hi
I worked in cobol from the 1980’s, C, C++, JAVA from the 1990's
and taught cobol at pace university
and other schools, its a great language!!
Here’s what what c, c++. java programmers DO NOT GET ABOUT
old mainframe programming languages they were much more
compete than modern programming languages.
For example writing to the printer is trivial in cobol.
IBM assembly language, pl1 or RPG.
Just type “write line1”.
PRINTING TO A PRINTER IS NOT PART OF ANY MODERN
PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE!!
(IT WAS PROBABLY TOO DIFFICULT FOR MR STRUSTRUP)
In c, c++. c#, java its a BIG DEAL JUST TO PRINT A LINE
ON THE PRINTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Old mainframe languages had to do a lot with a little!!!
Printing a on the printer in java, c++, c or c# requires a
separate report writer or a 60 line program!!!!
IN MANY RESPECTS USING AN MAINFRAME LANGUAGE
IS SUPERIOR TO USING C, C++, C# OR JAVA!!
DEBUGING COBOL OR RPG IS A LOT EASIER THAN
DEBUGING LARGE OBJECT ORIENTED SYSTEMS.
MOST ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS CONSIST OF HUNDREDS
OF PROGRAMS.
IT TAKES 3 TIMES LONGER TO DEBUG C#, C++ OR JAVA
SYSTEMS!!
A BANK FOR EXAMPLE MIGHT HAVE 10,000 PROGRAMS
RUNNING FOR 100 DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS!!!
USUALLY CO’S CONVERT ONE DEPARTMENT AT A TIME,
OUT SOURCING TO INDIA OR USSR.
OUTSOURCING CREATES GREAT SECURITY AND QUALITY
CONTROL RISK!
SO THATS WHY PEOPLE SAY “IF MY COBOL SYSTEM,
ANT BROKE, DONT FIX IT WITH JAVA”
THANKS