Guide to Programming with COBOL for Beginners
COBOL, a domain-specific language used primarily for business applications, continues to be a critical component in the financial sector. Despite lacking the attention gained by more general-purpose programming languages, COBOL's effectiveness in handling data transactions, report generation, and related tasks makes it a valuable tool. Its long history is marked by its use in high-reliability computer systems, such as mainframes, where it runs unnoticed by the world.
Originally, tinkering with COBOL required a mainframe system or the Hercules mainframe emulator. However, the release of GnuCOBOL in 2002, which translates COBOL into C code before compiling it into a binary, significantly improved the accessibility of the language for hobbyists and students. The GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) now offers a COBOL frontend (gcobol) as part of its 15.1 release, albeit it is currently Linux-only.
The advantage of using GCC (or GnuCOBOL) is the ability to skip the Job Control Language, a system typically used on IBM OS/360 and similar. Instead, these compilers can be called directly from the command line, used via a Makefile, or integrated into an IDE.
Starting with a 'Hello World' example – a common first step when learning a new programming language – offers a succinct introduction to COBOL. Key elements include the identification division, which provides program identification and defines the data used, and the procedure division, which contains the program code.
As the language is primarily used for business applications, it provides native support for decimal calculations and various I/O access and database types, even with mere files. Recent modernizations, such as free-form code, object-oriented programming, and more, have further advanced COBOL's capabilities.
For those interested in exploring COBOL, GnuCOBOL and the GCC COBOL compiler are readily available for Linux and Windows systems. With these tools, one can run a light COBOL tutorial and gain familiarity with the language. With practice and understanding of the syntax, COBOL can prove to be an easy and versatile choice for business programming.
In the realm of technology, it's possible to run and learn COBOL, a language vital for business applications even in modern times, on Linux systems using GnuCOBOL or the GCC COBOL compiler. This allows developers to bypass the Job Control Language and directly interact with the compiler from the command line, making COBOL more accessible for both hobbyists and students.
With the use of GnuCOBOL, one can begin their COBOL journey with a simple 'Hello World' example, familiarizing themselves with critical parts such as the identification division and the procedure division. Despite its primary focus on business applications, COBOL boasts native support for decimal calculations, I/O access, and various database types, making it an easy and versatile choice for those delving into business programming.
