andrewducker (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
andrewducker) wrote2003-06-10 11:29 am
andrewducker) wrote2003-06-10 11:29 am
Work
In answer to Julia:
I work as a systems developer for Standard Life. This means I get to program computers all day, or rather at the moment it means I get to surf the web while my mentor and my analyst change the specification I was working from about a foot to my left.
I work mostly in COBOL, a programming language that was first invented in the 60s, although I'm largely working with a version that dates from the 90s, which isn't quite so bad. At some point I hope to manouver myself into either the VB or Java teams (both more modern languages), and I've been assured that this won't be too hard once I've got some experience.
I currently spend most of my time looking at an entirely textual screen that looks something like this:
which is pretty sucky, but we've been assured that more modern tools are on their way and we should be working in something that uses, *gasp*, windows by the end of 2012.
I actually enjoy programming, so I'm putting up with the basicness of my current work with the intention that it will turn into something better in a bit.
I work as a systems developer for Standard Life. This means I get to program computers all day, or rather at the moment it means I get to surf the web while my mentor and my analyst change the specification I was working from about a foot to my left.
I work mostly in COBOL, a programming language that was first invented in the 60s, although I'm largely working with a version that dates from the 90s, which isn't quite so bad. At some point I hope to manouver myself into either the VB or Java teams (both more modern languages), and I've been assured that this won't be too hard once I've got some experience.
I currently spend most of my time looking at an entirely textual screen that looks something like this:
which is pretty sucky, but we've been assured that more modern tools are on their way and we should be working in something that uses, *gasp*, windows by the end of 2012.
I actually enjoy programming, so I'm putting up with the basicness of my current work with the intention that it will turn into something better in a bit.
Re: heh
That is, why not use VB or Java for the new development?
Re: heh
2)VB and Java don't work on mainframes.
3)New development needs to fit in seamlessly with the old development.
4)COBOL works very well for it's purpose, it just looks clunky compared to more modern languages.