COBOL IDE, Compiler for Linux

Grizzly writes "Okay, go ahead and laugh. But there's a lot of COBOL out there, and that has kept a lot of businesses, especially outside the United States, from even looking at Linux. Linux and Main has a story on KOBOL and how it might make bringing those COBOL apps over to Linux possible."

Comments

Don't disrespect COBOL too much

[PD]

Or at least don't disrespect the programmers. Someday when we're all creaky it'll be hard to find a job doing C++ or Java or Perl or C#. Sure, we know those are fine languages for many things, and we've got 40 years of experience using them. Sure we are still sharp and can code rings around almost anybody. We even probably still feel young inside and if we're lucky only need the regular strength viagra. (EXTRA strength viagra is for OLD people).

But there it is on the resume - you did C++ programming 25 years ago, and in the eyes of the young'ins, that makes you unemployable. I've worked with enough people with many decades of experience to know that these people can be the sharpest ones in an organization, even if their experience includes COBOL.

I know this is offtopic, but I can predict what some of the comments are going to say.

good for linux

[larry bagina]

I'm sure a lot of people will say "Cobol is dead. Who cares".

While it's true that cobol is often associated with legacy programs, cobol programs are a niche market, one that linux could exploit (recompile your cobol app for linux and save!). So far, linux growth has mostly been at the expense of other unix rather than cutting into the desktop (windos) market. I'm not suggesting that linux or x86 hardware can compete with mainframes, but a modern x86 box running linux could replace a mainframe for some cobol apps.

Additionally, scary as it sounds, ne wCobol development is still being done. A company I used to work for sold (and still sells) expensive bank software written in cobol and using Tandem SQL.

If it gets the job done, it gets the job done. That applies to linux and cobol.

What these compilers miss

[MrBoring]

Unfortunately a COBOL compiler isn't enough. Other applications which are specific to mainframes would also need to be implemented. Here's two examples:

* VSAM -- IBM's keyed file format. It's simplistic in concept, but manages keyed files very well. A relational DB might be better, but you'd still have to convert the code.

* IMS -- IBM's hierarchical database. The syntax isn't declarative like SQL, but much more intent on moving a pointer throughout the database.

* Other OS calls.

You're missing the most important thing

[Garg]

Women.

I've been in computers 20+ years, and worked with all sorts of different platforms and languages. For some reason, there are more women who program in COBOL than in any other language.

You guys in the ultra-geeky C++ shops, look around. What's the ratio of males to females? In most COBOL shops, it's equitable. I've even worked in places where there were more women than men.

I've recently interviewed for a job elsewhere in my organization where I'd be swapping mostly COBOL and a little Java for full-time Java, SOAP, etc. Sounds like a much cooler job... but this group is off in another building, and there's only one woman. Don't get me wrong, I'm happily married... but I like having women around.

So what if all the women will look like Grace Hopper soon? I'll look like Hume Cronyn.

Programming needs women. Go COBOL!

Garg