What’s the Future of COBOL & COBOL Programmers?

Yes!

In life, a few things, like wine, get better as they age.

But can we say the same about technology?

While we are constantly looking for the latest gadget that is ahead of its time, can we expect technology to age like a fine wine, gaining value and creating impact?

If we talk about a 6-decades-old programming language – AS400 COBOL, invented in 1959, we, as an AS 400 development partner, can confidently say YES!

The programming language has aged like a fine wine, creating value and leaving a lasting impact on the world of computing.

Some opine that it is dead.

But we protest that it is not.

If you think about it…

These facts alone negate the idea of COBOL being a thing of the past.

But there is another well-known challenge lurking in the background—the COBOL developer shortage.

This is true! Being in the industry for 20+ years, we have witnessed a sharp decline in the number of COBOL programmers.

Why?

Because

Thus, there is a supply-shortage in the job-market for COBOL programmers.

Yet, IBM is working to modernize this AS400 language and may mitigate this challenge for good.

Despite these facts, we claim that COBOL AS400 has a great future and there are COBOL programmers in 2024 who are qualified to meet your AS-400 development needs.

The modern workforce is interested in mastering COBOL, bringing you the advantage of preserving AS 400 systems while leveraging the modern strengths in this ever-evolving landscape.

So, what does this resource has for you?

And much more!

So, grab your coffee and sit back as you have the right resource at hand.

Without any further ado, let’s begin!

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What is AS400 COBOL?

COBOL stands for Common Business-Oriented Language, which was developed by the Committee for Data Systems Languages (CDSL) in 1959.

It was originally created as a portable programming language for data processing but soon became popular as one of the most used business programming languages in the world, because it could run on more than one manufacturer’s computer.

Before COBOL AS400 came into existence, business leaders developed their own programming language – which was a hefty task that involved working with various computer brands. And, since the launch of COBOL, it has been greatly used because of its portability and ease of use.

The primary usage of COBOL is with AS400 mainframes. If you talk to a COBOL programmer, they will tell you – “Learning this AS400 (Application System/400) language is not as difficult as understanding the ecosystem in which the COBOL programming language is used.”

That’s about the AS400 COBOL programming language, its features highlighting its capabilities and widespread usage in diverse industries in 2025.

Now, let’s explore why COBOL programming and COBOL programmer are relevant in 2025 and beyond.

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Why COBOL & COBOL Programmers Are Relevant in 2025 & Beyond?

As mentioned above, COBOL iSeries was initially invented for usage of government entities, but various industry leaders recognized its potential, and COBOL soon became a popular programming language, across industries.

Why COBOL Programmers Are in Demand, Even Today?

The legacy of AS 400 and COBOL language continues till today, and thousands of business leaders, like you, rely on COBOL AS400 for their routine transactions.

Thus, having a skilled COBOL programmer on the team is a top priority.

Additionally, about 240 billion lines of COBOL are in use today, and about 5 billion lines of COBOL code are written each year, claims IBM.

These facts underscore that there are great opportunities for decision makers and business leaders who are considering investments or strategic directions related to COBOL in 2025.

Exploring the Challenges Around AS400 COBOL

Despite the set of challenges discussed, COBOL is not replaceable. Thinking “Why?”

Let’s explore.

Why is AS400 COBOL Still Relevant & Irreplaceable?

The resurgence of COBOL is of no surprise.

Expanded as Common Business Oriented Language, COBOL might not even feature in the university curriculum, and that’s why there are fewer COBOL developers.

But the problem is that this programming language is used by legacy systems on which the world still depends, for their day-to-day transactions.

Almost 70 to 80 percent of worldwide present-day business transactions are done on IBM iSeries. A 2017 research study uncovered billions of lines of COBOL codes, which are still in use today.

But there is a gap that needs to be bridged.

Legacy AS/400 systems that run COBOL applications need COBOL developers for regular maintenance and new application development.

Existing legacy server infrastructures that run on AS/400 are irreplaceable.

Government institutions, large banks, public services companies, insurance companies, etc. – all of them are unwilling to stop AS400 systems and upgrade to the newer IBM Power Systems.

Their argument is simple – when something is running super-fine, why change just for the sake of change?

Why is COBOL Still Relevant?

AS/400 COBOL applications are used all over the world, and there is always a need for COBOL developers.

Considering that more than 100,000 AS/400 customers exist, one can imagine the enormity of COBOL application deployments and the increasing need for COBOL developers.

Why can’t COBOL be Replaced?

COBOL would have remained in the textbook of history if IBM had not sold various mainframes that run on AS400 COBOL.

Despite the emergence of the cloud, visionary IT leaders are in need of their IBM AS400 mainframe, working at top-notch performance.

This assurance keeps the demand up for COBOL developers.

This has also led to a new initiative- “Calling all COBOL Programmers” while IBM has launched an open-source training course on COBOL.

From the above pointers, we can confirm that switching from COBOL to the emerging languages is not the best option for business leaders.

Then what choice is left?

The best choice is to stick to iSeries COBOL language, onboard a team of proficient COBOL programmers, integrate a modernization strategy and ensure the continuity of your AS400 applications in this evolving landscape.

This brings us to your next important question that has monopolized the mind of almost every AS/400 mainframe user.

• Are there any good AS400 developers out there?
• Where do I find a proficient COBOL developer for my AS-400 needs?

Let’s now seek answers to these most common questions asked by decision makers such as yourself related to COBOL experts.

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Where to Find COBOL Programmers?

First, to erase your doubt, an active COBOL developer is not hard to find.

You can find them in the same place you find other software developers.

• Online Job Portals
• Freelance Platforms
• Professional Networking Sites
• IT Agencies specializing in AS400 development services

The IT agencies connect you with the ready-to-deploy teams of skilled COBOL programmers who have undergone thorough selection and training process, ensuring that you get a proficient workforce to tackle your AS 400 needs.

So far, we’ve discussed the challenges associated with COBOL, the shortage of COBOL experts, and where to find the capable COBOL developers.

Now what should be your next step?

Your text step is identifying, assessing, and assembling a team of COBOL professionals.

So, let’s tap into the key skills business leaders should consider when evaluating the AS400 COBOL programmers in this modern landscape.

What Skillset COBOL Programmers Must Have in 2025?

Looking for a COBOL developer in the age of modern technologies, you don’t want to engage with a COBOL expert with an average skill set.

To refine the hiring process, here are the key skills you need to look for

Technical Development Skills

A knowledgeable COBOL programmer must be equipped with technical development skills such as knowledge of Visual Basic, JSL, CICS, COBOL, QMF, maths skills, and debugging skills, to troubleshoot problems and develop error-free AS400 applications for mainframe computers.

Understanding the Software Development Life Cycle

The developer must have end-to-end knowledge of the software development lifecycle, from planning to deployment and maintenance, to deliver reliable and high-quality AS400 applications.

Proficiency in DevOps

DevOps has secured a place in the must-have skills of a new-age COBOL programmer. It is a software development approach that proves more effective in communicating and collaborating across departments, facilitating faster and quality software development.

In-Depth Knowledge of DB2

DB2 is an IBM database product – a relational database management system. Your selected AS400 COBOL developer must have end-to-end knowledge in utilizing DB2 to effectively manage and interact with relational databases on the AS 400 system.

Expertise in Mainframe

The candidate with good knowledge of COBOL programming must have an exposure to Mainframe environment to optimize legacy systems and enable effective development in mainframe-centric industries.

Competence in Handling XML

XML is an acronym for Extensible Markup Language, which assists COBOL programmers in managing structured data interchange effectively. A COBOL expert must be competent in handling XML to unlock flawless data exchange and integration.

Mathematical Proficiency

A COBOL developer must have an advanced understanding of Mathematics as the programming needs Algebra, Arithmetic and logical operations to effectively develop and implement complicated algorithms and calculations.

Having spoken highly about the future of COBOL, now let’s understand how it’s beneficial to your business if you stick to COBOL.

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Why Should You Stick to AS400 COBOL?

For any business seeking to handle a plethora of things simultaneously, COBOL is the answer. Imagine the ease of function with COBOL as it ingests data, processes it, and readily gives the output.

With more than 25,300 companies still using COBOL globally, it is likely indispensable. While COBOL may appear antiquated to some, it is still the preferred programming language for many large corporations.

But to get your company’s heavy work done, like the migration of big systems, you cannot just rely on any system. Your best bet might be the iSeries COBOL, also known as AS400 COBOL.

As the AS400/i-Series uses the PowerPC microprocessor intertwined with the reduced instruction set computer technology, it can also work great for departments within large enterprises.

Here’s what you must know about COBOL and IBM AS400/i-Series before decide anything for your business –

Features of AS400 COBOL

COBOL is age-old.

It was invented in 1959 to rule out the agony of creating a unique language to tell computers what to do. Since the inception of COBOL, there has been a common way of communicating the set of instructions to the computer for multi-brands.

As the US Department of Defense endorsed COBOL, it became the most widely used programming language in the world within a short span of time. The reason it caught traction so fast is attributed to its fantastic features.

Have a look at some of the features –

Easy to Learn

COBOL is simple and easy to learn. It can be compiled with ease, and its execution does not take much effort. It consists of a huge syntax vocabulary while using an uncluttered style of coding.

Handle Enormous Amount of Data

The handling capability of COBOL is extensive, enabling it to handle heaps of data quickly. It is a good fit for most businesses. It is still widely used worldwide as about 70% of the global transactions are handled by it. COBOL is an excellent fit for both complex and simple transactions.

It’s Universal

COBOL has been around for many years, and it has seen a lot of business transformations. As a language that is used on several platforms, it has gained universal functionality. It also has debugged, and testing tools enabled for a multitude of platforms.

Easy to Scale and Structure

The structure used within COBOL is relatively easy to read, change, and debug. It can also be scaled quickly and serves as a reliable and highly portable language over distinct platforms.

Why can’t AS400 COBOL be Considered as Dead?

While many argue that COBOL is no less than antiquity, it is still not obsolete. Born at the hands of government bodies, computer manufacturers, and consultants, COBOL is popular to this date.

Has Something Better than AS400 COBOL Come Along?

The answer is – it is not required.

For so many business applications, COBOL has been a rock-solid foundation.

COBOL applications haven’t broken, are resilient, and secure. So, the need to replace it does not arise because if a system is working fine, then there is no need to tinker with it.

Another point of consideration is that COBOL has explicitly been designed for business applications. Other low-level programming languages such as Fortran and LISP are better suited to solve scientific problems and create artificial intelligence applications.

Grace Hopper’s Graceful Language Has Come a Long Way

At the beginning of the computer age, banks, government organizations, and insurance companies started creating machine-specific programming languages with the help of COBOL developers.

Due to the high cost and time involved in running and maintaining these applications, a universal solution was needed in place. And Grace Hopper was instrumental in bridging, this gap by creating COBOL. The programming language was universal and capable to run on all business systems.

COBOL’s syntax is an output of Grace’s reasoning that the syntax of programming languages should be close to spoken languages. That’s why COBOL syntax was considered a wordy one by COBOL developers. The era of verbose English-like programming languages has dawned again, starting from Python. Grace’s reasoning of yore is now very relevant because the humanization of computing increases the possibilities of unlimited programmatic expressions.

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What Differentiates AS400 COBOL from Other Programming Languages?

Unlike general-purpose languages, COBOL is best suited for business applications programming.

The following are some of the characteristics of business applications that makes COBOL different from other programming languages –

The fact of the matter is that billions of lines of COBOL continue to exist. Any attempt to transition the lines of code to newer programming languages hasn’t been successful.

Still think you need to move to a different technology? Let’s explore if it’s a wise choice.

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Is it wise to Migrate AS400 COBOL Applications to Modern Programming Languages?

It can be done based on a lot of factors.

A migration to a general-purpose programming language can be done using expert services of iSeries consulting firms such. Otherwise, the effort is fraught with risks.

Thinking, “What are the risks”

Here are some of them –

What kinds of COBOL Applications Might need to be Translated?

It’s unnecessary to translate all the applications written in COBOL and hosted on iSeries. You need to sit with your team, assess the applications that affect your business’s operational efficiency the most, and then take a call on translation.

Next, let’s understand about the cost of moving away from COBOL.

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What Would be the Cost of Moving Away from COBOL?

Even though COBOL has been around for a very long time, many companies still use it to run their transactional business processes.

Various banks, insurance companies, hospitals, government organizations, and others use COBOL to date.

While we cannot say that staying with COBOL has not been free of hiccups for these companies, they have been reluctant to make the switch.

They plead to find COBOL programmers, even going to the extent of asking them to come out of retirement to keep their operations running.

But why such desperation?

Why not just change the language to something more modern and convenient?

The reason is cost.

The cost of switching from COBOL to the deemed “modern” languages is an expensive affair. For an organization running for a good deal of time, such a switch marks the spending of money they simply do not have.

The first plan of action here is to understand that COBOL is not unavailable in modern forms. Hence, instead of switching, upgrading COBOL to the latest version is your best foot forward.

And remember, the problem your organization is facing might not be with COBOL but with the application’s infrastructure and the platform.

Disadvantages of Bequeathing COBOL

While the mountain-high cost is one issue related to leaving COBOL, there are other disadvantages associated with bequeathing COBOL.

Have a look at some of the reasons –

While most modern programs have some of these features, none have all of these.

How do Modernization of COBOL Applications Helps?

The modernization of COBOL application can help companies to a greater extent.

After modernization you can do things like:

How is AS400 COBOL Better Than the SQL Program?

COBOL and SQL are not similar.

At times, these languages are also used hand in hand. IBM iSeries COBOL, also known as AS400 COBOL, is gaining more traction than SQL despite the image of “old” attached to COBOL.

To settle the ongoing debate claiming that AS400 COBOL might be better than SQL Program, we lay out the following premise –

COBOL and RPG are Native on iSeries

Both COBOL and RPG are native languages on the iSeries. To use SQL, the programmer may have to embed the SQL statements within COBOL to use them. Using SQL is not a straightforward way of doing things on iSeries.

COBOL is Easier to Understand for Even Non-programmers

While COBOL is verbose, it is much easier to interpret and understand, even for non-programmers. It’s not all mumble jumble, and jargony, making it easy to use for iSeries.

COBOL is in Demand Again

COBOL is not dying. Instead, it is on the rise again. While SQL is deemed faster, most operations work more quickly with iSeries COBOL.

While the absolute answer to which reigns higher for iSeries can be summed by the word “depends,” AS400 COBOL is apt to be used for all purposes. And same goes for RPG AS400

Now, let’s understand how the Department of Defense has traversed through the modernization journey for its applications written in COBOL.

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Moving COBOL Applications to Cloud – The Digital Journey of DOD’s

The migration of big systems is a tremendous task, but technologies around the world are making it easy for businesses.

Mainframe computers are an example of such heavy migration and what makes them worthy is the language on which they run.

IBM AS400/i-series has offered COBOL on many platforms since its inception and still doing so.

COBOL was introduced in 1959, and after its normalization so many years down the line, it is serving as the backbone of various mainframe systems. COBOL stands for “Common Business-Oriented Language” and had been mainly used by Defense Department.

As a result of this, the language started gaining popularity, and nowadays, it has been adopted by various other private and government industry sectors.

Although, with innovation in technology, the fundamental architecture of AS400 COBOL has become outdated, which limited its ability to make use of necessary innovations. But still, AS400 COBOL is widely used for applications development on mainframe computers.

However, several factors are responsible for the steady downfall of COBOL. These factors include – Rise of cloud technology, the retirement of experience AS400 COBOL developers.

Still, many DOD systems and other private systems run on this platform, but they lack the flexibility and other advanced features available on most recent language platforms.

So, from a technical point of view, AS400 COBOL is unsuited to advanced OS commonly used in today’s cloud environment.

As a result of COBOL’s limited functionality, IBM AS400 iSeries modernized and transitioned the mainframe system to a Java-based AWS cloud setup.

However, the strategies developed applied to Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, and major cloud service providers. These service providers will easily allow DOD to migrate COBOL applications hosted on iSeries to IBM cloud and open barriers for them.

The Transformation of COBOL Applications

When we talk about digital transformation, this is the right time, and let us tell you why?
COBOL is one of the oldest languages available for IBM iSeries AS400 developers, and primarily all mainframe implementations run on AS400 COBOL.

Unfortunately, most of the IT professionals and technical experts who know the functioning of COBOL are on the verge of retirement. Moreover, very few developers are interested in learning COBOL or learning how to work on mainframes.

So, How Popular is COBOL?

According to an estimate, over 200 billion lines of COBOL codes are running on mainframes.

These numbers are proof of how deeply the language is rooted in business systems developed over the decade.

Furthermore, enormous business risks are common especially when someone tries to deploy them on the cloud.

Also, moving COBOL to AS400 CLOUD is faster, easier, and the best decision.

And, if you put the digital transformation of AS400 COBOL on hold a few years later, you won’t be able to find skilled developers to work on the existing setup.

And to be honest, your risk won’t be limited to locating source code or accessing applications.

But tasks like troubleshooting, replacing the mainframe system would be impossible in the long term. Also, the cost of the operations will increase with time.

However, modernization is not the critical goal of DOD, i.e., they don’t want AS400/iSeries COBOL migration to have a shiny system on board; their only goal is to increase the system’s overall effectiveness. The old system lacked various modern features like reliability, scalability, and many more modern services.

The Modernization Process

The project needed an extensive modernization process that can be completed in an affordable hosting environment, low data loss, minimal downtime, and minimal risk of security threats.

The process began by identifying and assessing different arrangements made for meeting the end goal. There was various option included in the process:

Option A

In this option, all the codes and manuals needed to be re-written. But the process was going to take lots of time and involves a high risk of failure. Also, it was increasing costing.

Option B

In this option, the plan was to replace the inside and outside security framework, but this clashed with Defense rule manuals, so it was dismissed.

Finally, a COBOL emulator arrangement was considered as a makeshift measure, and IBM has chosen a COBOL-to-Java code mechanism to carry out the process:

Phase One

included automated code conversion using COBOL-to-Java refactoring to run on an Intel x86 platform.

Phase Two

The second phase was intended to refactor the Java code to remove any remaining fragments of COBOL and enhance maintenance.

Phase Three

All the remaining infrastructure was migrated to the AS400 cloud in the third phase. The cloud service also enhanced DOD’s stringent cybersecurity requirements.

The most important thing was to address the primary guard’s difficulties and deliver data whenever needed. There were many more things included, like –

The Result

Due to this AS400 COBOL cloud migration, DOD’s yearly operating expense was reduced incredibly by around 70%. The migration to the cloud reduced the cost of operations and increased flexibility, allowing them to develop capabilities to support their mission better quickly.

However, the greatest obstacle to any software or setup migration is security. It’s a huge concern, especially in today’s modern business environment. This shouldn’t imply that traditional frameworks are unstable.

Moving to a new business environment consistently invites threats. From our point of view, not every cloud service offering company goes through broad authorization measures. They’re centered around security, and the best way to be particular about an application’s security is to observe it thoroughly.

The process includes – exploiting modernization and design to confirm safety. Even though it’s a test, but it’s necessary when you’re interfacing with another person’s legacy frameworks. Even if, for any significant cloud migration project, leveraging automation should be a centralized goal.

Also, as companies mastered accepting a DevSecOps way to deal, cloud execution should be essential for any genuine modernization process.

Thinking if you can modernize your COBOL application with the help of a reliable technology partner?

Yes, you can.

We, at Integrative Systems, are here to help!

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Achieve Digital Transformation with Integrative Systems

We help you embrace a hybrid AS400 cloud approach through API management and can move your COBOL applications from mainframe to cloud, effortlessly.

The AS400 cloud has allowed customers to invest millions of dollars into the existing setup and make it modern. Furthermore, it eliminated the need for unreliable middleware.

If you have any queries regarding the AS400 COBOL or AS400 cloud, please contact us. Also, if you are looking for a partner to help you with IBM AS400 cloud migration, we’ve got you covered.

With expertise and experience of more than two decades in this field, we can be the go-to-partner for such requirements. Drop us a line at [email protected], and our team of COBOL experts shall get back to you within 2 business days.

Frequently Asked Questions About AS400 COBOL

1. Does COBOL have a Future?

Ans- When your enterprise relies on critical business operations, the relevance of COBOL isn’t a debate—it’s a reality.

In a world demanding reliability and performance, COBOL remains indispensable for financial systems and legacy modernization.

What sets COBOL apart today?

• Proven stability for mission-critical tasks
• Scalability for evolving workloads

Despite the emergence of modern programming languages, organizations still depend on COBOL for processing vast volumes of transactions seamlessly.

Without a doubt, while younger developers favor newer tools, COBOL’s unmatched efficiency in high-stakes environments ensures it continues to thrive, bridging the gap between legacy systems and modern IT infrastructure.

2. Why are COBOL Programmers Still in Demand?

Ans – There are primarily two reasons —

• Deep expertise required to maintain legacy systems
• Precision needed to handle high-volume transactions

COBOL powers 70% of financial and enterprise operations globally. While modern developers focus on newer technologies, COBOL programmers bridge the gap, ensuring stability, scalability, and uninterrupted performance for essential systems.

Without a doubt, their specialized skillset remains vital for businesses running on decades-old, yet robust, COBOL infrastructure.

3. Why Companies Still use COBOL?

Ans- COBOL offers efficiency in processing massive volumes of transactions and stability for mission-critical systems.

Without a doubt, replacing COBOL is costly, complex, and risky. Its unmatched durability keeps businesses running smoothly. And that is the reason companies still entrust COBOL with their legacy systems.

4. What do Banks use COBOL for?

Ans- Banks trust COBOL for two major reasons –

• Processing high-volume transactions reliably
• Managing core banking systems efficiently

From payments to loans and account management, COBOL ensures accuracy, speed, and uninterrupted services.

Without a doubt, its unmatched stability keeps global banking operations running flawlessly. And, that’s the reason banks trust COBOL, to date.

5. Will AI Replace COBOL?

Ans- When your systems demand stability and precision, COBOL remains unmatched.

With the advent of AI, there’s a buzz if it can replace COBOL.

Primarily there are two major challenges –

• COBOL’s deep integration in mission-critical systems
• Complexity of full-scale modernization

AI can assist in code analysis and optimization but replacing COBOL entirely is costly and risky.

Without a doubt, COBOL’s reliability ensures it remains indispensable for decades to come.