IBMi Source Member Checkout

Check out IBM i source members locally, edit them offline, and merge changes back using VS Code's built-in diff editor. Works with Code for IBM i.

Why?

Editing source members directly through Code for IBM i saves straight to the IBM i on every keystroke-save. This extension lets you check out a local copy, work at your own pace, and merge changes back when ready — with full diff support and source date preservation.

Features

Check Out Members

Right-click a member in the Code for IBM i Object Browser and choose Check Out Member. The source downloads to a local file (named after the member, e.g. EXAMPLE.RPGLE, for correct compilation) organized by system, library, and source file, and shows up in the Checked Out Members panel.

Select multiple members (Ctrl/Shift-click) before checking out, and they're all downloaded together — if any are already checked out, you're asked once whether to re-download or skip them.

Check Out All Members

Right-click a source file (one level above members) and choose Check Out All Members to pull down every member it contains in one go. Since this can mean a lot of members, a confirmation dialog warns that it may take a while before starting.

Protected Filter Members

Checkout is hidden by default for members in a protected (read-only) filter. Enable ibmi-checkout.allowCheckoutFromProtectedFilter to allow it when you deliberately want a local working copy of a protected source.

Merge Back to IBM i

Right-click a checkout and choose Merge Back to IBM i to open a diff view — your local changes on the left, the live remote member on the right. Use VS Code's merge arrows to selectively apply changes, then save the remote side; Code for IBM i handles the upload and preserves source dates.

Upload to IBM i

For a quick full replace, use Upload to IBM i. This overwrites the remote member with your local copy. A warning confirms that source dates will not be preserved.

Refresh Remote Status

Compares your local file, the live remote content, and the remote content as it was at checkout time (not just a stale comparison) to classify each checkout:

• In sync — local matches remote exactly
• Modified — you've edited locally; remote is unchanged (safe — nothing to lose)
• Conflict — remote changed and still differs from local (re-checkout would discard your edits — review with Merge Back first)

Refresh per member (inline icon or context menu, with a conflict prompt to Merge Back or Re-checkout), per source file group, or for every checkout at once from the panel toolbar.

Compare With

Right-click a checkout for comparison tools: Select for Compare (mark one checkout, then Compare with Selected on another), Compare with Active File, Compare with Local File, Compare with IFS File, or Compare with Member (any source member by path).

Other Actions

• Open Local File / Open Remote File — open either copy in the editor
• Run Action — trigger Code for IBM i's local source actions (compile, deploy, etc.)
• Reveal in File Explorer — show the local file in your OS file manager
• Copy Member Path — copy LIBRARY/SOURCEFILE(MEMBER) to the clipboard
• Discard Checkout — delete the local file and stop tracking it (with confirmation)

Multi-Select

The Checked Out Members panel supports selecting multiple checkouts at once. Open Local/Remote File, Run Action, Upload to IBM i, Refresh Remote Status, and Discard Checkout all work on a multi-selection, each confirming with a message naming how many members the action will affect before proceeding. Actions that only make sense for one item at a time (Merge Back, Compare With, Copy Member Path, Reveal in File Explorer) are single-selection only.

Settings

Local File Structure

checkouts/
  myhost.company.com/
    MYLIB/
      QRPGLESRC/
        PAYROLL.RPGLE
      QCLSRC/
        PAYROLLC.CLLE

Organizing by system, library, and source file preserves the original filename for compilation and prevents collisions across different IBM i systems.

Requirements

• Code for IBM i v3.0.0 or later
• Active connection to an IBM i system

License

GPL-3.0