From:	Ojaste,James [NCR] James.Ojaste@**.GC.CA
Subject:	[semi-OT] programming languages' evolution
Date:	Mon, 1 Feb 1999 15:34:50 -0500

Josh Munn wrote (on the old server):
> >> > Useless Trivia: with the exception of Fortran, LISP is the oldest
> >> > computer programming language to still be in use.
> >>
> >> Really? And here I thought that COBOL (Certifiably Objective
> BOnehead
> >> Language) is actually still in use in some places.
> >>
> >Actually, I managed to leave out the qualifier 'common' on use. Though
> >I'm not sure how far back the individual languages date, so I can't
> >make any comparisons.
>
> COBOL is in "comon" use. Why do you think we are having such a problem
> with the Y2K bug. Cobol is used in most large companies for data
>
"We" are not having problems with the Y2K "bug" (I really dislike that
appellation - it's like saying we've got massive problems with the
"Off By One Bug"). Most Y2K-related problems aren't really problems,
or any worse than innumerable other bugs - the hype surrounding the
thing is mind-boggling.

In any case, most Y2K-related problems aren't caused by COBOL -
they're caused by a) the original designers not expecting their
code to have to last for 20 years, b) just plain forgetfulness and
c) wild hysteria. None of which (with the possible exception of c)
are the cause of COBOL. :-)

> processing (which it is very good at). They have even come up with a
> visual COBOL for use with Win 95. COBOL is probably the most common
> language in use in the busisness world.
>
COBOL was designed to be a "user-friendly" language written in an
english-like syntax so that any PHB would be able to do their own
programming. Gee, looks like it missed its mark a bit... ;-)

James Ojaste