COBOL, the language of legacy systems, faces a problem: the shortage of skilled professionals is hitting aging applications hard. The solution? Modern programming languages! But manual conversion is time-consuming and error-prone. Can automated tools provide a remedy?
Automation in Focus
Imagine: a tool analyzes your COBOL code and translates it into modern Java or C#. Sounds tempting, right? This is precisely what automated code conversion tools promise. They identify structures and functions within the COBOL code and generate equivalent structures in the target language.
Convincing Advantages
Time Savings: Manual conversion takes months; tools can do it in a significantly shorter time.
Cost Reduction: Less working time means lower costs for modernization.
Error Minimization: Tools work more precisely than humans, reducing the risk of errors.
Maintainability: Modern code is easier to understand and maintain.
The Catch
Complexity: COBOL and modern languages differ fundamentally, a 1:1 translation is often impossible.
Individual Adjustments: Manual rework is usually necessary to ensure full functionality.
Performance: Generated code is not always as performant as hand-written code.
Conclusion
Automation is not a silver bullet, but a powerful tool. It accelerates modernization and reduces costs, but manual adjustments are indispensable. Careful analysis of requirements and choosing the right tool are crucial. The future lies in combining automation with human expertise.
Have you had any experience with COBOL? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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