Unraveling Performance: COBOL vs. Translated Java and C# Applications Deployed on Cloud

COBOL, being a compiled language, often delivers superior performance compared to interpreted languages such as Java. However, Java is specifically designed to excel in multi threading and distributed processing, making it well suited for leveraging cost effective multi processor systems, multi core infrastructure, and cloud deployments.

This article examines performance aspects of Java and C# applications that are produced through automated COBOL translation.

• MIPS: Mainframe vs. Cloud

  Cloud scalability is an immense advantage. Depending on the cloud platform, whether Microsoft Azure, Amazon AWS, or a private cloud, applications can efficiently scale processor availability and power based on demand.

  This capability largely addresses performance concerns for cloud deployed applications.

  Learn more: Mainframe Modernization Strategy

• Batch Applications

  Batch applications, especially those sensitive to performance, can benefit in two key ways:

  • Distributing processor load in the cloud by running different batch steps on different processors.
  • Parallelization: Splitting processing to run concurrently. For example: one thread processes records A-M, and another processes N-Z.

  It is critical that the translated code, and its runtime libraries, support safe parallelization. See Migrating COBOL to multi threaded Java and .NET.

• Online Applications

  The translation of online COBOL code to Java or C# integrates with servers such as Apache Tomcat, WebSphere, WebLogic, or Microsoft IIS. Performance for these systems usually scales with concurrent users. As the number of users grows, processor and memory demand increase.

  Modern load balancing and horizontal scaling strategies are mature and proven at global scale by large cloud platforms. This means that high concurrency is normally addressed with standard, well understood techniques.

• VSAM / KSDS vs. SQL

  SQL requests are more expensive than direct VSAM reads, but SQL databases provide stronger integration options, better tooling, and easier long term maintenance. Many COBOL systems have already moved from VSAM / KSDS to SQL for exactly these reasons.

  To protect performance, the translated Java or C# system should minimize round trips and batch queries efficiently.

  Learn more: Transitioning VSAM / KSDS files to SQL Databases

• Minimizing COBOL Emulation

  Certain COBOL features, such as packed decimals, variable group assignments, REDEFINE statements, and GO TO statements, must either be translated into native Java or C# structures or supported by small targeted runtime helpers.

  A usage analysis during the conversion helps decide which path is best, and prevents unnecessary emulation overhead.

  Get more details: COBOL to Java / C# Conversion FAQ

• JCL and SORT

  SoftwareMining's pure Java SORT utility covers most SORT / DFSort features and runs on any Java platform. Performance can improve significantly with enough memory, SSD storage, RAM disk, or similar techniques.

  See: JCL to Unix / Windows Shell Scripts