Re: C-preprocessor for COBOL?

From: Warren Simmons (wsimmons5_at_optonline.net)
Date: 07/06/04 

Date: Tue, 06 Jul 2004 02:31:59 GMT

Herwig Huener & Josella Simone Playton wrote:
> 2004-07-05 21:01:20 MEST
>
> Warren Simmons wrote:
>
>> ...
>>
>> I would contact the Tiny COBOL project. Their
>> '85 compiler is built on C, and they have
>> first hand experiences that might help.
>
>
> That is not quite what I had in my mind.
>
> Of course a COBOL-compiler may generate C rather than
> some machine code, and it may be possible to translate
> some of the COBOL-directives of the new COBOL standard into
> C-preprocessor commands - we never did an investigation
> on this idea, maybe there are difficulties which are
> not easily overcome - but what I am thinking about
> is this kind of language-mixture:
>
> #define BLUBH
>
> #ifdef BLUBH
> display "Mixed language conditional compilation!"
> upon tv.
> #else
> this is never compiled ...
> #endif
>
> This requires a C-Preprocessor and then a COBOL-compiler.
>
> Actually you are right on one thing: It is ages ago
> that I looked the last time on the pages of the Tiny
> COBOL Project - so they still exist? I had the impression
> that some of the team members lost interest on
> that project, and so, then, did I.
>
> Herwig
>
Well, I only think I know what they are doing, but
I believe their compiler is written in C, and they
use a specific this and that to do parsing. Talk to
them. They are still in business, and doing well.
They even have follow on product plans. Some of
the people seem to have to go for awhile but show
up when there is a question or problem to be solved.

It's a suggestion only. I am not a part of the team
but a regular reader of their news letters.

Warren