GOAL DIRECTED LEARNING
This is a great time to learn COBOL and Mainframe Skills. These technologies are critical because they power many critical applications: banking transactions, insurance claims processing, and government systems like unemployment programs. COBOL processes about 80% of ATM transactions, for instance. The first generation of COBOL programmers are retiring - it is time for a new generation to take charge!
Avoid COBOL Nostalgia
Do not be put off by COBOL's reputation as an ancienct 60 year old language!
COBOL has been updated - latest standard 2014.
Many articles about COBOL entertain by showing images of old computers, magnetic tape reels,
punched cards, coding forms, green screens, faded manual covers
and men with crew cuts wearing white shirts with narrow ties.
The articles may say that the best way to learn COBOL would be to install the Hercules mainframe emulator
with early 1980s vintage software.
In my opinion, there are more productive ways to gain modern COBOL and Mainframe skills.
Embrace Modern COBOL
Current technologies and approaches apply to COBOL.
Today's COBOL developer uses modern IDEs and source code control to code and debug COBOL programs.
The COBOL logic engines - transaction processing with business rules - are surrounded by current technology:
database (SQL), devops, microservices, auomated testing, git repositories, web and mobile front ends and cloud serverless environments.
You likely have skills that you can build upon:
programming in another language (Python, Java, C, etc.);
IDE/text editing; database query; testing, debugging and documenting.
Where do you want to go?
COBOL knowledge and skills could enable you to:
Use these Hyper Learning Skill Mastery steps:
| # | Step | Description |
| 1 | Skill | Identify what you want to know or do. |
| 2 | Purpose | Determine why you want to learn the skill. |
| 3 | Target Skill Level | Determine how well you want to perform the skill. Learning could be accomplished in iterations. It could start with “talking the talk”. |
| 4 | Parent Skill | Determine the larger subject area – you may start with the larger subject area and then complete a plan. |
| 5 | Skill Components |
List and mind map – Identify Concepts, Facts and Procedures – Syllabus – break it down
Put skill components together in a chain that will enable you to perform the overall skill. |
| 6 | Learning Resources | Obtain learning materials including tutorials and videos. |
| 7 | Critical Tools | Identify critical tools needed to practice – website membership, musical instrument, software. |
| 8 | Feedback Loops | Get feedback – from a mentor, or video record yourself, take tests, time performance, etc. to measure progress. |
| 9 | Practice Sessions | Multiple times per day – focus – use timer. Participate in projects. . |
| 10 | Proof of Skill | Show that you have acquired skill: credentials, tests, badges, quantify, projects, resume linkage, portfolio, writing, presenting. |
Apply Hyper Skills Mastery to COBOL and Mainframes
Specific skills to acquire include:
discussion of COBOL and mainframe concepts;
reading COBOL programs;
maintaining COBOL programs;
creating COBOL programs; and
modernizing COBOL programs.
Software development and maintenance is the parent skill of COBOL development and maintenance.
Start with a widely used language like Python or JavaScript before tackling COBOL and mainframes.
Gather learning resources. This can include books, links to documentation, reference material, and elearning platforms. Critical tools for COBOL learning include COBOL compiler and potentially a mainframe Operating System environment. Check out the Infogoal COBOL Compilers Page for the top COBOL compilers. Remember GnuCOBOL is free to use. IBM is offering free COBOL and Mainframe training which includes access to the current Z/OS environment.
In your environment, work or school, connect with a mentor who can provide feedback on your work. In addition, gain access to COBOL programs in your environment. Practice accessing the source code. Read programs and identify: overall purpose, inputs, outputs and business rules. Do something with COBOL daily and soon it will be part of your engrained skillset.
Enjoy your COBOL and mainframe journey!!!
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