What are some good resources for getting started with COBOL programming? [closed]

Question

I'm thinking about learning COBOL. Where should I start?

Answer 1

I started with this excellent tutorial.

There is an open-source COBOL compiler called OpenCOBOL which you could use to work through the exercises.

And a COBOL Portal.

Answer 2

I did Cobol during the Y2K time, Cobol was the easy part, the nightmare was JCL or Job Control Language to run your Cobol programs, what a disaster!

I really, really would like to know why you even are thinking of learning Cobol

Answer 3

Please refer to the book "Structured COBOL Programming, Second Edition" by Shelly Cashman Foremam. I studied this book and it is really helpful.

Answer 4

IBM i5/OS Information Center link:

http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/systems/scope/i5os/index.jsp?topic=/rzahg/rzahgcobol.htm

I know very little about this language so I can't tell you how much of the language information is IBM-specific.

Answer 5

There are also:

http://www.amazon.com/Sams-Teach-Yourself-COBOL-Hours/dp/0672314533/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234194482&sr=8-1 which says it comes with the free fujitsu compiler that is not available for download anymore as far as I know

and

http://www.amazon.com/Sams-Teach-Yourself-COBOL-Days/dp/0672317885/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234194482&sr=8-4

Also, the Murach books are supposed to be very good.

Answer 6

Check out the easy COBOL Tutorial and few COBOL sample programs