Re: Rewriting SSA. Is This A Chance For GNU/Linux?

On 2025-04-03 00:36, rbowman wrote:

On Wed, 2 Apr 2025 22:46:00 +0200, Carlos E.R. wrote:
 

So, to the complexity of handling old code, you add the complexities of
translating to another language.
>
Keep it simple: use today's COBOL. Less translation effort. Fewer
errors.

 The problem may be finding competent COBOL programmers. That leads me to
another question. Presumably the SSA and other government agencies
currently employ COBOL programmers. What have they been doing the last
fifty years?

So, train them.
Think long term, train them, and offer them a long career, with a binding contract, so that it is worth their while. Something the current USA administration can not offer.
And do this before the old gazers die and can not teach the recruits anymore.
What have they been doing? Just coping.

A more important question might be what have their managers been doing?
There is no question a re-write would be very painful and expensive. For a
government agency there isn't a market force to improve so what would
trigger them doing anything to rock the boat?
 

--
Cheers, Carlos.