COBOL Language

[CloneFanInKC]

Hello CF community. My wife graduated from ISU with a computer programing degree. She left the workforce about 12 years ago.

We are curious if there is still a demand in the workforce in this programming language? She thought it was a dinosaur language 12 years ago and thinks no company would still use it today. I'm guessing there is still a demand for it it due to some companies having antiquated technology.

She is curious if ISU still teaches it as well?

TIA and Go Cyclones.

 

[Cyghhh]

I think banks, atm companies, pos systems and even govt still uses COBOL. I haven't heard it being taught anywhere though. I was forcefed c# and java throughout school. I graduated about 5 years ago.

 

[NorthCyd]

Not in the field myself but I know some people who are and my understanding is there is still plenty of need for it as some companies still use it on mainframe systems. I would think there would be plenty of opportunity for some contract work if nothing else.

 

[CloneFanInKC]

I think banks, atm companies, pos systems and even govt still uses COBOL. I haven't heard it being taught anywhere though. I was forcefed c# and java throughout school. I graduated about 5 years ago.

She graduated 20+ yrs ago and at that time wanted to transition to java and C+.

 

[MeowingCows]

My company still has people for it, though it slowly shrinks over time. Would think most of the large financial and related industries still have old **** using it

 

[Bader]

Graduated in '09 and it wasn't ever presented anywhere other than "history of the field" lectures. Possible you could find contracts but I doubt even in Finance or Insurance would someone get hired full-time on the basis of knowing COBOL

 

[CloneFanInKC]

Not in the field myself but I know some people who are and my understanding is there is still plenty of need for it as some companies still use it on mainframe systems. I would think there would be plenty of opportunity for some contract work if nothing else.

My thought was in Independent contracting as well.

My assumption was there would still be a demand in the market and probably a high demand due to a low number of people with the experience.

 

[ackatch]

In a previous life in IT at a large national bank there were quite a few systems that still used it. I left them in 2018, but knowing what programs that ran on it and knowing the effort to move off of it... I'd have to imagine they're still running it.

 

[Cyghhh]

She graduated 20+ yrs ago and at that time wanted to transition to java and C+.

java would probably be the easiest transition from cobol, c# isn't as much of a mainframe language

 

[zumbro clones]

IBM customers for larger systems (IBM Z and IBM i) commonly use COBOL applications. There is high demand for experienced programmers since a lot of the original developers are no longer with their company. There is also a demand for COBOL education sessions.

Z Cobol

https://www.itjungle.com/2022/01/26/is-cobol-on-ibm-i-experiencing-a-renaissance/

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

From my experience COBOL programs have been rock solid for 50-60 years. The only real issues I have seen with them was back in the early 2000's when oil skyrocketed in price. Programs were failing because when they were originally coded they didn't anticipate the massive numbers ($$$$$) that they would processing so they would hire a consulting firm to go in an adjust the code to handle the larger numbers because their report generating programs were failing.

 

[Rabbuk]

I think all our system of records for loans are written in cobol that we virtual machine into, very tronesque

 

[CYdTracked]

COBOL and Mrs Tomlinson who taught it at ISU made me hate that coding language so much I probably would rather work at McDonald's than code that for a living. Just my opinion obviously but had to take COBOL as part of my MIS classes and was by far the least favorite of the programing languages we had to take. C++ and Visual C++ were 2 others we had to take and Visual Basic was an elective. All are pretty much obsolete languages now but probably some niche jobs out there to support existing systems coded with them.

 

[nfrine]

My son-in-law's mom was a COBOL programmer back in the day. She still gets a lot of requests to troubleshoot and/or reprogram legacy systems. There seems to be a bunch of work. for those that have the skills.

 

[JM4CY]

I have absolutely no idea what in the hell you guys are talking about.

Ok... carry on.

 

[carvers4math]

Have a relative coding in COBOL for General Dynamics.

Sister’s first job in 1978 was in COBOL. They hired her because she knew it, I think it was considered old then.

 

[BCClone]

She graduated 20+ yrs ago and at that time wanted to transition to java and C+.

I went back for IT 20 years ago and C+ is all they taught. (I quit half way through the degree due to having kids). Didn’t teach COBOL at all. I will say the dryer I bought 7 years ago boots up in COBOL so GSI was using it then. I just stare at it with no idea what it says until the touch screen pops up.

 

[CloneFanInKC]

I went back for IT 20 years ago and C+ is all they taught. (I quit half way through the degree due to having kids). Didn’t teach COBOL at all. I will say the dryer I bought 7 years ago boots up in COBOL so GSI was using it then. I just stare at it with no idea what it says until the touch screen pops up.

Seems like there is realistic possibility that my wife could make $500k/yr and I can start up golf as a hobby….? J/k

I appreciate everyone’s response and please keep them coming.

 

[CloneFanInKC]

I have absolutely no idea what in the hell you guys are talking about.

Ok... carry on.

I envision @JM4CY like this.

 

[12191987]

COBOL and Mrs Tomlinson who taught it at ISU made me hate that coding language so much I probably would rather work at McDonald's than code that for a living. Just my opinion obviously but had to take COBOL as part of my MIS classes and was by far the least favorite of the programing languages we had to take. C++ and Visual C++ were 2 others we had to take and Visual Basic was an elective. All are pretty much obsolete languages now but probably some niche jobs out there to support existing systems coded with them.

Uhh, C++ is far from obsolete. And no, Rust is not replacing it any time soon.