Your first connection

1. Create the connection
2. Connect
3. Your first five minutes
4. Create a new member
5. Manage connections

Create the connection

1. Click the Vanthrex icon in the activity bar.
2. In the Connections view, click + (Add IBM i Connection).
3. Fill in the form:

Field	What to enter
Connection name	Any label, for example DEV400
Host name or IP and SSH port	The IBM i address; port 22 unless your SSH server uses another
User profile	Your IBM i user profile
Sign-in → Method	Password (tick Remember securely to keep it in the VS Code secret store, never in settings) or SSH private key (click Browse… to pick the key file)
Library list	Your libraries, top first, separated by spaces or commas, for example MYLIB APPLIB QGPL
Current library	Where new objects go by default
Compile objects into	Optional: a development library that receives compiled objects. Empty = same library as the source
Advanced → SQL engine	Keep Automatic (recommended)
Advanced → IFS start directory	Optional start folder for the IFS browser (default: your home directory)

1. Click Test connection. You’ll see whether SSH works and which SQL engine will be used.
2. Click Save connection.

Connect

Click the connection in the Connections view. The status bar shows the system name. Click it, or press Ctrl+Alt+I, at any time for the quick menu.

If the password isn’t saved yet, you’re asked for it and can choose to remember it securely.

Set vanthrex.autoConnectLast to true to reconnect to the last system whenever VS Code starts.

Your first five minutes

1. Open a member. Expand Libraries & Source → a library → Source files → QRPGLESRC → click a member. Each line shows its change date on the left.
2. Edit and save. Change a line and press Ctrl+S. The member is saved on the IBM i, and untouched lines keep their dates.
3. Compile. Press Ctrl+Alt+C. Errors appear underlined on the right line and in the Problems panel.
4. Run SQL. Open the quick menu (Ctrl+Alt+I) → New SQL Scratchpad, type SELECT * FROM QSYS2.SYSTABLES FETCH FIRST 10 ROWS ONLY, then press Ctrl+Enter.
5. Check the system. Click the dashboard icon on the Connections view.

Create a new member

Right-click a source file → New Member. RPG and CL members start from a template that compiles as-is.

Manage connections

Right-click a connection → Edit or Remove. Removing a connection also deletes its saved password.

Next: explore the features.