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I write all my web apps on Cobol, with formal specifications for every piece of code. This Java/.NET/javascript/Rails/Python thing is just a fad. Everyone will

I write all my web apps on Cobol, with formal specifications for every piece of code. This Java/.NET/javascript/Rails/Python thing is just a fad. Everyone will come round back to Cobol, wait and see. Mark my words...

threeseed 13y ago
I was thinking exactly the same thing. Makes you wonder if all the people dismissing everything as 'fads' even have jobs. Because I can't imagine anybody hiring someone in IT who is so proud to dismiss any new technologies not on merit but because it is somehow fashionable.
- dodyg 13y ago
  Don't hire anyone that is reckless with your IT investments.
voyou 13y ago
And how right you were to stick with COBOL; even the Ruby community are re-inventing it now: http://cukes.info/ http://cukes.info/
- vezzy-fnord 13y ago
  This looks to me like literate programming gone totally wrong.
- tonyplee 13y ago
  If it is not running in PDP11/Commondo64, I ain't using it.
asmman1 13y ago
Just out curiosoty, what are you development tools for use Cobol for web applications?
- trailfox 13y ago
  I don't really use Cobol, just illustrating a point :)
dodyg 13y ago
Sigh http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9227263/The_Cobol_Brain_Drain http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9227263/The_Cobol_Bra...
- trailfox 13y ago
  As is clear from the article there are many dangers of sticking with outdated technology. Resist change enough times and eventually it becomes virtually impossible to find anyone with the knowledge or the willingness to maintain your ancient systems.
  - dodyg 13y ago
    This is a wrong way to see things. These millions of code runs the world - it works. We don't rip off the majestic buildings of Manhattans because they are more than 50 years old. We preserve the buildings that survive the test of time and demolish the ones that don't. It's the same principle here. The COBOL system that is existing right now is the survivor of brutal business changes in the past 40 years. You don't kill a survivor - you maintain and enhance it.
    - trailfox 13y ago
      I can only pity those tasked with maintaining such systems.

threeseed 13y ago

I was thinking exactly the same thing. Makes you wonder if all the people dismissing everything as 'fads' even have jobs. Because I can't imagine anybody hiring someone in IT who is so proud to dismiss any new technologies not on merit but because it is somehow fashionable.

dodyg 13y ago
Don't hire anyone that is reckless with your IT investments.

voyou 13y ago

And how right you were to stick with COBOL; even the Ruby community are re-inventing it now: http://cukes.info/ http://cukes.info/

vezzy-fnord 13y ago
This looks to me like literate programming gone totally wrong.
tonyplee 13y ago
If it is not running in PDP11/Commondo64, I ain't using it.

asmman1 13y ago

Just out curiosoty, what are you development tools for use Cobol for web applications?

trailfox 13y ago
I don't really use Cobol, just illustrating a point :)

dodyg 13y ago

Sigh http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9227263/The_Cobol_Brain_Drain http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9227263/The_Cobol_Bra...

trailfox 13y ago
As is clear from the article there are many dangers of sticking with outdated technology. Resist change enough times and eventually it becomes virtually impossible to find anyone with the knowledge or the willingness to maintain your ancient systems.
- dodyg 13y ago
  This is a wrong way to see things. These millions of code runs the world - it works. We don't rip off the majestic buildings of Manhattans because they are more than 50 years old. We preserve the buildings that survive the test of time and demolish the ones that don't. It's the same principle here. The COBOL system that is existing right now is the survivor of brutal business changes in the past 40 years. You don't kill a survivor - you maintain and enhance it.
  - trailfox 13y ago
    I can only pity those tasked with maintaining such systems.