COBOL
Business programming language
COBOL is a programming language designed in the late 1950s for business applications.
The name stands for Common Business-Oriented Language.
Known for its verbose, English-like syntax, COBOL remains in use decades later—legacy banking and government systems still run millions of lines of COBOL code, creating demand for programmers who can maintain it.
Perforated data storage medium
- IBMMultinational technology corporation
- UNIVACEarly electronic mainframe
- card readerDevice reading encoded strips
- teletypeElectric text transmitter
Grace Hopper · magnetic tape · reel-to-reel · timesharing · 1959 · data center · line printer
Calendar-rollover computer problem
- mainframeLarge centralized computer system
- migrationMovement to new territory
- modernizationAdoption of current methods
- legacy systemsOutdated but essential technology
backward compatibility · refactoring · maintainability · technical debt · skills gap · rehosting · replatforming · green screens
Rules for arranging words
- compileCollect into unified whole
- debugRemove software errors
- subroutinePackaged callable code segment
- variableProne to fluctuation
Staff wages collectively
- accountingMaintaining financial records
- bankingFinancial institution transactions
- insuranceContractual risk coverage
- financeProvide money for
transactions · billing · inventory · reporting · compliance · audit · budgeting · enterprise
punchcard
Perforated data storage medium
- IBMMultinational technology corporation
- UNIVACEarly electronic mainframe
- card readerDevice reading encoded strips
Grace Hopper · teletype · magnetic tape · reel-to-reel · timesharing · 1959 · data center · line printer
Y2K
Calendar-rollover computer problem
- mainframeLarge centralized computer system
- migrationMovement to new territory
- modernizationAdoption of current methods
legacy systems · backward compatibility · refactoring · maintainability · technical debt · skills gap · rehosting · replatforming · green screens · batch processing
syntax
Rules for arranging words
- compileCollect into unified whole
- debugRemove software errors
- subroutinePackaged callable code segment
variable · paragraph · section · copybook · perform · record
payroll
Staff wages collectively
- accountingMaintaining financial records
- bankingFinancial institution transactions
- insuranceContractual risk coverage
finance · transactions · billing · inventory · reporting · compliance · audit · budgeting · enterprise · government