Marinus Van Sandwyk Founder, CTO & Chief Enterprise Architect at TEMBO Technology Lab  a true professional who is  committed to his work with the highest integrity.

His company, together with Edgetec was instrumental in bringing the YiPs and COMMON to South Africa. They have also funded the PHP and RPG IV text books that are currently in use at VUT and have facilitated the special deal with the publishers and authors of the text books. Additionally they funded the speaking engagements of Trevor Perry on both official events so far.

"The platform is even better than when it was announced. It is BY FAR the best commercial computing platform in the history of computing.  The more I work with it, the more I LOVE it.
As YIPS, You  are our future and I am excited for you. You hold so much promise to the industry"

"The foundation the YiPs have received is very, very solid. The people have loads of enthusiasm and with the added additional technologies and products the latest intake at VUT has been exposed to, as yips you are getting even better!!
Any employer will do well to invest employing a YiP! TEMBO is exceedingly happy with the interns we have appointed and will certainly continue to employ future YiPs!"


YIPS: How long have you been working around Power Systems and IBM i (and predecessors)?

Van Sandwyk: Since 1983

YIPS: Who was your first mentor and how did they impact you?

Van Sandwyk: Mr. Howard Butler, my second boss. MONDI. He motivated the programmers to read reference manuals for at least 1 hour EVERY day.

YIPS: What was the first thing that made you excited about the platform?

Van Sandwyk: The integration between all elements and workmanagement structures.

YIPS: What was the most recent thing that made you excited about the platform?

Van Sandwyk: Integration between i, AIX and Linux. PHP on the i.

YIPS: What is the silliest Power or i-related event that has happened to you in your career?

Van Sandwyk: The constant renaming. And the installed base crying about split milk...

YIPS: What is the most important thing to happen to the platform in your career?

Van Sandwyk: The split between the hardware and OS. For the first time the OS will compete head-on with the other OSes - and WIN hands down every time...

YIPS: What do you see as the largest ever outside influence on the IBM i industry?

Van Sandwyk: PHP and Linux

YIPS: Which person do you see as the largest ever influence on the IBM i?

Van Sandwyk: Dr. Frank Soltis, Dick Bains and Ray Hoffman (the architects of the "Future System" project, which culminated in the IBM System/38)

YIPS: What do you see as the biggest blunder IBM has ever made related to IBM i?

Van Sandwyk: Their constant renaming of the platform. And not supporting their business partners better.

YIPS: What do you see as the best thing IBM ever did for IBM i?

Van Sandwyk: Architecting the platform and OS.

YIPS: What is your favorite RPG op-code?

Van Sandwyk: Eish! I have not really coded in RPG for at least 12 years. :lol: Now you will realise how ancient my REAL programming knowledge are... :roll:
Probably %SCAN, %XLATE and %TRIMR.

YIPS: What is your favorite non-work related pastime?

Van Sandwyk: Dangerous game hunting.

YIPS: What do you see as the future of Power Systems and IBM i?

Van Sandwyk: BRIGHT!!

YIPS: What are you doing to ensure the future of Power Systems and IBM i?

Van Sandwyk: Helping COMMON Africa and YiPs Africa to establish themselves. Re-invigorate the local installed base.

YIPS: name of your web site?

Van Sandwyk: http://www.tembotechlab.org

YIPS: Why would anyone contact you?

Van Sandwyk: Ideas.

YIPS: What do you want to be when you grow up?

Van Sandwyk: The best person I can be is being a role model people can look up to. Living an authentic life and being a true disciple of Jesus Christ.