Dr. Dobb's on Cobol

"Is Your Next Language COBOL?"

Something I'd never thought I'd see in Dr. Dobb's Journal magazine (or
anywhere else for that matter).
Cover story of October 2008 issue. Haven't read it yet, but had to mention
it.

Frank

On Sep 5, 6:45*am, "Frank Swarbrick" <Frank.Swarbr...@efirstbank.com>
wrote:
> "Is Your Next Language COBOL?"
>
> Something I'd never thought I'd see in Dr. Dobb's Journal magazine (or
> anywhere else for that matter).
> Cover story of October 2008 issue. *Haven't read it yet, but had to mention
> it.
>
> Frank

Is there any PDF format on this magazine?

Our country's magazine update is quite late on this. Sometimes Dr.
Dobb Mag won't even reach here. Since the emergence of MF .net devtool
it seems that they're stronger than before considering their SOA, Web
Services strategies.

Far for me to comment on several dicussions here, the trend in the
Philippines is quite different. 'New' Cobol codes are even created
with SOA/Web services/OO capabilities. New breed of Cobol programmers
is even emerging.... most of them are from the VB side. They now use
'both' (VB/C#/Cobol) technologies on bigger platforms.

"Rene_Surop" <infodynamics_ph@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:e29c6464-0b9c-43f0-9d79-310f4765b102@r15g2000prh.googlegroups.com...
On Sep 5, 6:45 am, "Frank Swarbrick" <Frank.Swarbr...@efirstbank.com>
wrote:
> "Is Your Next Language COBOL?"
>
> Something I'd never thought I'd see in Dr. Dobb's Journal magazine (or
> anywhere else for that matter).
> Cover story of October 2008 issue. Haven't read it yet, but had to mention
> it.
>
> Frank

Is there any PDF format on this magazine?

Our country's magazine update is quite late on this. Sometimes Dr.
Dobb Mag won't even reach here. Since the emergence of MF .net devtool
it seems that they're stronger than before considering their SOA, Web
Services strategies.

Far for me to comment on several dicussions here, the trend in the
Philippines is quite different. 'New' Cobol codes are even created
with SOA/Web services/OO capabilities. New breed of Cobol programmers
is even emerging.... most of them are from the VB side. They now use
'both' (VB/C#/Cobol) technologies on bigger platforms.

[Pete]

There seems to be a cycle or roadmap that has to be traversed.

1. Programmer writes standard COBOL. Has maybe done so for many years and
is "fluent" in COBOL. Unfortunately, this tends to "isolate" people from
what is happening in the World around them. If you believe there is only one
"right" way, and everything you could ever want to do you can do with it,
then there is little incentive to look at new stuff. It is important to
continually examine the marketplace and look to upgrade and expand skill
sets.
2. Programmer realises that standard COBOL is a fading platform and starts
looking at OO COBOL. (It is "complex" for people used to procedural COBOL so
many give up and decide it is just what they already know, re-invented. It
isn't, but subtleties are not picked up and misunderstandings arise.)
3. Programmer (who persevered...) realises that OO opens up whole new
opportunities. Looks at "easier" OO languages like Java, C#, and VB for
..NET. Acquires skill and OO concepts start to gel. New understanding of
things like the Web, GUIs, SOA, COM, even the Desktop start to emerge. "It
is COBOL, but not as we know it, Jim..."
4. Programmer starts to really understand component re-use and can build Web
sites, SOA services for the desktop and the Web ((Web Services), and is
becoming competent with a toolset that is far removed from the old days in
COBOL.
5. Programmer realises that some tools (and Languages) are better for some
jobs than others. Learns scripting (PHP, Perl, Python) and probably starts
to experiment with Ruby. Still capable with COBOL, but now can use C# for
..NET, and other tools and components as well.


By the time level 5 is reached, the Programmer has the skills and
understanding to leverage old procedural COBOL into the new environments.

New development, while it COULD be undertaken in OO COBOL, probably won't be
because it is expensive and verbose. Smarter, leaner languages that are free
simply become preferred.

It seems to me that what Rene has described is Programmers who are coming
onto the roadmap already at level 3 or above. They've been doing quick build
GUI stuff with VB and acquired a good understaning of controls and
components, Classes, Methods, Properties, and events. They can pick up OO
COBOL fairly easily and may recognize it can be useful for developing
Business components.

Overall, they have a wider skill base than many of their counterparts
elsewhere.

Well done, Phillipines!

Pete.
--
"I used to write COBOL...now I can do anything."

On Sun, 7 Sep 2008 21:21:18 +1200, "Pete Dashwood"
<dashwood@removethis.enternet.co.nz> wrote:

>1. Programmer writes standard COBOL. Has maybe done so for many years and
>is "fluent" in COBOL. Unfortunately, this tends to "isolate" people from
>what is happening in the World around them.

Why? The world isn't about the tool being used. People writing in
CoBOL still need to work with users, data, and business needs.

> If you believe there is only one
>"right" way, and everything you could ever want to do you can do with it,
>then there is little incentive to look at new stuff.

No argument here.

6. Programmer realizes that his job isn't about coding, it's about
providing solutions. Old language, new language - old paradigm, new
paradigm. None are "right" or "wrong", except as they help create
solutions.

--
"In no part of the constitution is more wisdom to be found,
than in the clause which confides the question of war or peace
to the legislature, and not to the executive department."

- James Madison

Rene_Surop wrote:
> On Sep 5, 6:45 am, "Frank Swarbrick" <Frank.Swarbr...@efirstbank.com>
> wrote:
>> "Is Your Next Language COBOL?"
>>
>> Something I'd never thought I'd see in Dr. Dobb's Journal magazine (or
>> anywhere else for that matter).
>> Cover story of October 2008 issue. Haven't read it yet, but had to mention
>> it.
>
> Is there any PDF format on this magazine?

Full issues are available online for subscribers. Features should
eventually be available to non-subcribers at http://ddj.com, but
currently the "Current Print Issue" page is still showing the August
(!) issue.

I haven't received the email with the link to the online version of
the October issue yet, so it may not be ready yet.

--
Michael Wojcik
Micro Focus