cobol.instructions.md

applyTo	**/*.cob

COBOL Comprehension Instructions

When analyzing COBOL code in this workspace, use these instructions to understand its structure, business logic, and data flow.

COBOL Structure

• IDENTIFICATION DIVISION: Program metadata (PROGRAM-ID)
• DATA DIVISION: Variable declarations in WORKING-STORAGE and LINKAGE sections
• PROCEDURE DIVISION: Business logic and program flow

Key Patterns to Identify

1. Data definitions: PIC clauses define data types (9 = numeric, X = alphanumeric, V = decimal point)
2. Program calls: CALL statements indicate inter-program communication
3. Control flow: PERFORM, EVALUATE, IF/ELSE structures
4. Data operations: MOVE, ADD, SUBTRACT, MULTIPLY, DIVIDE

Analysis Approach

When asked to explain COBOL code:

1. Identify the program's purpose from PROGRAM-ID and overall structure
2. Document all data elements and their constraints
3. Trace the business logic in PROCEDURE DIVISION
4. Note any inter-program dependencies (CALL statements)
5. Identify business rules embedded in conditional logic

Output for SpecOps

When extracting specifications from COBOL, produce plain-language descriptions that:

• A non-programmer domain expert could verify
• Capture business rules, not implementation details
• Document edge cases and error handling
• Note any implicit assumptions in the code