List of COBOL software and tools

This is a list of software and programming tools for the COBOL programming language, which includes compilers, IDEs, build tools, testing, frameworks, and related projects.

Compilers and runtimes

See also: List of COBOL compilers

• Fujitsu NetCOBOL — COBOL compiler for Windows, Linux, and mainframes ^{[1] [2]}
• GnuCOBOL — open-source COBOL compiler translating COBOL to C and then compiling with GCC ^[3]
• IBM COBOL — mainframe COBOL compiler for IBM z/OS and IBM i platforms ^[4]
• Micro Focus COBOL — commercial COBOL compiler and runtime for enterprise systems ^[5]

Integrated development environments

• Eclipse IDE — with COBOL plugin support, Micro Focus or Bitlang extensions. ^[6]
• IBM Developer for z/OS — IDE for COBOL and PL/I mainframe development ^[7]
• Micro Focus Visual COBOL — IDE integration for Visual Studio, Visual Studio Code, and Eclipse ^[8]
• OpenCOBOLIDE — open-source lightweight IDE for GnuCOBOL ^[9]
• Visual Studio Code — with COBOL extensions via Bitlang COBOL and GnuCOBOL Language Server ^[10]

Frameworks, libraries, and APIs

• ACUCOBOL-GT — runtime and API library suite from Micro Focus ^[11]
• CICS — IBM middleware for transaction processing in COBOL applications ^[12]
• DB2 and IMS APIs — database access libraries commonly used with COBOL applications ^[13]

Build tools and package managers

• Apache Ant — scripting and build automation for COBOL/Java hybrid systems ^[14]
• GNU Make — common build tool for compiling COBOL via GnuCOBOL ^[15]
• Jenkins — used for CI/CD automation with COBOL builds ^{[16] [17]}

Testing and quality assurance

See also: List of unit testing frameworks for COBOL

• COBOL Check — open-source unit testing framework for COBOL ^[18]
• IBM Rational Performance Tester — automated performance testing of web and server-based applications from the Rational Software division of IBM ^[19]
• Micro Focus Unit Testing Framework — integrated COBOL unit testing tool ^[20]

Debugging and profiling tools

• GnuCOBOL debug mode — command-line debugging integrated in GnuCOBOL compiler ^[21]
• IBM Debug Tool for z/OS — mainframe debugging for COBOL and PL/I ^[22]
• Micro Focus Animator — step-through debugger for COBOL code ^[23]

See also

• Legacy system
• Lists of programming software development tools by language
• Mainframe computer

References

1. "NetCOBOL". Fujitsu.
2. "NetCOBOL for .NET - Visual Studio Marketplace".
3. "GnuCOBOL". SourceForge.
4. "IBM Enterprise COBOL for z/OS". IBM.
5. "Partner Portal". microfocus.my.site.com.
6. "cobol | Eclipse Plugins, Bundles and Products - Eclipse Marketplace | Eclipse Foundation". marketplace.eclipse.org.
7. "IBM Developer for z/OS". IBM.
8. "Rocket® Visual COBOL® Personal Edition (formerly a Micro Focus® product) | Rocket® Software". www.rocketsoftware.com.
9. "OpenCobolIDE/OpenCobolIDE". September 3, 2025 – via GitHub.
10. "COBOL - Visual Studio Marketplace". marketplace.visualstudio.com.
11. https://10252761.microfocus.com/products/acucobol-gt/
12. "Developing COBOL programs for CICS". www.ibm.com.
13. "Db2 12 - Installation and migration - Making Db2 load modules available to IMS". www.ibm.com. May 6, 2011.
14. "Using an Ant with Enterprise Extensions build to compile a COBOL application". www.ibm.com.
15. "GNU Make". GNU.org.
16. "Jenkins". Jenkins.io.
17. "Installing and Configuring Jenkins". www.microfocus.com.
18. "openmainframeproject/cobol-check". October 2, 2025 – via GitHub.
19. "Rational Performance Test Server 9.2.1". www.ibm.com. November 21, 2019.
20. "The Micro Focus Unit Testing Framework". www.microfocus.com.
21. "OlegKunitsyn/gnucobol-debug". August 1, 2025 – via GitHub.
22. "IBM Debug for z/OS PDF versions". www.ibm.com.
23. "Working With Animator". www.microfocus.com.