List of COBOL software and tools
This is a list of software and programming tools for the COBOL programming language, which includes compilers, IDEs, build tools, testing, frameworks, and related projects.
Compilers and runtimes
- Fujitsu NetCOBOL — COBOL compiler for Windows, Linux, and mainframes[1][2]
- GnuCOBOL — open-source COBOL compiler translating COBOL to C and then compiling with GCC[3]
- IBM COBOL — mainframe COBOL compiler for IBM z/OS and IBM i platforms[4]
- Micro Focus COBOL — commercial COBOL compiler and runtime for enterprise systems[5]
- FairCom RTG – A commercial real-time database and runtime solution developed by FairCom Corporation. It provides integration with COBOL applications for transaction processing and modernization projects, and is used in enterprise environments requiring high-performance data management. [6]
Integrated development environments
- Eclipse IDE — with COBOL plugin support, Micro Focus or Bitlang extensions.[7]
- IBM Developer for z/OS — IDE for COBOL and PL/I mainframe development[8]
- Micro Focus Visual COBOL — IDE integration for Visual Studio, Visual Studio Code, and Eclipse[9]
- OpenCOBOLIDE — open-source lightweight IDE for GnuCOBOL[10]
- Visual Studio Code — with COBOL extensions via Bitlang COBOL and GnuCOBOL Language Server[11]
Frameworks, libraries, and APIs
- ACUCOBOL-GT — runtime and API library suite from Micro Focus[12]
- CICS — IBM middleware for transaction processing in COBOL applications[13]
- DB2 and IMS APIs — database access libraries commonly used with COBOL applications[14]
Build tools and package managers
- Apache Ant — scripting and build automation for COBOL/Java hybrid systems[15]
- GNU Make — common build tool for compiling COBOL via GnuCOBOL[16]
- Jenkins — used for CI/CD automation with COBOL builds[17][18]
Testing and quality assurance
- COBOL Check — open-source unit testing framework for COBOL[19]
- IBM Rational Performance Tester — automated performance testing of web and server-based applications from the Rational Software division of IBM[20]
- Micro Focus Unit Testing Framework — integrated COBOL unit testing tool[21]
Debugging and profiling tools
- GnuCOBOL debug mode — command-line debugging integrated in GnuCOBOL compiler[22]
- IBM Debug Tool for z/OS — mainframe debugging for COBOL and PL/I[23]
- Micro Focus Animator — step-through debugger for COBOL code[24]
See also
References
- ^ "NetCOBOL". Fujitsu.
- ^ "NetCOBOL for .NET - Visual Studio Marketplace".
- ^ "GnuCOBOL". SourceForge.
- ^ "IBM Enterprise COBOL for z/OS". IBM.
- ^ "Partner Portal". microfocus.my.site.com.
- ^ "FairCom RTG Documentation".
- ^ "cobol | Eclipse Plugins, Bundles and Products - Eclipse Marketplace | Eclipse Foundation". marketplace.eclipse.org.
- ^ "IBM Developer for z/OS". IBM.
- ^ "Rocket® Visual COBOL® Personal Edition (formerly a Micro Focus® product) | Rocket® Software". www.rocketsoftware.com.
- ^ "OpenCobolIDE/OpenCobolIDE". September 3, 2025 – via GitHub.
- ^ "COBOL - Visual Studio Marketplace". marketplace.visualstudio.com.
- ^ https://10252761.microfocus.com/products/acucobol-gt/
- ^ "Developing COBOL programs for CICS". www.ibm.com.
- ^ "Db2 12 - Installation and migration - Making Db2 load modules available to IMS". www.ibm.com. May 6, 2011.
- ^ "Using an Ant with Enterprise Extensions build to compile a COBOL application". www.ibm.com.
- ^ "GNU Make". GNU.org.
- ^ "Jenkins". Jenkins.io.
- ^ "Installing and Configuring Jenkins". www.microfocus.com.
- ^ "openmainframeproject/cobol-check". October 2, 2025 – via GitHub.
- ^ "Rational Performance Test Server 9.2.1". www.ibm.com. November 21, 2019.
- ^ "The Micro Focus Unit Testing Framework". www.microfocus.com.
- ^ "OlegKunitsyn/gnucobol-debug". August 1, 2025 – via GitHub.
- ^ "IBM Debug for z/OS PDF versions". www.ibm.com.
- ^ "Working With Animator". www.microfocus.com.