Getting Started with Mainframe COBOL

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This course serves as an introduction to programming in COBOL, especially on the Mainframe, through use of a real-world example program.

COBOL seems to have more lives than a herd of cats. The death of COBOL has been touted for years - nay, decades. Yet, according to some estimates, there are well over 200 BILLION lines of COBOL code out there - and more code is being generated every day. In this course, Getting Started with Mainframe COBOL, you will learn many of the basics of the oft underestimated language that is COBOL by using it to solve a real-world business request. First, you'll learn all about the history of COBOL. Next, you'll explore the COBOL program structure. Finally, you'll wrap up this course by learning about data types and then trying your hand at writing a real-world COBOL program. By the end of this course, you'll understand the basics of COBOL, including being able to successfully write your own programs.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview

Getting Started

Understanding COBOL Source Code Structure

Getting Friendly with Flat Files, VSAM Files, and Report Files

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Explores COBOL, which is a prevalent programming language within enterprise computing

Introduces students to the world of mainframe computing

Provides an engaging example program for practicing COBOL

Covers different data types commonly used in COBOL programming

Teaches how to handle flat files, VSAM files, and report files in COBOL

Reviews summary

Foundational mainframe cobol introduction

According to students, "Getting Started with Mainframe COBOL" provides a largely positive and excellent foundation for those new to this specialized programming language. Learners particularly praise the course for its clear and concise explanations of COBOL concepts and its focus on a practical, real-world example program, which is highly beneficial for understanding application. The instructor's knowledge and teaching style are frequently highlighted as a major strength, making a potentially complex subject accessible. While the course is ideal for absolute beginners, some more experienced programmers note it might lack the depth for advanced topics, suggesting it's important to set expectations. A few learners also mentioned that hands-on practice with a mainframe environment could be challenging to arrange independently.

Instructor's expertise and teaching style are highly praised by students.

"The instructor's deep knowledge of COBOL and mainframes shines through every lesson."

"Their explanations were insightful and made the seemingly dry topic of COBOL engaging and understandable."

"I found the instructor very patient and thorough in explaining concepts, which was extremely helpful."

Emphasizes a real-world example, highly valuable for practical application.

"The real-world example program was the strongest part of the course for me, showing practical COBOL usage."

"Applying COBOL to a business request made the learning truly relevant and helped the concepts stick."

"I gained confidence by seeing how COBOL is used in actual mainframe scenarios, which is essential for my career."

Provides a solid and accessible introduction for new COBOL learners.

"As someone new to COBOL, I found the explanations incredibly clear and easy to follow, truly helping me grasp the basics."

"The course breaks down complex COBOL concepts into digestible lessons, making it less intimidating for beginners."

"It really helped me get started without feeling overwhelmed by the mainframe environment and COBOL syntax."

Some learners faced hurdles with environment setup or sought more practical labs.

"Accessing a mainframe environment for hands-on practice was a bit of a challenge on my end."

"I wished there were more guided hands-on labs or exercises to reinforce the coding lessons."

"While the program example was good, I needed more opportunities to write my own COBOL code myself to feel proficient."

Primarily suited for absolute beginners; may lack depth for experienced coders.

"If you already know some COBOL, this course might feel a bit slow and basic for your needs."

"I was hoping for more advanced topics, but it really is a strict 'getting started' course as titled."

"It's a great intro, but don't expect to become a mainframe expert overnight, it's just the first step."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Getting Started with Mainframe COBOL with these activities:

Find a COBOL Mentor

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Connect with an experienced COBOL professional who can provide guidance and support.

Browse courses on Mentoring

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Attend industry events or meetups to network with COBOL professionals.
Reach out to COBOL experts on LinkedIn or other professional networking platforms.

Review COBOL History

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Refresh your memory about the history of COBOL to better contextualize your learning in this course.

Browse courses on COBOL

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Read online articles about the history of programming languages and COBOL specifically.
Read the course text chapter on the history of COBOL.
Review examples of early COBOL code.

COBOL Study Group

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Collaborate with peers to reinforce your understanding of COBOL concepts.

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Join an online or in-person COBOL study group.
Attend regular meetings and actively participate in discussions.
Work together on COBOL exercises and projects.

One other activity

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Data Types Practice

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Practice working with COBOL data types to gain proficiency.

Browse courses on Data Types

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Complete exercises in the course textbook on COBOL data types.
Find online resources with COBOL data type exercises and complete them.
Create your own COBOL program that uses a variety of data types. You can use the example program in the course as a starting point.

Career center

Learners who complete Getting Started with Mainframe COBOL will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

COBOL Programmer

COBOL Programmers deal specifically with the programming language COBOL, which is an especially popular language on the mainframe. Getting Started with Mainframe COBOL can be an especially helpful resource for those looking to get into this particular subfield, as it is a hands-on introduction to programming in COBOL. You'll learn about reading and writing flat files and VSAM files, working with different data types, and how to compile your code. By the end, you'll have written your own COBOL program, giving you the foundational skills you need to get started in the field.

See salaries and explore the career path for COBOL Programmer

Applications Developer

An Applications Developer is a kind of software engineer who specializes in creating and maintaining applications. They may work across a variety of industries, but can expect to work with code regularly. Getting Started with Mainframe COBOL can be a helpful resource for those looking to begin a career in Applications Development, as it teaches the basics of programming in COBOL, a foundational language in the field. The course covers concepts like variables, operators, and arrays, which are fundamental to learning how to write code.

See salaries and explore the career path for Applications Developer

Computer Programmer

Computer Programmers work with code on a daily basis, translating designs into instructions that computers can understand. For those looking to get into the field, Getting Started with Mainframe COBOL can be an especially helpful resource. The course introduces the basics of programming in COBOL, a widely-used language that remains especially popular on the mainframe. You'll even learn how to write your own COBOL program by the end of the course, an important skill for aspiring Computer Programmers looking to get started in the field.

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Software Engineer

Software Engineers apply engineering principles to the design, development, deployment, and maintenance of software systems. Getting Started with Mainframe COBOL can be a helpful resource for those looking to begin a career in Software Engineering, as it teaches the basics of programming in COBOL, an important foundational language in the field.

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Data Analyst

Data Analysts play an important role in understanding how data can be used to address business questions. Getting Started with Mainframe COBOL can be a useful resource for aspiring Data Analysts, as it provides a hands-on introduction to working with data in COBOL. Specifically, you'll learn how to read and write flat files and VSAM files, skills that are especially relevant to Data Analysts.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Software Developer

Software Developers design, create, deploy, and maintain software applications. Getting Started with Mainframe COBOL can be a helpful resource for those looking to begin a career in Software Development, as it teaches the basics of programming in COBOL, an important foundational language in the field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Developer

Database Administrator

Database Administrators are in charge of the day-to-day operations of an organization's database, which involves ensuring that the database is available, reliable, and secure. Getting Started with Mainframe COBOL may be a useful resource for those looking to enter this field, as it teaches the basics of working with data files in COBOL, which database systems use to store data.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator

Systems Analyst

Systems Analysts define the business needs of an organization and translate those needs in technical terms that IT professionals can understand. Getting Started with Mainframe COBOL may be a useful resource for aspiring Systems Analysts, as it provides a hands-on introduction to working with data and programming in COBOL, essential skills for understanding the technical side of an organization's IT systems.

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Information Security Analyst

Information Security Analysts plan and implement security measures to protect an organization's computer networks and systems. While Getting Started with Mainframe COBOL does not teach specific cybersecurity concepts, it does introduce key programming concepts like variables, operators, and arrays, which are fundamental building blocks for understanding how systems operate. Thus, this course may serve as a helpful resource for those looking to build a foundation in programming with a particular emphasis on the mainframe.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Analyst

Technical Support Specialist

Technical Support Specialists provide technical assistance and support to customers, typically over the phone or email. Getting Started with Mainframe COBOL may be a useful resource for those looking to enter this field, as it teaches the basics of working with data and programming in COBOL, skills that can be helpful for understanding customer issues.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Support Specialist

Data Scientist

Data Scientists use scientific methods, processes, algorithms, and systems to extract knowledge and insights from data. Getting Started with Mainframe COBOL is likely not a relevant resource for those looking to become Data Scientists, as it does not cover any data science concepts or skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Web Developer

Web Developers design and develop websites and web applications. Getting Started with Mainframe COBOL is likely not a relevant resource for those looking to become Web Developers, as it does not cover any web development technologies or concepts.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer

Business Analyst

Business Analysts analyze an organization's business processes and systems to identify opportunities for improvement. Getting Started with Mainframe COBOL is likely not a relevant resource for those looking to become Business Analysts, as it does not cover any business analysis concepts or skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Actuary

Actuaries analyze the financial implications of risk and uncertainty. Getting Started with Mainframe COBOL is likely not a relevant resource for those looking to become Actuaries, as it does not cover any actuarial science concepts or skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Actuary

Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts evaluate and make recommendations on investments, financial products, and services. Getting Started with Mainframe COBOL is likely not a relevant resource for those looking to become Financial Analysts, as it does not cover any investment or financial analysis concepts or skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Reading list

We've selected six books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Getting Started with Mainframe COBOL.

zOS JCL (Job Control Language)

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Comprehensive guide to COBOL programming, covering the language's fundamentals, data structures, and programming techniques. It provides a solid foundation for those new to COBOL and serves as a valuable reference for experienced programmers.

zOS JCL (Job Control Language)

Kindle Edition

Murach's Mainframe COBOL

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This introduction of essential COBOL concepts and coding techniques includes running examples that demonstrate essential COBOL concepts and coding techniques.

Murach's Mainframe COBOL

Paperback

$$$

History of Programming Languages

Save

Provides an up-to-date, practical guide to COBOL programming. It is valuable for both new and experienced COBOL programmers who want to learn or refresh their skills.

History of Programming Languages (Acm Monograph...

Kindle Edition

$$$

Sams Teach Yourself COBOL in 24 Hours

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This comprehensive textbook covers the fundamentals of COBOL programming and is commonly used in educational settings.

Sams Teach Yourself COBOL in 24 Hours

Kindle Edition

The Healthy Workplace Nudge

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Is an accessible introduction to COBOL, written in a clear and engaging style. It is ideal for beginners with no prior programming experience who want to learn the basics of COBOL.

The Healthy Workplace Nudge: How Healthy People,...

Hardcover

The Healthy Workplace Nudge: How Healthy People,...

Kindle Edition