I wonder....

[BigMag]

I wonder...

Why use so many COBOL when there are (very) usefull tools like ETL (Extraction/Transfromation/loading) or ER (Extractor Replicator) when you are developing on a Mainframe with DB2 or SQL/MP (or any machine and DB)?

Just think, before my answer will be that your DBA has failed....

By the way: Hi Crox.

BigMag, The Netherlands.
bigmag@chello.nl

 

[wahlers]

To my understanding...

COBOL is used to built; mission critical, long lived, reliable, business systems.
COBOL is not very suitable for ad hoc business function requests.

I do not know (and therefore donot understand) the systems you were speaking of, but you mentioned SQL, dynamically I presume, therefore I assume it is more suitable for ad hoc requests.

Though ad hoc dynamic SQL requests can be built into a COBOL designed system as well, it is not common practice (at least to my knowledge).


Regards, Wim Ahlers.

 

[Dimandja]

BigMag,

Don't confuse database tools such as SQL with full blown programming languages like COBOL.

Sure, if I want to find out which fields match or don't match in a database, I could very well whip up an SQL query. But, if I want to implement an accounting system, COBOL is it - of course, I can have COBOL make SQL calls to the database when needed.

I think a similar argument can be made with the other tools you mentioned.