About the toolkit
This open source, free toolkit helps PHP applications connect to resources on IBM i (formerly iSeries, System i, i5…). The toolkit has been jointly developed by Zend and IBM. It’s sometimes known as the “new PHP Toolkit” or even “XML Toolkit,” because the PHP front end and XMLSERVICE back end communicate internally via XML (but no XML knowledge is needed).
Latest official release: Zend has packaged the latest release as a PTF called update “12-12,” which includes PHP Toolkit 1.4.0 and XMLSERVICE 1.7.5. See below under “Resources” to learn how to download it. Zend Server 6.x includes a newer release, 1.5.0/1.7.8.
Newest open source release:
All are invited to try and enjoy this update: XMLSERVICE 1.7.8 and PHP Toolkit 1.5.0
Feel free to contact me about the toolkit via email, my contact page, or on the Zend forum.
Resources
Get Zend Server and official toolkit PTF: Go to the Zend Server download page. Download any hotfixes and then the latest official toolkit release, labeled “XML Toolkit for IBM i Update.” Zend Server download page
Toolkit documentation on zend.com: recently expanded documentation, aimed at Zend Server 6.x but mostly applicable to 5.x as well. Official documentation: Open Source PHP Toolkit for IBM i
Zend Forum: a wonderful community resource for the toolkit (I post there frequently): New toolkit forum at forums.zend.com
Podcast and webinar:
Listen to my podcast about the December, 2012 release
Watch my Zend webinar about the toolkit
Toolkit headquarters is hosted on the Young i Professionals site, an open source wonderland for IBM i:
- Main XMLSERVICE and toolkit page: newest downloads of both PHP front end and XMLSERVICE back end, installation instructions, and documentation
- PHP Toolkit front-end change log
- XMLSERVICE toolkit back-end change log
- “Brave and helpful” page with experimental XMLSERVICE new versions and PHP toolkit experimental versions page
A basic toolkit article that I wrote:
New PHP Toolkit: a Perfect Match for RPG
Slides for my toolkit presentation, with a clear explanation of how to implement the Compatibility Wrapper (CW). Also available as PDF on my presentations page.
