Article

Ancient Wisdom in COBOL Code

Even though it was born in the 1960s, COBOL still powers systems that handle trillions of USD in transactions every single day.
So, what makes this “old-school” language stay relevant in the age of GenAI?

💪 The Enduring Strength of COBOL

COBOL was designed for stability and precision, values that remain essential in today’s financial world.
More than six decades later, COBOL systems still run reliably across major banks and enterprises — proving that consistency never goes out of style.

🧠 Think Before You Type

COBOL developers are known for careful planning before writing code.
They rely less on external libraries or Stack Overflow, and more on solid logic and structured design.
This mindset minimizes errors and ensures long-term maintainability — something modern “move fast” cultures often overlook.

📄 Documentation Is Part of the Code

For COBOL developers, documentation isn’t optional — it’s a core responsibility.
Every rule, decision, and variable is written down with precision.
As one programmer put it: “Documentation is a message to your future self.”
Clear writing makes systems easier to maintain and more valuable over time.

⚙️ Real Performance, Real Value

On mainframes, every CPU cycle matters.
COBOL developers optimize code not for beauty but for efficiency — saving time and cost in real-world processing.
The takeaway: performance isn’t about “clean code,” it’s about economic value.

👨‍💼 Better Code Through Business Understanding

Most COBOL developers have a deep understanding of business processes — from credit workflows to legal compliance.
They believe: “You can’t automate what you don’t understand.”
That perspective turns them into true partners in building practical, reliable systems.

🔒 Reliability Above All

Instead of “Move fast and break things,” COBOL developers prefer to “Go slow and build it right.”
Every line of code is written with the awareness that millions of people depend on it.
Even as frameworks change rapidly, COBOL systems remain rock-solid — a testament to timeless engineering principles.

✨ A Message for Today’s Developers

You don’t have to code in COBOL to learn from it. Practice the same principles:

  • Think carefully before coding

  • Write thorough documentation

  • Optimize with purpose

  • Understand the business logic

  • Always prioritize reliability

Technology may evolve — but good engineering never goes out of date. 💙