Choosing a target environment
From "Special Report (sidebar)",  Access to Wang, May 1994
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Previously, running your Wang COBOL apps reduced your platform choice to one: a Wang VS with attached terminals. As you move to open systems you have many more options - and some choices on the production and development platforms. Here's a comparison of some of the options:

• Host-based production on Unix: A "traditional" minicomputer replacement. May require unusually large amounts of memory and disk storage to support memory-hungry run-time systems for interpretive COBOL compilers. Development on the main system subject to high tier pricing for compiler and tools.

• Host-based production on VAX: Similar characteristics as Unix environment except development tools are angled more toward commercial applications and there are fewer vendors of development tools.

• PC-based development: Off-loading the development process to PCs is practical and often cost-effective. PC tools are more robust and total licensing costs may be lower than similar tools on the host - even after purchasing individual copies for each developer. Host run-time licensing costs still apply if an interpretive compiler is chosen.

• PC-based production system: VS applications designed for a host environment are rarely a good fit for standalone PCs, but networked file access has made this option more practical by providing a better means of data access. Windows, OS/2, and NT add better memory management, integration with shrink-wrapped software, and simultaneous access to multiple applications. WIndows application extensions such as drop-down menus can even be added to some products, furthering the illusion that the product is new. X terminals: The X graphical system is technically a form of client-server application design. X offers a graphical environment that combines processing power from the host and desktop systems, providing better performance. Costs to set up X terminals are higher due to the amount of processing power that must be used at the desktop. Though COBOL is not directly supported by any X system, applications can be run within a terminal session on an X terminal.

• Unix at the desktop: Several Intel-based Unix system vendors - including Sun, Novell, SCO, Interactive, Next and others - are vying for your attention. It's too soon to tell whether any of them will dislodge Windows. Some can run Windows applications through emulation,.act like X terminals, and still perform as Unix machines. Like X, the the desktop machine must be more powerful than usual.

• New desktop architectures: The IBM/Apple/Motorola PowerPC is likely to shake the market with its impressive power. It is too new to comment on its future as a target for COBOL applications.

• Mainframes: Most VS environments are not likely to convert to mainframes, but this choice should be examined if the organization's growth has outpaced the abilities of the information systems to support it. If a mainframe is your choice, development on PCs should be seriously considered; mainframe tools are very expensive and there are excellent PC development products designed to perform these tasks off- line.