With more than 25,300 companies still using COBOL globally, it is likely indispensable. While COBOL may appear antiquated to some, it is still the preferred programming language for many large corporations.

But to get your company’s heavy work done, like the migration of big systems, you cannot just rely on any system. Your best bet might be the iSeries COBOL, also known as AS400 COBOL.

As the AS400/i-Series uses the PowerPC microprocessor intertwined with the reduced instruction set computer technology, it can also work great for departments within large enterprises. Here’s what you must know about COBOL and IBM AS400/i-Series before decide anything for your business:

Understanding COBOL Features

COBOL is age-old. It was invented in 1959 to rule out the agony of creating a unique language to tell computers what to do. Since the inception of COBOL, there has been a common way of communicating the set of instructions to the computer for multi-brands.

As the US Department of Defense endorsed COBOL, it became the most widely used programming language in the world within a short span of time. The reason it caught traction so fast is attributed to its fantastic features. Have a look at some of the features:

Easy to Learn

COBOL is simple and easy to learn. It can be compiled with ease, and its execution does not take much effort. It consists of a huge syntax vocabulary while using an uncluttered style of coding.

Handle Enormous Amount of Data

The handling capability of COBOL is extensive, enabling it to handle heaps of data quickly. It is a good fit for most businesses. It is still widely used worldwide as about 70% of the global transactions are handled by it. COBOL is an excellent fit for both complex and simple transactions.

It’s Universal

COBOL has been around for many years, and it has seen a lot of business transformations. As a language that is used on several platforms, it has gained universal functionality. It also has debugged, and testing tools enabled for a multitude of platforms.

Easy to scale and structure

The structure used within COBOL is relatively easy to read, change, and debug. It can also be scaled quickly and serves as a reliable and highly portable language over distinct platforms.

Why can’t COBOL be Considered as Dead?

While many argue that COBOL is no less than antiquity, it is still not obsolete. Born at the hands of government bodies, computer manufacturers, and consultants, COBOL is popular to this date. Things that contribute to its popularity are:

• COBOL is primarily in existence to serve business applications. While UNIX and the C language seem more relevant to modern needs, COBOL reigns higher in inclusivity around the globe.

Read More: https://www.integrativesystems.com/iseries-cobol/