Jeanette Nutsford ([log in to unmask]) wrote:
 
: I am just curious Peter.  What were the reasons for moving from COBOL to C
: (C++).
 
It's easier to find C programmers than COBOL programmers because there are
more of them. It's C++ that's taught at the Universities, not COBOL. And C
has features that COBOL lacks, not talking about the object orientation of
C++.
 
Anther thing: we are not completely moving to C, we are just thinking about
developping new independent parts of our software in C, not COBOL. For
example: we are rewriting the interface between the financial accounting
software and the database routines, and an object oriented language like
C++ would be appropriate for our needs.
 
: There are 2 COBOL compilers that are portable from the HP3000 MPE/iX
: environment to each of the platforms you mention.  Have you looked at them?
: They are MicroFocus COBOL and AcuCobol.
 
We are using both. They are working fine, but we heard about performance
problems when interacting with C programs, we'll see.
 
My impression: UNIX machines are coming on strong, although I must admit
that 50 percent of our customers own a HP3000. But UNIX is strongly linked
to C and C++, so those languages are an obious alternative to COBOL.
 
I do admit that HP3000 and COBOL team up very well, but times change...
 
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Peter Sima                                                    Hail, Freedonia!
e-mail: [log in to unmask]                                 FIDO: 2:310/65.18
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