Cobol's future - Microfocus, actually

From: Michael Russell (Michael.Russell_at_msn.com)
Date: 03/25/05 

Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2005 21:56:13 +0000

I've liked Microfocus Cobol for a long time now.
It's like a well-known & used workshop tool.

The way things seem to me, very few students learn Cobol
and the intake of new users is probably minimal.
The writing's been on the wall for a good while.

Considering the shift in policy by, say, Oracle in making their
products freely available - for no money - I hope Microfocus
take a good look at their evaluation of how best to trade.

I'd suggest, fwiw, that MF could adopt a free distribution along
the same lines: cut the initial charges and rely on support and
maintenance.

Perhaps the short-to-medium term 'sales' wouldn't dazzle the world,
however, it may well recruit more _users_ of their Cobol.
It would also mean sharpening up their strategy & will for survival.
Without change, I fear they will simply wither on the vine.

Difficult to sell to the bean-counters, though.

Regards

Michael

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