COBOL Programming Course is a training resource that provides structured course materials and hands-on labs for learning COBOL on z/OS systems.
The project addresses the need for accessible, modern COBOL education by offering a comprehensive curriculum organized into four progressive courses: Getting Started, Learning COBOL, Advanced Topics, and Testing. Each course includes both instructional materials and practical laboratory exercises. Learners can work through the materials using an interactive online environment, removing barriers to accessing mainframe systems for practice.
The course suits anyone new to COBOL who wants structured, guided learning rather than reference documentation. It works well for individuals transitioning into mainframe development, students in academic settings, or teams onboarding developers to legacy systems. The progression from foundational concepts through advanced topics and testing practices makes it appropriate for self-paced learning or classroom instruction. The project provides video course versions on multiple platforms alongside the repository materials, giving learners flexibility in how they engage with the content.
The project maintains active community engagement through multiple channels including a dedicated Slack workspace, community forums, and a mailing list for discussion and questions. Contributions are welcomed under the Open Mainframe Project governance model with standard pull request and issue workflows. The materials were developed through collaboration between IBM, its clients, and an academic institution, reflecting input from both industry practitioners and educators.
