How is IBM addressing the modern problems posed by the programming language 'COBOL,' developed in 1959?
The programming language '
The World Depends on 60-Year-Old Code No One Knows Anymore | PCMag
https://www.pcmag.com/articles/ibms-plan-to-update-cobol-with-watson
Developed in 1959, COBOL has been used for decades in industries such as banking, automobiles, insurance, government, healthcare, and finance, despite problems such as 'complex coding,' 'higher typing volume than other languages,' and 'lack of flexibility in coding format.' A 2022 survey by
However, many colleges and universities stopped teaching COBOL decades ago, and it has been pointed out that there are very few people interested in learning COBOL today. As a result, the number of programmers who can maintain systems that use COBOL is decreasing and aging, making it difficult to find replacements.
The current problem is that there is a shortage of people who can maintain the COBOL that underpins much of the business and financial industries and, in some cases, convert systems to modern programming languages as needed.
Therefore, in August 2023, IBM announced the 'watsonx Code Assistant,' a tool that allows you to input code written in COBOL and automatically convert it into Java using a code generation AI model.
At the time of the announcement, IBM Chief Scientist Ruchir Puri said, 'In addition to code conversion, Watsonx Code Assistant supports the replacement of applications written with old code with modern systems. Developers can also use Watsonx Code Assistant to understand, revalidate and convert translated code in modern architectures.' In addition, Kelly Olson, IBM's vice president of IT automation product management, explained, 'Watsonx Code Assistant is an end-to-end solution that can perform a multi-step process to perform complex code conversion tasks.'
On the other hand, Skylar Loomis, vice president of IBM Z Software, cautioned, 'While Watsonx Code Assistant can convert code using AI, it still requires human developers. Watsonx Code Assistant is about improving productivity, not replacing developers.' Olson also said, 'We are still in the early stages of providing the most cutting-edge AI experience IBM can offer our clients.'
PCMag, an overseas media outlet, said, 'AI-based code conversion is certainly a promising idea, but it remains to be seen whether it can be successfully deployed and have a real-world impact.' Nevertheless, PCMag speculates that if IBM's efforts bear fruit, they could have a further impact while solving the modern problem of 'a shortage of programmers who can handle COBOL.'
A 2023 report by market research firm Gartner stated, 'By 2028, humans and AI assistants working together could reduce the time it takes to complete coding tasks by about 30%. They also claim that about 80% of programmers will use AI in some form. As AI technology takes the world by storm and more companies invest in technological development, the connection between programmers and AI will accelerate.'
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