PASE (Portable Application Solutions Environment) and QShell on IBM i feels a lot like Linux

PASE (Portable Application Solutions Environment) and QShell on IBM i feels a lot like working in a Linux or UNIX environment, and there's a good reason for that.

Why PASE Feels Like Linux

PASE is essentially a runtime environment on IBM i that allows AIX (IBM’s UNIX) binaries to run. Since AIX is UNIX-compliant, and Linux shares much of the same philosophy and command-line behavior, working in PASE can indeed feel like working on Linux.

Here are some similarities and practical takeaways:

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Similarities Between PASE and Linux

• Shell commands like ls, cd, pwd, grep, cat, grep, etc., are available in both environments.

• File system navigation behaves similarly (though the underlying file systems are quite different — IFS on IBM i vs ext4, xfs, etc. on Linux).

• Environment variables like $PATH, $HOME, and others are used in both.

• Scripting with shells like sh, ksh, or even bash (if installed) can be practiced in both systems.

• SSH access allows terminal-based work just like in a Linux shell.

• Tools like vi, awk, sed, ps, kill,nano , and cron are either identical or very close in functionality.

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What’s Different

• QShell vs PASE:

  • QShell is a POSIX-like shell on IBM i, but it's not a full UNIX shell. It lacks some scripting features and behaves differently in areas like redirection and process handling.

  • PASE is closer to real UNIX/Linux, especially when running native AIX binaries.

• File paths:

  • IBM i uses the IFS (Integrated File System) which is different from the hierarchical Linux file system. /home/user might work, but behind the scenes, you're still dealing with IBM i objects and structure.

• Access to native IBM i resources:

  • Native IBM i commands (like WRKACTJOB, DSPLIB, etc.) aren't directly usable in PASE without special handling via the system command.

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Why Working on One Helps with the Other

• Linux gives you muscle memory for shell navigation, scripting, and using standard UNIX tools.

• PASE gives you exposure to working in a hybrid environment, where UNIX concepts meet IBM i's robustness and control.

So yes — if you're an IBM i developer looking to sharpen your skills, getting comfortable with Linux can directly enhance your productivity in PASE and QShell, and vice-versa.