QUSER November 2026
Simon Hutchinson

November 17, 2026

Start: 2:00 pm End: 4:00 pm

RPG Built-in Functions You Should Be Using
Over the years, Simon has written extensively about modern RPG on his popular blog, sharing tips, techniques, and deep dives into the language’s capabilities. In this session, he’ll highlight a selection of his favorite Built-in Functions (BIFs)—along with others he believes every RPG developer should have in their toolkit. You’ll also get an inside look at some of the latest BIFs introduced in recent Technology Refreshes, complete with practical examples to help you start using them right away.

RPG Arrays – Modern Features You Should Be Using
Recent RPG enhancements have transformed the way arrays can be used, introducing new capabilities that make your code cleaner, faster, and easier to maintain. In this session, Simon will explore modern array techniques, including dynamic arrays, Data Structure arrays, and powerful new Built-in Functions that eliminate much of the complex coding of the past. You’ll learn how to take full advantage of the latest features, discover what might be holding you back from using them, and see how these enhancements can simplify data handling—especially when working with database records.


QUSER

United States

Simon Hutchinson has been working with IBM midrange servers and the RPG programming language since 1988, beginning in the United Kingdom and continuing for the past 35+ years in the United States. He is best known for his blog, RPGPGM.COM, which he has authored for over 12 years. Through it, he shares his extensive knowledge and experience, offering detailed examples in RPG, SQL, and CL. Simon’s contributions have earned him recognition as an IBM Champion for Power for the past five years, as well as an IBM i Community Advocate. He is regarded by COMMON Americas as a subject matter expert (SME) in RPG, CL, and SQL. His impact on the IBM i community was recognized with the John Earle Speaker Scholarship in 2023, and he has received Gold and Bronze speaker pins for his presentations at PowerUp conferences. In addition to presenting across the United States, Simon has also spoken to user groups around the world, both in person and virtually, including audiences in Austria, Canada, Denmark, India, Italy, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Since its founding, Simon has served as president of the Central Texas IBM i User Group (CTXiUG).