CICS Application Programming Fundamentals (COBOL) from Pluralsight

This is a beginner-level introduction to CICS application programming using COBOL for developers familiar with COBOL but not with CICS. This course will teach you the fundamentals of CICS application design and development using the COBOL language.

CICS has been one of IBM's flagship products for mainframe environments for the past 50 years. It is still used by tens of thousands of organizations worldwide. CICS plays a role both in legacy systems and in application modernization, and demand for CICS skills is on the rise. In this course, CICS Application Programming Fundamentals (COBOL), you’ll learn to design, code, run, and test CICS application programs. First, you'll discover the process of building up a complete CRUD application. Next, you'll explore the various skills for creating BMS maps. Finally, you'll delve into writing CICS applications in COBOL, working with VSAM KSDS data sets, and designing pseudo-conversational transactions. When you’re finished with this course, you’ll have the skills and knowledge of CICS COBOL application development needed to build and support such applications.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview

CICS Overview

The CICS Environment

3270 Terminals

The Execute Interface

The Employee Application

The Login Feature

The Sign-on Screen

The Sign-on Process

The List Employees Feature

The Show Employee Details Feature

Adding an Application Menu

The Add Employee Feature

The Update Employee Feature

The Delete Employee Feature

Putting it All Together

Next Steps

Documentation

Building the Add Employee Feature

Building The Update Employee Feature

Building The Delete Employee Feature

Putting It All Together

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops CICS application programming fundamentals for COBOL developers new to CICS

Instructed by Dave Nicolette, an expert in CICS application programming

Covers essential concepts such as CICS application design, coding, running, and testing

Utilizes hands-on exercises and real-world examples for practical learning

Beginner-friendly approach suitable for developers with COBOL but no CICS experience

May require additional resources or prerequisites for developers new to COBOL

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 CICS Application Programming Fundamentals (COBOL) with these activities:

Practice CICS commands

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Practice running common CICS commands and navigating BMS maps to reinforce your understanding of the CICS environment.

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Read the CICS documentation on commands.
Use the CICS emulator to practice running commands.
Create a list of frequently used commands and their syntax.

Complete CICS COBOL Programming Drills

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There are some great drills and exercises to reinforce concepts learned in the course.

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Locate and complete at least 10 practice drills
Review solutions and compare for accuracy

Design a BMS map

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Improve your understanding of BMS maps by designing and implementing a map.

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Learn the basics of BMS map design.
Use the BMS editor to create a map.
Test the map using the CICS emulator.

Four other activities

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Follow CICS Application Programming Tutorials

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There are some great tutorials to further your understanding of key concepts.

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Identify at least 3 tutorials that interest you.
Complete the chosen tutorials and take notes
Review the tutorial content before the next class

Develop a COBOL CICS program

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Apply your understanding of COBOL and CICS by creating a simple program that performs CRUD operations on a database.

Browse courses on COBOL Programming

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Design the program's logic and data structures.
Implement the program in COBOL.
Test the program using the CICS emulator.

Create a CICS COBOL Application Mind Map

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This is a great way to demonstrate your understanding of important concepts and their relationship to each other.

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Brainstorm a list of key concepts and terms
Organize the concepts and terms into a visual map
Add connections and relationships between the concepts

Design and Build a CRUD CICS COBOL Application

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A CICS COBOL application you will build from scratch is a great way to showcase your understanding and skills.

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Design and plan your CICS COBOL Application
Build and test your CICS application
Configure your CICS environment
Perform unit testing
Deploy your CICS application

Career center

Learners who complete CICS Application Programming Fundamentals (COBOL) will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

CICS Developer

A CICS Developer designs, develops, and maintains CICS applications. This course in CICS Application Programming Fundamentals (COBOL) can be a valuable companion for someone who wishes to become a CICS Developer because it provides a comprehensive overview of CICS application design and development using the COBOL language.

See salaries and explore the career path for CICS Developer

Application Developer

An Application Developer designs, develops, and maintains software applications. This course in CICS Application Programming Fundamentals (COBOL) can be useful for those interested in becoming an Application Developer because it provides a comprehensive overview of CICS application design and development using the COBOL language. The course also includes practical exercises and examples to help students learn the material.

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Computer Programmer

A Computer Programmer writes, tests, and maintains code for software applications. This course in CICS Application Programming Fundamentals (COBOL) can be a useful resource for aspiring Computer Programmers who wish to work with CICS and COBOL applications. The course provides a solid foundation in the fundamentals of CICS application design and development using the COBOL language.

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Software Engineer

A Software Engineer designs, develops, and maintains software systems. This course in CICS Application Programming Fundamentals (COBOL) may be useful for a Software Engineer who wishes to work with CICS and COBOL applications. The course provides a solid foundation in the fundamentals of CICS application design and development using the COBOL language.

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Mainframe Developer

A Mainframe Developer creates, modifies, and maintains software applications that run on mainframe computers. This course may be helpful for an aspiring Mainframe Developer as it introduces the fundamentals of CICS application design and development using the COBOL language.

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Computer Systems Analyst

A Computer Systems Analyst designs, develops, and implements computer systems. This course in CICS Application Programming Fundamentals (COBOL) may be useful for Computer Systems Analysts who need to work with CICS and COBOL applications. The course provides a foundation in the fundamentals of CICS application design and development using the COBOL language.

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Software Quality Assurance Analyst

A Software Quality Assurance Analyst tests and evaluates software applications to ensure that they meet quality standards. This course in CICS Application Programming Fundamentals (COBOL) may be useful for Software Quality Assurance Analysts who need to test CICS and COBOL applications. The course provides a foundation in the fundamentals of CICS application design and development using the COBOL language.

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Information Technology Specialist

An Information Technology Specialist provides technical support to users of computer systems and applications. This course in CICS Application Programming Fundamentals (COBOL) may be useful for Information Technology Specialists who need to support CICS and COBOL applications. The course provides a foundation in the fundamentals of CICS application design and development using the COBOL language.

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Database Administrator

A Database Administrator designs, implements, and maintains databases. This course in CICS Application Programming Fundamentals (COBOL) may be useful for Database Administrators who need to work with CICS and COBOL applications. The course provides a foundation in the fundamentals of CICS application design and development using the COBOL language.

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IT Project Manager

An IT Project Manager plans, executes, and closes IT projects. This course in CICS Application Programming Fundamentals (COBOL) may be useful for IT Project Managers who need to manage CICS and COBOL application development projects. The course provides a foundation in the fundamentals of CICS application design and development using the COBOL language.

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Data Analyst

A Data Analyst collects, cleans, and analyzes data to help organizations make better decisions. This course in CICS Application Programming Fundamentals (COBOL) may be useful for Data Analysts who need to work with CICS and COBOL applications. The course provides a foundation in the fundamentals of CICS application design and development using the COBOL language.

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COBOL Programmer

A COBOL Programmer writes, tests, maintains, and updates code for software applications that run on mainframe computers. This course in CICS Application Programming Fundamentals (COBOL) may be useful as it provides a solid introduction to the COBOL language and the CICS environment. Programmers who wish to work in this role may benefit from this course's focus on designing and developing CICS applications using COBOL.

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Technical Writer

A Technical Writer creates and maintains technical documentation for software applications and systems. This course in CICS Application Programming Fundamentals (COBOL) may be useful for Technical Writers who need to document CICS and COBOL applications. The course provides a foundation in the fundamentals of CICS application design and development using the COBOL language.

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Systems Analyst

A Systems Analyst studies an organization's current business processes and designs and implements new systems to address the organization's needs. This course in CICS Application Programming Fundamentals (COBOL) may be useful for a Systems Analyst who needs to work with CICS and COBOL applications. The course provides a foundation in the fundamentals of CICS application design and development using the COBOL language.

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Business Analyst

A Business Analyst studies an organization's business processes and designs and implements new systems to address the organization's needs. This course in CICS Application Programming Fundamentals (COBOL) may be useful for Business Analysts who need to work with CICS and COBOL applications. The course provides a foundation in the fundamentals of CICS application design and development using the COBOL language.

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