I've been testing IBM Bob 2.0 as an IBM i developer. Here are my first impressions.
I've been using IBM Bob since the new 2.0 release became available, comparing it with the previous version, and my overall impression is that it's a noticeable improvement.
The first things I noticed were:
- Faster responses
- Better overall performance
- More accurate answers
- Better self-correction when refining prompts
The biggest addition, though, is the new Premium Package for IBM i.
It adds IBM i-specific capabilities such as:
- Understanding RPG, CL, DDS, COBOL and SQL
- Direct IBM i connectivity
- RPG fixed-format to free-format conversion
- SQL modernization suggestions
- Documentation generation
- Unit test generation
- Refactoring assistance
As someone who works with IBM i every day, what I find most interesting isn't just that it uses AI. It's that IBM is trying to build decades of IBM i knowledge into the assistant instead of treating IBM i like just another programming platform.
I've only been using it for a short time, so I'm still exploring its capabilities, but my first impression is very positive. There is still room for improvement—as with any AI assistant—but compared with the previous version, the progress is clear.
Has anyone else here tried Bob 2.0 or the Premium Package? I'd be interested to hear how it compares with the AI tools you normally use.