Learn COBOL with Real Code Examples

Payroll calculation program

Banking transaction batch processor

Insurance policy renewal logic

Reading/writing indexed files

Generating enterprise reports

Check PIC clause alignments

Verify file organization and access mode

Debug logic flow with DISPLAY statements

Ensure correct mainframe dataset definitions

Validate numeric precision in computations

Unit test individual paragraphs

Mock file inputs using test datasets

Validate record layouts thoroughly

Run batch jobs in test LPARs

Perform regression testing for large systems

Mainframe job submission (JCL)

Executable binaries for Linux/Windows via GnuCOBOL

Integration within larger enterprise pipelines

COBOL web services via Micro Focus

Cloud-hosted COBOL runtimes

GnuCOBOL (open source)

IBM Enterprise COBOL

Micro Focus Visual COBOL

COBOL copybook tools

Mainframe debuggers

Mainframe systems (z/OS, CICS, JCL)

Database systems (DB2)

MQ messaging

COBOL-C/C++ bridges

Modern cloud APIs via wrappers

Use copybooks for reuse

Structure programs into clear sections

Leverage mainframe debugging tools

Validate data formats early

Comment complex business logic extensively

Write a payroll summary program

Read and process large sequential files

Build a mini banking ledger

Create report generation script

Integrate COBOL with DB2