Welcome to the realm of COBOL Refactoring, a vast, intriguing and crucial area in the world of legacy software and systems rejuvenation. COBOL – the Common Business Oriented Language – has been around since 1959, making it one of the oldest high-level programming languages in existence. However, contrary to popular belief, COBOL is far from extinct. In fact, billions of lines of COBOL code still run critical applications in major industries all over the world, emphasising the language’s durability and reliability.
Refactoring in the context of software development involves altering code structure without changing its external functionality or behaviour. Couple this with COBOL, one of computing’s seminal code languages, and you have COBOL Refactoring – a process aimed at enhancing the non-functional attributes of software, improving structure and design, enhancing comprehensibility, and facilitating future maintenance while preserving existing functionality.
Our journey into COBOL refactoring comes at a time when an increasing number of organisations are faced with the imperative to modernise their old systems, transitioning towards more contemporary technologies without losing the functionality and stability of their COBOL-based software. The challenge is that refactoring such long-established code requires a deep understanding of COBOL’s intricacies and a careful approach to prevent unwanted side-effects. Hence, COBOL refactoring is an art that combines legacy expertise with modern software principles, a nexus where old and new converge to create a harmonious symphony of resilience and innovation.
Moreover, against the backdrop of rapid digital transformation, COBOL refactoring can be seen as a technical reboot, a bridge between the distant past and the technologically diversified present. As reported by Reuters, as much as 220 billion lines of COBOL were in active use as of 2019 across various sectors, from banking to healthcare to government services. Also, according to the 2017 survey by Micro Focus, 70% of enterprise business processes still run on COBOL. This situation necessitates a reconsideration and reconceptualisation of COBOL’s role in our contemporary world
This exploration into COBOL Refactoring does not just detail methods and techniques; it reveals a critical, often underestimated, aspect of the modern software industry. It underlines the importance of our computational heritage, all while pointing toward an advanced, technologically rich horizon where legacy and innovation coexist.
Finally, we invite you to delve deeper into our well-researched, thought-provoking discussions on COBOL Refactoring. Browse through the main page of our blog for more insights on varied topics in software, app, and web development. If you ever have the need to discuss these topics more in-depth or require bespoke system development, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us at Cobol Migration Services. We would be more than happy to explore the future of COBOL with you.
Enhance Your Systems with COBOL Refactoring I. Introduction COBOL, or Common Business-Oriented Language, has played a pivotal role in powering the backbone of numerous critical business systems since its inception in the 1950s. Even in the present day, COBOL remains prevalent, serving as the backbone of essential financial, government, and enterprise applications. However, with the…
Mastering COBOL Code Transformation I. Introduction COBOL (Common Business-Oriented Language) has been a stalwart in the realm of programming languages, playing a crucial role in legacy systems that power numerous organisations worldwide. Despite its historical significance, legacy COBOL applications present considerable challenges in terms of maintenance and compatibility with modern technologies. In light of the…