IBM Rational Developer for i
IBM Rational Developer for i: A paid Eclipse IDE for IBM i teams, with broad language and remote-development tooling. Ranked #18 of 23 in Java IDEs by our editors (5.7/10); pricing: 120-day trial; best for IBM i development teams using Java-adjacent tools.
At a glance
- Editor score5.7 / 10
- Pricing120-day trial
- Best forIBM i development teams using Java-adjacent tools
- Free planNo
- Supported operating systemsWindows, macOS, Linux
- Founded1911 · Armonk, New York, United States
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Remote System Explorer supports IBM i server work
- Includes refactoring, debugging, build and code-analysis tools
- Supports RPG, COBOL, C, C++, DDS and SQL development
Where it doesn't
- Paid product with no free plan
- Current positioning centers on RPG and COBOL
- Java-focused capabilities are less central to the current edition
Our verdict on IBM Rational Developer for i
IBM Rational Developer for i is a paid, Eclipse-based desktop integrated development environment for creating, maintaining and modernizing applications on IBM i. It is aimed at development teams working across IBM i systems and related languages, with tools for searching, editing, building, code analysis, refactoring and debugging. The environment supports Windows, macOS and Linux, and covers RPG, COBOL, C, C++, DDS and SQL development alongside Java-adjacent workflows.
Its plan structure is designed around entitlement and access patterns rather than a free tier. The Free trial enables all features during a 120-day evaluation. Authorized User provides dedicated use of a single entitlement, with a perpetual entitlement and one year of subscription and support. Floating User Single Install provides a shared perpetual entitlement for multiple users, limited to one user at a time. Floating, Single Install Fixed Term provides a fixed-term shared entitlement with subscription and support for the term.
The product’s strongest fit is its connection to IBM i development operations. Remote System Explorer supports server-side file management and server-script execution, while host-connected and disconnected development support different working modes. Integrations include IBM Rational Team Concert, IBM i servers and eGit. The current 9.9 release is marketed primarily around RPG and COBOL development, and IBM describes the current product evolution as one edition, RPG and COBOL Tools. Teams needing a broad IBM i environment with multiple language tools, debugging and remote workflows should consider it; teams seeking a Java-first environment should look for a tool whose current positioning is more directly centered on Java development.
IBM Rational Developer for i pricing
All 4 IBM Rational Developer for i plans and prices →
IBM Rational Developer for i fact sheet
| Free plan | No |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Supported operating systems | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Spring support | Not verified |
| Jakarta EE support | Not verified |
| JavaFX support | Not verified |
| Remote development | Yes |
| Database tools | Yes |
| Free trial | 120 days |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Support | Docs |
| Built for | Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 3 integrations: IBM Rational Team Concert, IBM i servers, eGit |
| Pricing | 120-day trial (source) |
| Website | ibm.com |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
IBM Rational Developer for i integrations
IBM Rational Developer for i lists 3 integrations on its own site.
- IBM Rational Team Concert
- IBM i servers
- eGit
Alternatives to IBM Rational Developer for i
- IntelliJ IDEAA broad Java and JVM workspace with strong debugging, testing, and build-tool support.9.0
- Eclipse IDEA free, broad Java IDE with strong build, framework, database, and remote-development tooling.8.2
- Apache NetBeansA mature, extensible Java IDE with built-in debugging, testing, profiling, and build tools.7.7
See all IBM Rational Developer for i alternatives →
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