Debunking COBOL myths and leveraging ACUCOBOL data files. In other words, perfect summer
Hi everyone,
Welcome to Rocket® ACUCOBOL Fuel, your monthly source for all things COBOL. In this issue, you’ll learn about the upcoming webinar on ACUCOBOL data modernization, Rocket AcuToWeb demo, and COBOL myths.
Help us improve our COBOL products for you
As summer is in full swing and we're preparing exciting product updates for later this year, we'd love to hear about your experience with modernizing your ACUCOBOL applications and using our products. Your feedback helps us improve our products, create more relevant content and events, and better understand your evolving business needs.
Please take a few minutes to complete our short survey, it should take no more than 15 minutes:
As a thank you, five randomly selected participants who complete the survey will receive a $50 USD Rocket Software gift card. Winners will be contacted after August 10.
How to Unlock ACUCOBOL® Data and Innovate Faster [Webinar recording]
Watch the webinar recording and share it with you colleagues. You’ll discover practical approaches such as SQL-based access, data virtualization, APIs, and incremental modernization strategies that reduce risk while delivering immediate value. Through live demos, you will see how to:
-
Access ACUCOBOL data from a modern web application using Rocket® AcuXDBC®
-
Seamlessly connect ACUCOBOL data to BI, analytics, cloud, and AI platforms
-
Manage structured data alongside documents such as PDFs, images, and Office files, and expose them to other applications
Thanks to everyon who joined us live. We’ll share the webinar presentation and quiz winner here on the forum next week.
Rocket AcuToWeb Demo
Watch how you can easily deploy your ACUCOBOL applications across platforms using Rocket AcuToWeb
The Odyssey and COBOL/ACUCOBOL
While the world is watching and reading The Odyssey, it’s a good reminder that COBOL has its own share of myths and misconceptions. And there’s no better time to set the record straight.
Many people still picture COBOL as it was 30 years ago, overlooking how much it has evolved. Let’s separate myth from reality and give you the facts to talk about COBOL and ACUCOBOL with confidence.
Myth #1: COBOL is no longer in use
Reality: According to a Vanson Bourne survey, over 800 billion lines of COBOL code are active worldwide. While new COBOL applications are rare, existing systems are regularly maintained and expanded, adding more code each year.
Myth #2: COBOL can’t integrate with new tech stacks
Reality: Rocket® COBOL integrates with JVM and .NET platforms, making it compatible with today’s languages and contemporary IT architectures like microservices. COBOL's portability has enabled enterprises to use their core business logic across every era of IT without requiring a complete rewrite.
Myth #3: COBOL only runs on mainframes
Reality: COBOL started on mainframes, expanded to Linux and UNIX in 1976, and now runs almost anywhere — from the cloud and containers to virtualized environments. With one flexible codebase, enterprises reduce technical debt and lower costs while keeping their mission critical systems adaptable for the future.
Myth #4: COBOL is hard to learn
Reality: COBOL is a relatively easy programming language to learn for developers from any background. One of the biggest challenges is navigating complex codebases without proper documentation or available specialists. Tools like Rocket COBOL Analyzer, support for industry-standard IDEs, and GenAI features simplify working with code for any engineer. To make COBOL even more accessible for new developers, Rocket offers free "Learn COBOL in One Day" course.
Myth #5: Modernization requires rewriting COBOL applications in a new language
Reality: Rocket COBOL products let you modernize and extend COBOL systems without rewriting the whole application from scratch. You can keep and reuse valuable business logic, remove outdated code, and reduce technical debt incrementally. Built-in tools let you refactor code automatically, making it easier to test, maintain, and update the application. This approach is especially effective for large, business-critical systems, where gradual transformation is often more strategic than a full rebuild.
Today COBOL and its dialects remain a powerful, adaptable technology supporting critical business operations. New technologies have enhanced its scalability, security, and efficiency, debunking the outdated myths. Read the full article here.
Have questions or suggestions for future Rocket COBOL Fuel newsletters? Please share your feedback in the comments.
