Install the IBM i Development Pack

VS Code by itself doesn’t know anything about IBM i. You need the IBM i Development Pack, an extension pack maintained jointly by the open-source community (under the “Code for IBM i” project) and IBM. Installing one pack installs several related extensions at once.

What to do

In VS Code, open the Extensions panel (Ctrl+Shift+X on Windows, Cmd+Shift+X on macOS) and search for:

IBM i Development Pack

Click Install. VS Code will pull in the bundled extensions. Restart VS Code when prompted.

What you just got

The pack bundles these extensions:

• Code for IBM i — connect to IBM i, browse libraries and the IFS, compile, run commands
• RPGLE Language Tools — content assist, outline view, hover info, the linter
• IBMi Languages — syntax highlighting for RPG, CL, DDS, MI
• Db2 for IBM i — SQL editor with inline query results
• IBM i Renderer — rendering for display files (DSPF) and printer files (PRTF)
• IBM i Project Explorer — local-project workflows with Source Orbit or Better Object Builder

For step-by-step installation guidance (including troubleshooting), see the official Code for IBM i documentation.

When you’re done

Look at the Activity Bar on the left side of VS Code. You should see a new IBM i icon (it looks like a small mainframe). Click it. You’ll see “Connect to an IBM i” — but don’t click it yet. That’s the next chapter.

Next: Chapter 5: Connect to PUB400.