Difference between revisions of "COP 2121 Introduction"
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==Course Objectives== | ==Course Objectives== | ||
* Understand how to develop and implement a program in the COBOL language | * Understand how to develop and implement a program in the COBOL language | ||
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# Test program | # Test program | ||
# Document program | # Document program | ||
− | ==[[COP 2121 Program Development Process]] | + | ==[[COP 2121 Program Development Process]]== |
Latest revision as of 14:42, 22 February 2007
Contents
Course Objectives
- Understand how to develop and implement a program in the COBOL language
- Understand various forms of data representation and structures supported by the COBOL language
- Understand the syntax and semantics of the COBOL language
- Understand the appropriate applications (typically business) of the COBOL language
Introduction
- What is a computer program?
- A set of instructions that enables a computer to do some task
- Two types of computer programs
- Operating system programs - control overall operations of computer
- Applications programs - perform tasks required by users
Applications Programs
- Written by applications programmer
- May provide quick solution to one-time prblem
- Displaying average grade for set of exam scores
- Or may be run on regularly scheduled basis
- Program to print student transcripts each semester
- Customized
- Written for specific users like doctors, car dealerships
- Necessary if user has special requirements
- Packages
- Written for general user who needs program to perform standard tasks
- Standard tasks include budgeting, scheduling payroll, etc.
- Cheaper, easier than writing customized program
- Written for general user who needs program to perform standard tasks
Program Languages
- Machine Language
- Only language computer understands
- All programs executed on computer must be in machine language
- Machine language programs are difficult to write
- Symbolic language (like COBOL)
- English-like languages used to write programs
- Easier than writing programs in machine language
- Must be translated or compiled into machine language to run on computer
COBOL
- Standard language
- English-like, high-level language
- Relatively easy to read/write/understand
- Business-oriented language
- Easy to produce nice looking reports
- File processing capabilities
- Batch and/or interactive
- Structured programming
History of COBOL
- Developed in 1959 by CODASYL committee
- as standard language to meet needs of business
- CODASYL (COnference on DAta SYstems Languages) committee
- Convened by Department of Defense
- Included representative from academia, business, and computer manufacturers
Standard Versions of COBOL
- 1960's - wide variations of COBOL compilers
- 1968 - First COBOL standard set by American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
- 1974 - Second ANSI standard to make COBOL more efficient, standardized
- 1985 - This ANSI standard incorporated structured programming techniques
Current and future standards
- 1985 currently the most widely used
- 2008 is next standard
- Approval expected in 2008 or so
- Information on 2008 COBOL standard at ANSI
- Likely to remain an important language
Use of COBOL
- About 200 billion lines of COBOL source code in use
- COBOL applications manage 85% of business data
- 5 Billion new lines added each year
- Used by 42.7% of application programmers in medium to large U.S. companies
What this course will teach
- How to design and develop application programs using COBOL language
- Understand the syntax and semantics of the COBOL language
- Understand various forms of data representation and structures supported by the COBOL language
Program Development Process
- Determine program specification
- Design program using program planning tools
- Code and enter program
- Compile program
- Test program
- Document program