Cobol

Hello World in COBOL

Every programming journey starts with Hello World. Let’s write our first COBOL program using modern free-format syntax with GnuCOBOL.

The Code

Create a file named hello.cob:

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Variables and Types in COBOL

COBOL’s approach to variables is unlike any modern language. Rather than declaring int x = 5 or name: str, COBOL uses PIC clauses (PICTURE clauses) that describe the physical format of each data …

Operators in COBOL

COBOL takes a unique approach to operators that reflects its business-documentation philosophy. Where most languages use compact symbols like +, -, *, and /, COBOL offers two parallel styles: verbose …

Why 0.1 + 0.2 ≠ 0.3: How Programming Languages Handle Numbers Differently

Open your browser’s developer console right now and type 0.1 + 0.2. Go ahead, I’ll wait.

You expected 0.3, didn’t you? Instead, you got:

0.30000000000000004

This isn’t a …

The Oldest Programming Languages Still in Production Use

Somewhere right now, a FORTRAN program written in the 1970s is predicting tomorrow’s weather. A COBOL system is processing your credit card transaction. A Lisp-based AI is helping plan a …