IDUG NA 2026

In this engaging and experience-rich session, Craig Mullins shares hard-earned lessons from four decades working with Db2 in real-world environments. The session goes beyond theory to explore what actually works—and what doesn’t—when managing, tuning, and evolving mission-critical Db2 systems and applications. Drawing on stories from the field, Craig highlights key pitfalls, performance insights, and practical strategies that have stood the test of time, offering attendees actionable guidance they can apply immediately in today’s complex data landscape.
In essense, this session is a walkthrough of things I have learned throughout my career as a developer, a DBA, an industry analyst, and a consultant. It will discuss best practices and experiences with an eye toward offering practical advice for all Db2 practitioners.

In this session, we'll go back to basics and look at SQL-PL, Db2's built in server-side application logic. We'll take a look at the code constructs and how to leverage in stored procedures, user defined functions and triggers. We'll also look at more complex scenarios like code for a Data Partitioning Feature (DPF) environment. The majority of this session will be looking at and executing source code.

Make sure you have all the tools to write functional SQL using all the features of recent versions of Db2. Stop writing SQL like it's the '90s.

Db2 enables developers to write Procedures, Functions, and Triggers using SQL PL (SQL Procedure Language). While IBM does provide a debugger that can be used to debug SQL PL, users may not want to run a debugger in production. This session will explore alternatives to using the Unified Debugger. At the end of this session, you should be able to use the techniques discussed in this presentation to Debug an SQL PL application (Procedure, Function, or Trigger).

There have been so many enhancements in Db2 SQL for developers in the last 3 or 4 versions that many developers have never really taken advantage of. This presentation picks my personal favorites that I believe all developers should get knowledgeable on and possibly applied to current and future applications. Developers should be informed of all of newer features in Db2 and this presentation is a great summary for this topic. When it comes to performance, often times the answer to better performance is rewriting queries different ways, and redesigning programs differently. Attendees will leave with a better understanding of some great SQL enhancements, application table designs, along with getting stronger in the SQL language. This is a great session for developers on Db2 LUW or Db2 z/OS. Developers 'Get Empowered'.

Are you, and all of your sub-systems, ready for Db2 vNext that is coming to an enterprise near you soon? Are you aware that you cannot even get to Db2 13 FL511 if you have any of the specially announced “deprecated” items that we all have hanging around? Do you have a plan to get you out of this mess?
This session explains how you can find all the migration blockers that exist in your system and how to fix nearly all of them as well. It will also delve into VTAM/SNA and workfile usage to round off everything that can bite you!

The blessing of SQL is: when logically correct it will return an answer. Unfortunately, this is also the curse. Depending on how you write your SQL, you give the optimizer more or fewer choices .In this session we will go over understanding performance basics and common made SQL mistakes and the impact they have on the optimizer's choices.
Bring our application DBA's and developers to this session to train them and avoid common SQL performance pitfalls

In today's world, dynamic SQL usage is on the rise.The presentation will show ways to enhance dynamic SQL performance,Focusing on CSWL feature with actual big savings achieved.Skeleton:Dynamic vs static SQL Literals vs parameter markersDSC Cost vs benefit LimitationsCSWL How does it work Cost vs benefit Where can I use it Real life savings from mataf Limitations Should I use it globally?