From the recruiters I get contacting me, the end client, who
ever that may be, wants someone to reverse engineer the ALC code
they have into COBOL (uh how about the euphemism, modernize?).
Basically, what this needs is a flow charting of the code, to
define all that it is doing. Not to the instruction level, just
functionally.
Well, a novice with ALC will end up making a chart that is too
detailed. Someone who has done this kind of thing before, for
say, learning a product they are about to become a developer for
would be the kind of person you want for this.
Like me, having done this (to really tick off some of you about
old stuff that we've been talking about) for Macrocode (Amdahl's
Hypervisor) to learn how it all worked, or having done it for
Connect:Direct for z/OS and a few others, would be the kind of
person you need for this.
Then having also converted an application from ALC to COBOL (or
RPG-II), also is the kind of person they need. Because you need
to know what comments need come forward. And if you need, or
should use, HEX support in COBOL. Or, Java if you want to really
modernize your code. ;-)
Then they want to pay ~$50/hr w2 for that expertise.
Oh, they also want you to develop testing suites for it, etc.
This is a project that the IRS as one example, is needing done.
It appears there are many others.
Hope this helps you out with understanding what they want and
need -- well from my perspective.
Imagine doing this for going from DOS/V* to MVS* for ALC to
VS-COBOL (or later). (Done that too)
So noobies, some of this old stuff we talk about may have you
learn some of the systems internals logic and the like. Might
come in handy one day.
Steve Thompson
On 9/8/2023 1:56 PM, Tom Brennan wrote:
"reverse engineering" ??
25 years ago I joked about starting a company called "CopyCat
Software" and all we would do is duplicate expensive mainframe
software. Of course we would need as many lawyers as
programmers :)
On 9/8/2023 8:24 AM, Bob Bridges wrote:
Without in the least wishing to opine on the question itself,
I just got an email from a recruiter looking for a number of
skills of which assembler was listed first. Some of the
description:
1. Good technical skills in the Mainframe platform -
Assembler, COBOL, JCL, VSAM, DB2, EXPEDITOR, FILE- AID, CICS.
2. Good Analytical skills. Should be able to read the code and
create Design Specs.
3. Candidate having experience in reverse engineering is an
advantage.
4. Exposure to Cloud/Distributed technologies will be an added
advantage.
I can pass it along off-list to anyone who's interested. Me,
I just thought the timing was good.
---
Bob Bridges, [email protected], cell 336 382-7313
/* Nearly all men can stand adversity. If you want to test a
man's character, give him power. -Abraham Lincoln */
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--
Regards,
Steve Thompson
VS Strategies LLC
Westfield IN
972-983-9430 cell
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