Is there future for Mainframe with c/c++

[vnktrrd]

Hi i am working on mainframe with cobol from 3+ years.I am interested in Mainframe with C/C++.Will that be a good option and will there be future for Mainframe with C/C++

[Nepomuk]

Hi!

I guess, that depends on who is using the mainframe - in general, C/C++ certainly has a future in many areas of computer science. Other languages are better suited for some jobs, but C/C++ is still very efficient and first choice for a lot of programmers for a variety of reasons.

Does that answer your question?

Greetings,
Nepomuk

[vnktrrd]

Hi Thanks for your concern. Future what i mean is, will i have many options if i shift to Mainframe with C/C++ ??? I heard that very few companies use Mainframe with C/C++.... Please help

[Nepomuk]

Hi!

Well, I'm certainly no expert on Mainframes, but I'm pretty sure that depends on what tasks this Mainframe is supposed to do. What software will you be running on it? What languages do the people, who will be using it, like to write in? And if you don't change to C/C++, what would the alternatives be? Staying with Cobol or changing to something else?

That few companies use C/C++ on their Mainframes can, if this is true, only be an indicator that their situation makes a different language better for their needs, not that the setup as such is a bad idea. If it is the right choice for your needs is a question I can't answer right now, but with a bit more information, maybe an answer can be found.

Greetings,
Nepomuk

[Joseph Martell]

I've only worked for 1 company that uses IBM Mainframes, but I wouldn't bet on C/C++ making a comeback on the Mainframe platform any time soon.

COBOL has a very strong presence, from what I can see, and if you are talking about IBM mainframes, the ZIP/ZAP processors would indicate that Java is where IBM would like to see the mainframe development go since Java can be off-loaded to these processors which are not charged on a per-cycle basis. Also, COBOL has Java interoperability built-in to the latest language versions.

Like I said, that is based on my experience at a single company. Someone with more varied mainframe experience may have a different opinion.

Of course, the other thing to consider is that moving to mainframe C/C++ will not necessarily open any doors for you in the mainframe world, but it may in other areas. Far more languages are C/C++ based(Java, java-script, C#, PHP, etc) than are COBOL based (Clarion is the only one that springs to mind) in terms of syntax. If the C/C++ code is fairly standards adherent then it is possible that your mainframe C/C++ experience could translate well to development on other platforms where C/C++ is in more widespread use.