What is Cobol?

[Ovatvvon]

Hey, I'm an ASP / ASP.NET developer. I'm just wondering if you can tell me what Cobol is? Is it a front end web development language like html or javascript? Or is it a database interactive language like ASP, CGI, or JSP?

What are the capabilities of the language? -Ovatvvon :-Q

 

[Dimandja]

COBOL does everything you described.

 

[Ovatvvon]

I've heard that it can be "wordy". Is that true? Does it typically take longer to code with COBOL than newer languages? Also, being that it's older (the second oldest high level language (2nd to FORTRAN)), is that going to affect it one way or another? -Ovatvvon :-Q

 

[Dimandja]

Most new languages enjoy less "wordiness" through 'inheritence' or 'inclusion'. Incidentally, some newer COBOL compilers allow coding strategies similar to C++, for example.

That COBOL is "older" only means that most programmers know it, that the language is 'proven', that its compilers are predictable and trusted.

Dimandja

 

[TomKane]

Hi,

My two cent..

COBOL stands for COmmon Business Oritened Language. It is very good at data processing, and there are millions of lines of COBOL code all other the world.

I once saw an analogy of different programming languages and it was fairly accurate:

Assembler: Like a F1 racing car - very fast but very expensive to maintain.

Basic: Like a mini - your first car you can pretty much do what you like but without much power.

COBOL: Like a removal truck - it's big and it's bulky but it'll get you there...

 

[ceh4702]

When it comes to writing reports and updating files COBOL is a effective now and probably faster than any other language out there. If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.