To Java Migration
Migrate COBOL code to idiomatic Java, preserving business logic while following Java best practices.
by openhands · MIT
The skill
Migrate COBOL code to idiomatic Java, preserving business logic while following Java best practices. Use for COBOL modernization projects.
Migrate COBOL code to idiomatic Java, preserving all business logic.
Code Style Requirements
Write idiomatic Java, NOT literal COBOL translations:
- Use Java conventions: camelCase names, standard collections (List, Map)
- Use Java standard library instead of rolling your own
- No god classes — split into cohesive, single-responsibility classes
- No TODO comments or stub implementations — fully implement everything
Robustness Requirements
- Validate inputs at method entry (null checks, range validation)
- Use try-catch for all I/O and external operations
- Use try-with-resources for files, streams, connections
- Handle errors gracefully with meaningful messages
Configuration Requirements
- No hardcoded file paths or credentials — use environment variables
- No magic numbers — use named constants
- Make limits and timeouts configurable
Documentation Requirements
- Add COBOL references:
// COBOL equivalent: BNK1CRA.cbl 145-167 - Document assumptions made during conversion
- Add Javadoc to public methods
Testing Requirements
If test fixtures exist (see cobol-build-setup skill):
- Create a JUnit test class for each migrated program
- Load inputs from fixtures, assert output matches expected (golden) output
- All tests must pass before migration is complete
References
- See references/cobol-to-java-example.md for a complete transformation example
- See references/datatype-mappings.md for COBOL→Java type mappings
Done When
✓ Code compiles without errors ✓ All JUnit tests pass (Java output matches COBOL golden output) ✓ No TODO or stub implementations remain ✓ COBOL references documented in comments
Use this skill
Connect your agent to the Skill Store MCP server and ask for it by ref: openhands/to-java-migration-27843571476.
Details
- Publisher
- openhands
- Category
- Software Development › Languages & frameworks
- License
- MIT
- Updated
- 2026-10-19
References
More from openhands
- Build Setup Set up build environment and test fixtures for COBOL-to-Java migrations.
- Cobol Modernization End-to-end COBOL to Java migration workflow.
- Mainframe Planning Create a transformation guide for replacing mainframe-specific COBOL constructs with standard COB…
- Mainframe Removal Apply mainframe dependency transformations to COBOL code using a pre-generated transformation guide.