[Warmon101]

I don't know why I'm thinking this way. I am taking a class on Cobol for three months and I'm getting it(mostly) and I write so much programs for my teacher to see. There just one thing I need to know: Who knows the language and is it on demand in the industry. It seems everyone in my campus have never heard of it before so I'm asking.

[no2pencil]

** Cobal is not C/C++, moved to Corner Cubicle **
The initial advantage to learning Cobol would be the ability to get a job that requires knowledge of it. Some places still use it, but those numbers are only going to get smaller. No company would (for any reason I can think of) make a move to start using Cobol.

[ishkabible]

unfortunately, yes, there is still a demand for it. lots of old code was written in lots of old languages and that code is *still* being used today. nothing new is being written in it but stuff is definitely being maintained.

I don't think learning something like this would be that fun however, at least when it comes to jobs. using this in your job basicly insures will only be maintaining someone's badly written code.

This post has been edited by ishkabible: 28 April 2012 - 07:56 PM

[Martyr2]

COBOL was big in the financial industry on systems that dealt with things like payroll and accounting. As the others have said, the language can help you maintain these systems and really isn't going anywhere but down. However, because very few people remember how to code in it and systems that still use it are sometimes some very critical systems (which is why they are still using it because they can't afford to take it down) you should make sure that if you get a job in it to ask for top dollar.

But unless you want to be just a maintenance programmer, I wouldn't waste my time with it honestly. Finding troubleshooting resources and even compilers for it continues to get harder and harder making it more and more difficult for you to get help when you get in a jam.

I know it and believe me, I don't waste my time continuing to maintain it. It was a nasty language. One misplaced or missing period and the whole program comes crashing down with some obscure error message.

[Raynes]

COBOL is currently a skill necessary for a certain set of crappy jobs.

[Warmon101]

Thanks you everybody. The only thing that programming language is ever going to be good for is getting a job. If anything, it could be the one thing that top employers want and give big bucks for it.

Raynes, on 29 April 2012 - 01:01 PM, said:

COBOL is currently a skill necessary for a certain set of crappy jobs.

What jobs take programmers who know Cobol?

Raynes, on 29 April 2012 - 01:01 PM, said:

COBOL is currently a skill necessary for a certain set of crappy jobs.

What jobs take programmers who know Cobol?

[BenignDesign]

Jobs that require programmers to know Cobol.

If your skill set is "Languages known: Cobol, HTML" you're not likely to land a job as a Java developer.

On the other hand, if your skill set is "Language known: Java, HTML" you'll not likely be handed a position maintaining old Cobol systems.

I had to take Cobol in college long ago (let's just say it's been more than one decade, but less than two), and it was a dying language then.

The only thing it really did for me was give me the opportunity to interview for a couple code maintenance positions while still a student and get a taste of what interviewing for positions as a coder would be like in the future. Until those interviews, it had never ocurred to me that a potential employer might expect me to actually write code...

right there.

at the interview.

on the spot.

with no help.

and get it right.

the first time.

[lordofduct]

I half expected to get paid the first time for that...

bitch, you make me code? Give me 5 bucks, a sandwich, something!

[DarenR]

COBOL is used in many banks. To name 2 NYCB Mellon and PNC.

[no2pencil]

How to not get hired during an interview :

lordofduct, on 01 May 2012 - 09:56 AM, said:

bitch, you make me code? Give me 5 bucks, a sandwich, something!

[lordofduct]

close, I was hiding it like so:

bitch, you make me code? Give me 5 bucks, a sandwich, something!

But you got the point anyway... heh.

[Craig328]

Late to this one. Some time back now (around 15 years) I knew a fella who was a COBOL dev. Even back then the dude charged upwards of $100/hr and pretty much worked when he wanted to. COBOL is still actively used by IBM, defense contractors, many banks, government, etc. In other words: businesses that aren't likely to shut down tomorrow.

In fact, a quick search turned up a listing like this. $50/hr with a mere 4 years experience. It wasn't until I had in excess of 8-9 years CF experience that was I able to start charging (and getting paid at) rates like that. For someone with 4 years experience, that's pretty righteous bank.

Usefulness is one quality to an employee...rarity is another...and the latter pays MUCH better.

You learn something like COBOL and another language someone may want to transition TO from COBOL and you'd be writing your own ticket for the rest of your working life.

[NecroWinter]

Warmon101, on 28 April 2012 - 07:45 PM, said:

I don't know why I'm thinking this way. I am taking a class on Cobol for three months and I'm getting it(mostly) and I write so much programs for my teacher to see. There just one thing I need to know: Who knows the language and is it on demand in the industry. It seems everyone in my campus have never heard of it before so I'm asking.

i took a cobol class and ive talked to quite a few ppl who know it. it seems that the only real purpose is to maintain legacy code. theres a lot of money in it, but its frustrating and its just an all around bad language, according to the overwhelming majority of people who code.