Qshell for iSeries

Sometimes you hit a home run with a computer software book. This one is it. You don’t have much choice when it comes to Qshell documentation, but now, it doesn’t matter. This book is the only one you’ll ever need if you want to learn about Qshell. But what is Qshell anyway? Qshell is one of the newest additions to OS/400. It is a UNIX-style shell and utilities command interface. Together, the shell and utilities provide a powerful scripting environment.

This book will not only teach you all about Qshell in a manner easier than you can with the Qshell manual, you’ll find things IBM never documented there. Qshell is a great program, but it will do much more for you than IBM will tell you, and this book gives you the scoop on that inside information.

The information gleaned here will also be largely applicable to the shells for Linux and Unix, so programmers not familiar with those platforms will find those shells much easier to learn after learning Qshell. And leveraging your knowledge is what employee value is all about.

Ted Holt and IBMer Fred Kulack take you through Qshell and show you the ins and outs with more examples than you can imagine. Further, the book is written for people who will be using modern languages like C and Java as well as those who are more comfortable with DDS, CL and RPG. So whatever your angle on the iSeries is, this book is what you’ve been looking for.

So Why Do You Care About Qshell?

First, Qshell is not an alternate interface to the others. Qshell includes commands that are not found in QCMD and iSeries Navigator (formerly known as Operations Navigator, or OpsNav.)

Second, Qshell is well suited for working with the Integrated File System.

Third, Qshell can run shell scripts from Unix platforms with little or no modification. This implies that programmers from Unix systems can do productive work on the iSeries.

Fourth, Qshell handles multi-threaded programming.

Fifth, Qshell is a good environment for the creation of Java applications.

This incredible Qshell resource will teach you:
   • How to better manage IFS files in your applications
   • How to run Unix or Linux shells on an iSeries
   • How to implement Web/Java Applications on an iSeries
   • How to to run AIX binaries on your iSeries if your business uses a PASE environment
   • How to automate your everyday, drudge work
   • And much more!



Ted Holt has been working in the information technology industry since 1981, primarily with IBM midrange computers. His industry experience includes the fields of manufacturing, healthcare, education, retail, and wholesale. He holds a master's degree in computer science and has taught in community colleges, universities, and vocational/technical schools.


Fred A. Kulack began working for IBM during a college internship in Rochester, Minnesota. After graduation from Winona State University in 1993, he continued working for IBM, implementing portions of many of the UNIX-type API components on the iSeries. Fred also worked on the team that developed the Qshell interpreter. He now helps large IBM business partners with architecture, porting, and performance related to their C, C++, Java, and J2EE applications.

More About the Authors:

Ted Holt
Fred A. Kulack