx>
subject: Re: How many of you will stay at V7R5 lower due to SDA
removal ?
"Some green screen editor is required".
This may be true, for those rare cases when the system is in restricted condition and one needs to do a quickie CL to fix something. A prominent IBMer in the IBM i environment gave this reason why IBM has no plans to scrap SEU.
However, there seems to be an assumption that all systems have SEU loaded.
I can assure you this is false. Often it is not on non development lpars due to change management control environments, etc.
For those cases where such CL crisis use may be required EDTF can be counted on to be on all LPARs. And for editing completely free format RPG is just as useful as SEU.
midrange.com
