Internal subroutines and local variables have been supported since COBOL 1985 (VS COBOL II era). They're not ideal, but they do exist.
________________________________ From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List <IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU> on behalf of David Spiegel <dspiegel...@hotmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, April 7, 2020 12:58 PM To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU <IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU> Subject: Re: Why rip out COBOL when you can modernize key applications? - Weirdware How about no internal subroutines with local variables? On 2020-04-07 14:47, Bob Bridges wrote: > I used to bad-mouth COBOL, and I still prefer languages that are less wordy. > But I came somewhat reluctantly to see that it has its strengths. The one I > think most important is that it encourages even novice programmers to > organize their logic in what we used to call a "top-down" manner: This > paragraph accomplish a certain task by executing paragraphs one through > three, then two more, and this subparagraph executes subsubparagraphs, and so > on. Forms good habits, I think. > > --- > Bob Bridges, robhbrid...@gmail.com, cell 336 382-7313 > > /* My life is in the hands of any fool who can make me lose my temper. > -driving motto */ > > -----Original Message----- > From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU] On > Behalf Of scott Ford > Sent: Tuesday, April 7, 2020 12:55 > > I learned Assembler first and then Cobol and then some PL/1. I always felt > each language had its strengths and weaknesses and all were like tools in a > toolbox. > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, > send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN > . ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
