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COBOL Big Picture

by Tom Taulli

In this course, you’ll learn about the COBOL language, how it is used on the mainframe and the career opportunities in the industry. There will also be a look at the ecosystem, such as with Db2 databases and CICS transaction systems.

What you'll learn

COBOL is far from a dead language. The fact is that the demand for it is growing, briskly. In this course, COBOL Big Picture, you’ll get an overview of the language. First, you’ll learn about the basic structure of a COBOL program, how it works on a mainframe, and some of the common use cases. Next, you’ll see the unique aspects of the language, such as with its variables, files and reports. Finally, you’ll explore the COBOL ecosystem, such as the Db2 databases and CICS transaction systems. There will also be a look at modern platforms and open source software like Zowe. When you’re finished with this course, you'll have the knowledge to decide if COBOL is the right language for your needs. You will also get a base technical introduction to the language and ecosystem.

About the author

Tom Taulli (@ttaulli) is the author of AI-Assisted Programming: Better Planning, Coding, Testing, and Deployment (https://amzn.to/48qeAa9). He has been programming since he was in high school, when he wrote computer programs for magazines (yes, in the 1980s, there were publications that had code listings!). When he got into college, he started a company that sold Windows software for exam preparation. He then founded other companies like Hypermart.net – which was the mid-1990s version of Shopif... more

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