Real World issues for a new COBOL learner ? about cobol-programming-course HOT 4 CLOSED

@RageshAntony
3. You are trying to relate your current knowledge and job assignments to Cobol. Relax. IBM is providing you with a unique opportunity, offering free mainframe "computer time" on a real (not emulated one as confirmed by @paulnewt) IBM Mainframe (probably located in Dallas, TX). Use this OPPORTUNITY to learn the basic foundations of COBOL, JCL, TSO/ISPF, DFSORT/ICETOOL, DB2 (if available), etc. etc. etc. There are plenty of videos, online and paid classes that you can take, and use the mainframe access IBM is providing, to learn them all. Consider taking IBM's free, Master the Mainframe course. I think the 2019 version is still available. Sign up and go through that while the 2020 course is being prepared to launch. Again, ask lots of questions, especially on the Slack Channel!

4. As long as you have access to an IBM mainframe as mentioned in number 3, above, forget about gnuCOBOL for now. You've got access to the latest, most up to date version of COBOL, from IBM!

5. See my answer for number 3, above. All of the basic mainframe ecosystem is available to you NOW. Take advantage of it! You are your own, best instructor!

Best of luck to you!

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@RageshAntony - I'm sure Cobol shops like The State of NJ, still have a (large) number of Cobol developers/system engineers, even though they have a need for more. You are trying to run, before you walk. You may be a senior level develper in the languages you already know, but it will take a little time to develop senior level Cobol skills. Consider that every IT request for service from a user is not a senior level task. This is how I learned Cobol in the 1980's. Non-senior level tasks can be performed by developers with non-senior level skills, such as creating reports or creating files that can be used by subsequent processes. Yes, you would probably need more direction and narrower tasks in the beginning, writing Cobol, but as you gain experience in the language, tasks assigned to you would get more challenging. You have a definite advantage knowing other languages and methods at a senior level. How long did it take you to learn those, well? So, my point is, even though you would not be immediately thrown on the front line, your presence in a company (or government entity) would free up the senior level developers from having to perform non-senior level tasks, which would allow them to concentrate on the most critical tasks at hand. That is good for you too, because who needs that much stress, when you don't feel fully confident, yet. You'll get there, it just takes time. And this community (on Slack too) is a great place to pose "How to" questions. Once hired, you will be surrounded by colleagues more knowledgable in Cobol than yourself, who you can learn from. And, just reviewing already running code is a great way to learn. To become an expert, in anything, takes time, effort and practice. And, by the way, I was born in the 1960's, not 1990's! Best of luck to you!

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Acknowledged --- Part 4 to include advanced topics is under consideration - JCL as it relates to COBOL and compiler options are 2 of the many topics on our radar

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@RageshAntony - I'm sure Cobol shops like The State of NJ, still have a (large) number of Cobol developers/system engineers, even though they have a need for more. You are trying to run, before you walk. You may be a senior level develper in the languages you already know, but it will take a little time to develop senior level Cobol skills. Consider that every IT request for service from a user is not a senior level task. This is how I learned Cobol in the 1980's. Non-senior level tasks can be performed by developers with non-senior level skills, such as creating reports or creating files that can be used by subsequent processes. Yes, you would probably need more direction and narrower tasks in the beginning, writing Cobol, but as you gain experience in the language, tasks assigned to you would get more challenging. You have a definite advantage knowing other languages and methods at a senior level. How long did it take you to learn those, well? So, my point is, even though you would not be immediately thrown on the front line, your presence in a company (or government entity) would free up the senior level developers from having to perform non-senior level tasks, which would allow them to concentrate on the most critical tasks at hand. That is good for you too, because who needs that much stress, when you don't feel fully confident, yet. You'll get there, it just takes time. And this community (on Slack too) is a great place to pose "How to" questions. Once hired, you will be surrounded by colleagues more knowledgable in Cobol than yourself, who you can learn from. And, just reviewing already running code is a great way to learn. To become an expert, in anything, takes time, effort and practice. And, by the way, I was born in the 1960's, not 1990's! Best of luck to you!

Wonderful answer . Thanks

also tell you views about the 3rd and 5th point ?

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