openhands/build-setup

Set up a build environment and create test fixtures for validating COBOL-to-Java migrations.

To install GnuCOBOL, run: ./scripts/install-gnucobol.sh On Windows, run that shell script from Git Bash/WSL (bash scripts/install-gnucobol.sh) or install GnuCOBOL with a Windows package manager and document the chosen command in build_notes.md.

Phase 1: Build Setup

COBOL Build

• Find a way to compile and run the COBOL code (e.g., GnuCOBOL)
• Verify at least one program compiles and executes
• Note any dependencies or setup required

Java Build

• Initialize a Java project alongside the COBOL code (Maven or Gradle)
• Set up standard directory structure: src/main/java, src/test/java
• Include JUnit 5 as a test dependency
• Verify the project builds (even if empty)

Phase 2: Test Fixture Generation

For each major COBOL program:

Create Synthetic Test Inputs

• Save to: test-fixtures/inputs/{PROGRAM_NAME}/
• Create 3-5 test cases per program covering:
  • Normal/happy path (valid, typical data)
  • Edge cases (empty input, maximum values, boundary conditions)
  • Error cases (invalid formats, missing required fields)

Generate Golden Outputs

• Run each COBOL program with each test input
• Save COBOL output to: test-fixtures/expected_outputs/{PROGRAM_NAME}/
• These become the "golden" outputs that Java must match

Create Test Manifest

Save to test_manifest.json:

{
  "PROGRAM1": {
    "description": "Brief description of what this program does",
    "test_cases": [
      {
        "name": "normal_invoice",
        "input": "inputs/PROGRAM1/test_001.dat",
        "expected": "expected_outputs/PROGRAM1/test_001.out",
        "description": "Happy path"
      }
    ]
  }
}

Deliverables

1. build_notes.md — Build instructions for COBOL and Java
2. test-fixtures/ — Directory with inputs/ and expected_outputs/
3. test_manifest.json — JSON manifest of all test cases

Priority

Focus on programs with core business logic (transactions, calculations, data processing). UI-heavy programs (menu screens, reports) are lower priority.