Product relationships: compiler, runtime library, debug

IBM® Enterprise COBOL for z/OS® is IBM's strategic COBOL compiler for the IBM z® platform. Enterprise COBOL is comprised of features from IBM COBOL, VS COBOL II, and OS/VS COBOL with additional features such as multithread enablement, Unicode, XML and JSON capabilities, object-oriented COBOL syntax for Java™ interoperability, integrated CICS® translator, and integrated Db2® coprocessor. Enterprise COBOL, as well as IBM COBOL and VS COBOL II, supports the 85 COBOL Standard. Some features such as the CMPR2 compiler option and SOM-based object-oriented COBOL syntax that IBM COBOL supported are not available with Enterprise COBOL.

Language Environment® provides a single language runtime library for COBOL, PL/I, C/C++, and FORTRAN. In addition to support for existing applications, Language Environment also provides common condition handling, improved interlanguage communication (ILC), reusable libraries, and more efficient application development. Application development is simplified by the use of common conventions, common runtime facilities, and a set of shared callable services. Language Environment is required to run Enterprise COBOL programs.

Debugging capabilities are provided by Debug Tool. Debug Tool provides significantly improved debugging function over previous COBOL debugging tools, and can be used to debug Enterprise COBOL programs, IBM COBOL programs, VS COBOL II programs running under Language Environment, and other programs including assembler, PL/I, and C/C++.

With OS/VS COBOL and VS COBOL II, the runtime library was included with the compiler. In addition, the debug component was also an optional part of a single COBOL product. In Enterprise COBOL Version 3 Debug Tool was included with the full-function version of the compiler.

With Enterprise COBOL Version 5 and Version 6, the compiler, the debugging component, and the runtime library are all separate, although the runtime library (Language Environment) is included with the z/OS operating system and does not need to be purchased separately.