Ask HN: Any active COBOL devs here? What are you working on?

COBOL legacy systems in finance and government are somewhat of a meme. However, I've never actually met a single person who's day job is to maintain one. I'd be curious to learn what systems are you working on?

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forinti ◴[18 Jul 25 13:53 UTC] No.44604662[source]▶

>>44604257 (OP) #

I know some COBOL devs. They work in a bank.

They wouldn't hang around here though.

replies(1): >>44604910 #

1. nico ◴[18 Jul 25 14:19 UTC] No.44604910[source]▶

>>44604662 #

Where would they hang around? Curious to learn about other programming/tech communities

replies(3): >>44605039 #>>44606057 #>>44606551 #

2. forinti ◴[18 Jul 25 14:31 UTC] No.44605039[source]▶

>>44604910 (TP) #

They aren't really into tech outside of work.

replies(2): >>44605191 #>>44605283 #

3. efields ◴[18 Jul 25 14:42 UTC] No.44605191[source]▶

>>44605039 #

Same, lately.

4. kazinator ◴[18 Jul 25 14:50 UTC] No.44605283[source]▶

>>44605039 #

... or, arguably, inside of work. :)

5. mindcrime ◴[18 Jul 25 15:46 UTC] No.44606057[source]▶

>>44604910 (TP) #

There's a somewhat active community of COBOL developers here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/cobol/

If you're every really bored, search around the HN archives to find out how I accidentally founded that community as a result of a joke. :-)

6. SoftTalker ◴[18 Jul 25 16:22 UTC] No.44606551[source]▶

>>44604910 (TP) #

I worked in an IBM mainframe shop as my first job. The COBOL devs for the most part did not participate in programming/tech communities. It was a 9-5 job and they didn't think about it otherwise. Maybe they would have a subscription to Datamation magazine or something like that but I doubt it.

But keep in mind there was no internet, no podcasts, no youtube. If you needed to learn something you learned it at work, on work time. If something new was introduced, IBM came in and conducted training, at work. For something big you might get sent to an IBM training center for a week. There was no need for (and no real way to do) any learning on your own outside of work.

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