Allow me to add my welcome to the Micro Focus World Blog space. In the next few months as we prepare for Micro Focus World, I will be writting regularly to this blog space for users of Micro Focus COBOL products such as Net Express, Net Express with .NET and Server Express. My name is John Billman and I’m a Product Manager based in the Micro Focus Newbury, UK offices.

Where to start? Well, the context of this blog is Micro Focus World in Dallas, TX from May 11-13 2009. This is a discussion forum to explore the problems, solutions and information that will make this a truly compelling and valuable event. Through this process I’ll be soliciting ideas, feedback and comments in this space on the sessions that would be of most value to this group.

The starting point of course for usage of Net Express and Server Express is an investment in COBOL. This COBOL code often forms the heart of the business logic and data processing in an application or solution; it is fast, scalable, reliable and maintainable. At the same time COBOL IDEs and most importantly applications written in COBOL have continued to evolve alongside the world around them.

However, something I’d like us explore together in this blog and hopefully at Micro Focus World is the next step in the evolution or modernization of these critical COBOL applications. In other words, what are the priorities in extending these assets? What are the problems we are trying to solve? How does the changing business and technical landscape affect these applications? SOA, Web 2.0, .NET and the cloud all potentially have a role to play in the Future of COBOL applications – but what is the route to embrace these technologies?

So let’s start the blogging process, all comments are welcome.