Dear, I am currently using OpenCobolIDE, as editor for GnuCobol, on the LINUX UBUNTU 16.04 platform; I am thinking of updating linux, to version 20.04, but I will only go to the new version of linux, if and only if OpenCobolIDE, works correctly on ubuntu 20.04. I ask: Does OpenCobolIDE work correctly on Ubuntu 20.04?
What graphic editor do you use in conjunction with GnuCobol?
And which graphic editor is best for using the cobol environment?
Celso Henrique.
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
Anonymous
Anonymous
-
2020-06-03
To get back at your initial question "What is the best editor for GnuCobol?".
I use Microsoft Visual Studio Code (https://code.visualstudio.com/) with the extensions "bitlang's COBOL", "bitlang's COBOL Plus Pack" and "Nuuf's Hackers Haze Theme" on both Linux and MS-Windows.
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
vscode (the "software") is quite nice and free, but I'd advice against using the Microsoft "product" VSCode (non-free, defaults to telemetry, ...) see https://vscodium.com/#why for the reasons and how to still use the nice free software (for example with the VSCodium builds).
Note: the plus pack is obsolete, if you still have it I suggest to disable it.
Last edit: Simon Sobisch 2020-06-03
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
Simon, should the FAQ be updated to put VSCodium above OpenCobolIDE as the preferred IDE now? Even though, in terms of art, it isn't an IDE, just an editor with plugin powers.
If so, is there a direct link to the bitlang thingamabobs that make VSCodium more like an IDE for COBOL work?
Aside: To Celso @celsofigueiredo. Vim isn't just the best editor for GnuCOBOL. It's the best editor. IDE's are for weenies that probably like opera music, hateful freeform Jazz and that awful colour, Recreational Beige. Just kidding, in case you can't hear the tone in the trash talk typing. There is nothing wrong with Recreational Beige. :-)
Cheers,
Blue
😄
1
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
I'm going to get some opera tunes play now...
done (I really should visit one again, has been quite some years).
To your question: I'd personally prefer vscode (I'm not eager to build it myself so I'm using an apt install vscodium) over OCIDE nowadays, with the bitlang extension and at least one of the debug extensions (and of course a bunch more not related to COBOL).
Requested link https://open-vsx.org/extension/bitlang/cobol but I'd normally go with the more broad https://open-vsx.org/?search=cobol and from vscode it is either one click on the left "extensions" (or [Ctrl]+[Shift]+[X] to do this via keyboard) and then enter "cobol" (same result as on the web search above, because it is the same endpoint) and from the click "install".
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
Simon, I have installed vscodium on windows and Linux and Pop!OS.
On linux, I do not see right off on How to connect the gnuCOBOL compiler and runtime to vscodium ( have have the cobol debuger and the cobol lang extentions).
Is there an easy way to connect the compiler?
MickeyW
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
if you want to debug real projects you likely want to install cbl-gdb and the debug extension from COBOLworx
2 - per project you have:
decide how you want to build modules - I'd suggest a makefile, but you can also define the commands directly in vscodium
create a new workspace (under "file") containing the source folder(s) for your project
create one or more build tasks (either complete cobc command or make) and use the named patternmatchers defined by the "addon" extension (if you always want to be able to debug: call cobcd instead of cobc in both places)
create a debug configuration
If someone finds the time to write a nice tutorial, for example with the worldcities project, that would be useful, I won't find the time to do so in the next days...
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
should the FAQ be updated to put VSCodium above OpenCobolIDE as the preferred IDE now? Even though, in terms of art, it isn't an IDE, just an editor with plugin powers.
@btiffin I think you wrote about https://gnucobol.sourceforge.io/faq/index.html#does-gnucobol-have-an-ide - yes, I think that should be updated, OCIDE is less outdated than the GNAT idea, but it is still outdated and has some issues.
It is still reasonable to list it as "special COBOL IDE for OpenCOBOL/GnuCOBOL", but should have the "not maintained since ..." note and VSCodium as a general editor with at least one good general COBOL plugin (bitlang.cobol, language packs, additional debugging plugins, ...) should be preferable for most cases.
Note: most MinGW related entries are completely outdated.
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
I ask: Does OpenCobolIDE work correctly on Ubuntu 20.04?
If python2 works there, which I guess the answer is "yes", then "yes".
What graphic editor do you use in conjunction with GnuCobol?
Whatever is available :-) emacs only once, vim more often, some default texteditor - as long as it is no word processor.
I recently started to use [VSCodium}(https://vscodium.com/) [don't fall into the non-free "easy" MS binaries available under the name "VSCode"] - just add the repository once as it is noted in that page and then get the very regular updates of "vscode" (the project) via the system updates.
I suggest to use it along with vscode_cobol extension from bitlang (works quite nice, but does not have a "tree view" for the variables in the outline and possibly needs an adjustment in its encoding and other settings, but again: only done once). I actually enjoy to compile using this directly or via makefile, either as a "task" or from the "integrated terminal".
As far as I see, gnucobol-debug is another nice extension, especially if you are on native GNU/Linux :-) [my personal extension list also contains autoconf, Lex and SVN]
And which graphic editor is best for using the cobol environment?
Too opinion based. I suggest to strike this additional question through.
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
I use the(the name of the editor is the) This is an editor that looks like the old IBM CMS-Editor used by VM/370. It has a scale-line at top and you can set bounds and so on for changing data only in special rows of your file and so on. All the fine things, an IBM-host offers the developer
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
As a text editor, I'm used to using OpenCobolIDE, on linux ubuntu 16.04, but when I went to test OpenCobolIDE on ubuntu 20.04; gave error, what do I have to do, for OpenCobolIDE to work correctly on ubuntu 20.04?
Celso Henrique
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
Python2, opencobol and GNUcobol and dependencies, installed via repository and OpenCobolIDE, installed via the .DEB package:
python3-opencobolide_4.7.6-1_all.deb (md5) Debian package (Ubuntu> = 14.04).
In the version of ubuntu 16.04, OpenCobolUDE, is working correctly, but in the version of ubuntu 20.04, when installing OpenCobolIDE, it installs with errors.
Where did I go wrong?
Celso Henrique.
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
I tried to run opencobolide and gave the following error:
celso@celso-Aspire-4740:~$ opencobolide
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/bin/opencobolide", line 9, in <module>
load_entry_point('OpenCobolIDE==4.7.6', 'gui_scripts', 'opencobolide')()
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/open_cobol_ide/main.py", line 30, in main
from open_cobol_ide import system
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/open_cobol_ide/system.py", line 19, in <module>
ubuntu = platform.linux_distribution()[0].lower() == 'ubuntu'
AttributeError: module 'platform' has no attribute 'linux_distribution'</module></module>
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
Anonymous
Anonymous
-
2020-05-24
I solved by modifyng the /usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/open_cobol_ide/system.py file thjs way:
Dear anonymous.
This change of yours did not solve anything, as opencobolIDE still does not run on ubuntu 20.04.
Celso Henrique.
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
Anonymous
Anonymous
-
2020-06-15
VS Code and VS Codium are free for download. VS Code carries some Microsoft Licensed code. VS Codium replaced it an is no all running under Open Source Licenses. They appear to be functionally the same. The editor in these projects is highly configurable, COBOL aware (with the bitlang COBOL extension installed) and plays well with GnuCOBOL. The Camelian.Systems-developed GnuCOBOL Debugging Extension can be installed for debugging at the COBOL Source level and with variable values visible in the debugging screen.
I was an early user of CobolIDE and was forced to stop using it after Colin decided to move on to other things. For a graphical IDE I use VS Codium. For terminal work, VIM.
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
The nicest part of cbl-dbg - you can use it on the terminal with plain GDB too as it primarily is a GDB plugin, the vscode part comes "on top"; gnucobol-debug has the benefit of "no other tools needed, also works with older versions of GC and GDB" - but has a hard dependency on "vscode" (no terminal option).
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
Having tried to use vscode even following a help sheet BASIC VSCODE to compile a prog with GC 3.x without success as diagram 3 does NOT appear I am sticking to kate for Linux and I have that installed in Win10 as well as there are a lot of extras such as access to sql git, svn and lots more.
OK, I do not have a cobol syntax tool working with it - did try but have given up with it as I always use FREE format.
I have a few others but always seem to go back to kate!
Yes, I am happy to open a terminal and run cobc -x|m progname & cobxref progname free & profiler progname
with the last two if and as needed.
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
I was used to the "opencobolIDE" IDE, due to the ease of programming, both for windows and linux ubuntu, up to version 16.04. But as I now use version 20.04 of ubuntu the ide "opencobolIDE", does not execute.
Celso henrique.
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
Use Vim or Emacs. VSCode doesn't help a lot with column/file limits. The only worthy IDE for COBOL to try out would be OpenCobolIDE but it's development is dead and doesn't work on many LInux distributions (like Fedora unless if you have Fedora 24-28), it hardly works on Windows if you know how to install the COBOL libraries properly (it's "easier" to do it on Linux). Also, many pluggings from modern text editors don't work on GNUCOBOL (most of the debugger plugings are not good enough or either don't work). Your best choice, as I said before, is Vim or Emacs to edit COBOL programs and then learn how to use cobc properly.
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
What is the best editor for GnuCobol?
Dear, I am currently using OpenCobolIDE, as editor for GnuCobol, on the LINUX UBUNTU 16.04 platform; I am thinking of updating linux, to version 20.04, but I will only go to the new version of linux, if and only if OpenCobolIDE, works correctly on ubuntu 20.04. I ask: Does OpenCobolIDE work correctly on Ubuntu 20.04?
What graphic editor do you use in conjunction with GnuCobol?
And which graphic editor is best for using the cobol environment?
Celso Henrique.
To get back at your initial question "What is the best editor for GnuCobol?".
I use Microsoft Visual Studio Code (https://code.visualstudio.com/) with the extensions "bitlang's COBOL", "bitlang's COBOL Plus Pack" and "Nuuf's Hackers Haze Theme" on both Linux and MS-Windows.
vscode (the "software") is quite nice and free, but I'd advice against using the Microsoft "product" VSCode (non-free, defaults to telemetry, ...) see https://vscodium.com/#why for the reasons and how to still use the nice free software (for example with the VSCodium builds).
Note: the plus pack is obsolete, if you still have it I suggest to disable it.
Last edit: Simon Sobisch 2020-06-03
@sf-mensh
Simon, should the FAQ be updated to put VSCodium above OpenCobolIDE as the preferred IDE now? Even though, in terms of art, it isn't an IDE, just an editor with plugin powers.
If so, is there a direct link to the bitlang thingamabobs that make VSCodium more like an IDE for COBOL work?
Aside: To Celso @celsofigueiredo. Vim isn't just the best editor for GnuCOBOL. It's the best editor. IDE's are for weenies that probably like opera music, hateful freeform Jazz and that awful colour, Recreational Beige. Just kidding, in case you can't hear the tone in the trash talk typing. There is nothing wrong with Recreational Beige. :-)
Cheers,
Blue
I'm going to get some opera tunes play now...
done (I really should visit one again, has been quite some years).
To your question: I'd personally prefer vscode (I'm not eager to build it myself so I'm using an
apt install vscodium) over OCIDE nowadays, with the bitlang extension and at least one of the debug extensions (and of course a bunch more not related to COBOL).Requested link https://open-vsx.org/extension/bitlang/cobol but I'd normally go with the more broad https://open-vsx.org/?search=cobol and from vscode it is either one click on the left "extensions" (or [Ctrl]+[Shift]+[X] to do this via keyboard) and then enter "cobol" (same result as on the web search above, because it is the same endpoint) and from the click "install".
Simon, I have installed vscodium on windows and Linux and Pop!OS.
On linux, I do not see right off on How to connect the gnuCOBOL compiler and runtime to vscodium ( have have the cobol debuger and the cobol lang extentions).
Is there an easy way to connect the compiler?
MickeyW
For connecting the compiler you'd normally do the following:
1 - one-time setup:
2 - per project you have:
cobcdinstead ofcobcin both places)If someone finds the time to write a nice tutorial, for example with the worldcities project, that would be useful, I won't find the time to do so in the next days...
Gee, and I was looking at the boxed set of Parsifal as light listening this evening. ;-)
@btiffin I think you wrote about https://gnucobol.sourceforge.io/faq/index.html#does-gnucobol-have-an-ide - yes, I think that should be updated, OCIDE is less outdated than the GNAT idea, but it is still outdated and has some issues.
It is still reasonable to list it as "special COBOL IDE for OpenCOBOL/GnuCOBOL", but should have the "not maintained since ..." note and VSCodium as a general editor with at least one good general COBOL plugin (bitlang.cobol, language packs, additional debugging plugins, ...) should be preferable for most cases.
Note: most MinGW related entries are completely outdated.
If python2 works there, which I guess the answer is "yes", then "yes".
Whatever is available :-) emacs only once, vim more often, some default texteditor - as long as it is no word processor.
I recently started to use [VSCodium}(https://vscodium.com/) [don't fall into the non-free "easy" MS binaries available under the name "VSCode"] - just add the repository once as it is noted in that page and then get the very regular updates of "vscode" (the project) via the system updates.
I suggest to use it along with vscode_cobol extension from bitlang (works quite nice, but does not have a "tree view" for the variables in the outline and possibly needs an adjustment in its encoding and other settings, but again: only done once). I actually enjoy to compile using this directly or via makefile, either as a "task" or from the "integrated terminal".
As far as I see, gnucobol-debug is another nice extension, especially if you are on native GNU/Linux :-) [my personal extension list also contains autoconf, Lex and SVN]
Too opinion based. I suggest to
strike this additional question through.I use the(the name of the editor is the) This is an editor that looks like the old IBM CMS-Editor used by VM/370. It has a scale-line at top and you can set bounds and so on for changing data only in special rows of your file and so on. All the fine things, an IBM-host offers the developer
Dear,
As a text editor, I'm used to using OpenCobolIDE, on linux ubuntu 16.04, but when I went to test OpenCobolIDE on ubuntu 20.04; gave error, what do I have to do, for OpenCobolIDE to work correctly on ubuntu 20.04?
Celso Henrique
Did you install it from a repository? Do you have python2 installed?
Dear.
Python2, opencobol and GNUcobol and dependencies, installed via repository and OpenCobolIDE, installed via the .DEB package:
python3-opencobolide_4.7.6-1_all.deb (md5) Debian package (Ubuntu> = 14.04).
In the version of ubuntu 16.04, OpenCobolUDE, is working correctly, but in the version of ubuntu 20.04, when installing OpenCobolIDE, it installs with errors.
Where did I go wrong?
Celso Henrique.
Dear.
I tried to run opencobolide and gave the following error:
celso@celso-Aspire-4740:~$ opencobolide
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/bin/opencobolide", line 9, in <module>
load_entry_point('OpenCobolIDE==4.7.6', 'gui_scripts', 'opencobolide')()
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/open_cobol_ide/main.py", line 30, in main
from open_cobol_ide import system
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/open_cobol_ide/system.py", line 19, in <module>
ubuntu = platform.linux_distribution()[0].lower() == 'ubuntu'
AttributeError: module 'platform' has no attribute 'linux_distribution'</module></module>
I solved by modifyng the /usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/open_cobol_ide/system.py file thjs way:
if linux:
# ubuntu = platform.linux_distribution()[0].lower() == 'ubuntu'
ubuntu = True
else:
ubuntu = False
I was having the same trouble and this resolved for me.
Me too
Dear anonymous.
This change of yours did not solve anything, as opencobolIDE still does not run on ubuntu 20.04.
Celso Henrique.
VS Code and VS Codium are free for download. VS Code carries some Microsoft Licensed code. VS Codium replaced it an is no all running under Open Source Licenses. They appear to be functionally the same. The editor in these projects is highly configurable, COBOL aware (with the bitlang COBOL extension installed) and plays well with GnuCOBOL. The Camelian.Systems-developed GnuCOBOL Debugging Extension can be installed for debugging at the COBOL Source level and with variable values visible in the debugging screen.
I was an early user of CobolIDE and was forced to stop using it after Colin decided to move on to other things. For a graphical IDE I use VS Codium. For terminal work, VIM.
The nicest part of cbl-dbg - you can use it on the terminal with plain GDB too as it primarily is a GDB plugin, the vscode part comes "on top"; gnucobol-debug has the benefit of "no other tools needed, also works with older versions of GC and GDB" - but has a hard dependency on "vscode" (no terminal option).
Having tried to use vscode even following a help sheet BASIC VSCODE to compile a prog with GC 3.x without success as diagram 3 does NOT appear I am sticking to kate for Linux and I have that installed in Win10 as well as there are a lot of extras such as access to sql git, svn and lots more.
OK, I do not have a cobol syntax tool working with it - did try but have given up with it as I always use FREE format.
I have a few others but always seem to go back to kate!
Yes, I am happy to open a terminal and run cobc -x|m progname & cobxref progname free & profiler progname
with the last two if and as needed.
Dears.
I was used to the "opencobolIDE" IDE, due to the ease of programming, both for windows and linux ubuntu, up to version 16.04. But as I now use version 20.04 of ubuntu the ide "opencobolIDE", does not execute.
Celso henrique.
Suggest you re install it just in case upgrade broke it.
Upgrading any Linux distro just produces some problems and if thats the only one you are doing well.
Use Vim or Emacs. VSCode doesn't help a lot with column/file limits. The only worthy IDE for COBOL to try out would be OpenCobolIDE but it's development is dead and doesn't work on many LInux distributions (like Fedora unless if you have Fedora 24-28), it hardly works on Windows if you know how to install the COBOL libraries properly (it's "easier" to do it on Linux). Also, many pluggings from modern text editors don't work on GNUCOBOL (most of the debugger plugings are not good enough or either don't work). Your best choice, as I said before, is Vim or Emacs to edit COBOL programs and then learn how to use cobc properly.