IBM i Application Services

Query and explore application objects on IBM i using SQL services from QSYS2.

Available Tools

The ibmi CLI is the primary tool for executing application queries. Set SKILL_DIR to this skill's installed location (the directory containing this SKILL.md file):

# SKILL_DIR = directory containing this SKILL.md
# Examples: ./skills/application, ~/.claude/skills/application

ibmi tools --tools "$SKILL_DIR/tools/" --toolset application_default
ibmi tool list_programs --tools "$SKILL_DIR/tools/"
ibmi sql "SELECT * FROM QSYS2.PROGRAM_INFO WHERE PROGRAM_LIBRARY = 'MYLIB' FETCH FIRST 20 ROWS ONLY"

The ibmi-mcp-server also provides execute_sql and describe_sql_object for MCP-connected agents.

Service Selection Guide

Object Discovery

• QSYS2.COMMAND_INFO — CL command metadata (library, processing program, threadsafe)
• QSYS2.PROGRAM_INFO — ILE/OPM program details (language, activation group, size)
• QSYS2.EXIT_PROGRAM_INFO — Registered exit programs by exit point

Data Objects

• QSYS2.DATA_AREA_INFO (view) — Broad data area search across libraries
• QSYS2.DATA_AREA_INFO (table function) — Targeted lookup by name
• QSYS2.DATA_QUEUE_INFO — Data queue status, message counts, configuration

Runtime & Configuration

• QSYS2.ENVIRONMENT_VARIABLE_INFO — System and job environment variables
• QSYS2.WATCH_INFO — Watch/service monitor sessions
• QSYS2.BINDING_DIRECTORY_INFO — Binding directory entries
• QSYS2.BOUND_MODULE_INFO — Modules bound into ILE programs
• QSYS2.BOUND_SRVPGM_INFO — Service programs bound into ILE programs

Data Interchange

• QSYS2.DATA_QUEUE_ENTRIES — Read data queue entries
• QSYS2.USER_SPACE / USER_SPACE_INFO — User space contents and metadata
• QSYS2.USER_INDEX_INFO / USER_INDEX_ENTRIES — User index data

Key Capabilities

Command Discovery

• List commands by library with processing program details
• Check threadsafe and proxy command attributes
• Find validity check programs for commands

Program Analysis

• Inventory programs by library, type (ILE/OPM), and language
• Check activation groups and creation timestamps
• View program sizes for capacity planning

Data Object Inspection

• Read data area values and metadata
• Monitor data queue message counts and configuration
• Browse user spaces and user indexes

Runtime Monitoring

• List active and ended watch sessions
• Check environment variables (system vs job level)
• Review exit program registrations for security auditing

Common Use Cases

1. Library Inventory

List all programs, commands, and data areas in a specific library

2. Data Area Lookup

Retrieve the current value of a specific data area

3. Data Queue Monitoring

Find data queues with the most pending messages

4. Environment Variable Check

List system or job-level environment variables

5. Exit Program Audit

Review registered exit programs for security analysis

6. Program Analysis

Find ILE vs OPM programs and their languages

7. Watch Session Monitoring

Check active watch sessions and their configuration

CL Command Migration

CL Command	SQL Service
DSPCMD	COMMAND_INFO
DSPDTAARA	DATA_AREA_INFO (table function)
DSPPGM	PROGRAM_INFO
WRKREGINF	EXIT_PROGRAM_INFO / EXIT_POINT_INFO
WRKENVVAR	ENVIRONMENT_VARIABLE_INFO
WRKWCH	WATCH_INFO

Quick Examples

List commands in a library

SELECT COMMAND_NAME, THREADSAFE, TEXT_DESCRIPTION
  FROM QSYS2.COMMAND_INFO
  WHERE COMMAND_LIBRARY = 'MYLIB'
  ORDER BY COMMAND_NAME;

Get a data area value

SELECT DATA_AREA_NAME, DATA_AREA_VALUE
  FROM TABLE(QSYS2.DATA_AREA_INFO('MYDTAARA', '*LIBL'));

Find programs by language

SELECT PROGRAM_NAME, PROGRAM_TYPE, PROGRAM_LANGUAGE, CREATION_TIMESTAMP
  FROM QSYS2.PROGRAM_INFO
  WHERE PROGRAM_LIBRARY = 'MYLIB'
  ORDER BY PROGRAM_NAME;

Data queues with most messages

SELECT DATA_QUEUE_LIBRARY, DATA_QUEUE_NAME, CURRENT_MESSAGES
  FROM QSYS2.DATA_QUEUE_INFO
  ORDER BY CURRENT_MESSAGES DESC
  FETCH FIRST 20 ROWS ONLY;

Pre-built Tools

The tools/application.yaml file provides 8 ready-to-use tools:

Tool	Description
list_commands	CL commands with library and attributes
list_data_areas	Data area inventory across libraries
get_data_area_value	Targeted data area value lookup
list_data_queues	Data queues with message counts
list_environment_variables	System and job environment variables
list_programs	ILE/OPM programs by library and type
list_exit_programs	Registered exit programs
list_watches	Watch sessions and status

ibmi tool <tool_name> --tools "$SKILL_DIR/tools/"          # Execute
ibmi tool <tool_name> --tools "$SKILL_DIR/tools/" --dry-run # Preview SQL
ibmi tools show <tool_name> --tools "$SKILL_DIR/tools/"     # View details

Reference Documentation

• Application Services Catalog — All APPLICATION services
• Application Examples — Working SQL examples
• IBM i Services - Application — IBM documentation