Mapepire
An open-source database access layer for Db2 for i, created by IBM and introduced in an August 2024 IBM blog post as a lighter, cloud-friendly alternative to ODBC and JDBC. A server daemon runs on IBM i and Node.js, Python, Java, and .NET Core clients connect to it over Secure WebSockets.
What problem it fixes
Classic ODBC and JDBC drivers carry undocumented wire protocols and CCSID encoding conversion. That makes them heavy to run across languages and in the cloud. Mapepire moves that work onto a small server program on IBM i.
Mapepire vs ODBC and JDBC
| ODBC and JDBC | Mapepire | |
|---|---|---|
| Client driver install | Needed | None |
| Encoding conversion | Inside the client driver | On the IBM i server daemon |
| Connection | Driver wire protocol | Secure WebSockets through one port |
Client libraries
| Language | Where to get it |
|---|---|
| Node.js | npm |
| Python | PyPI |
| Java | Apache Maven |
| .NET Core | Available |
| PHP and Go | Discussed as future work |
Who relies on it
IBM's own IBM i MCP Server uses Mapepire to reach Db2 for i.
Related Terms
Db2 for i
The relational database management system built into every IBM i operating system, tightly integrated with IBM i rather than a separately installed database product.
IBM i MCP Server
An open-source, IBM-published server implementing the Model Context Protocol (MCP), letting AI agents and LLMs query Db2 for i data and take defined actions on IBM i using natural language. In beta since October 2025.
IBM i
IBM's operating system for Power servers running traditional AS/400-lineage business applications, with Db2 for i built directly into the OS.