OpenCobolIDE is a simple and lightweight cobol IDE based on the GnuCobol compiler.

The software is written in Python using PyQt5 (or PyQt4) and pyQode

• native (fast) cobol syntax highlighter
• cobol code completion
• cobol code folding
• navigable tree view of division, sections, paragraphs etc (fully synchronised with the code folding panel)
• smart auto indentation
• tool for computing PIC fields offsets
• compile as a program (.exe) or as a subprogram (.so/.dll)
• run the program from the editor or from a configurable external terminal ( necessary if you are using the SCREEN section).
• dark color schemes and theme
• cross platform: works on GNU/Linux, Windows and Mac OSX

OpenCobolIDE is released under the GPL version 3

• GnuCobol
• Python3
• PyQt4 or PyQt5
• setuptools
• pyqode.qt
• pyqode.core
• pyqode.cobol
• Pygments
• qdarkstyle

Install pyqt5, open-cobol and pip using your package manager, then run the following commands:

sudo pip3 install OpenCobolIDE

If you are using Archlinux, you can install OpenCobolIDE and all its dependencies from the AUR: https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/OpenCobolIDE/

Note that if you have both PyQt5 and PyQt4 on your system, the IDE will use PyQt5 by default. To force the use of PyQt4, you should set the QT_API environment variable to pyqt4.

There is a windows installer available here: https://launchpad.net/cobcide/+download

There is a dmg image available here: https://launchpad.net/cobcide/+download

Before running the app, you first have to install the GnuCobol compiler, e.g. using homebrew:

brew install open-cobol

If you installed the compiler in a non-standard path and it is not recognized by the IDE, you can specify the path to the compiler in the preferences dialog under the Build & Run section (make sure to only specify the directory where the compiler can be found, not the full path).

• Downloads
• Source repository
• Issue tracker
• Documentation

I am by no way a cobol expert, I just had to work on a cobol project at school with an awful IDE (NetExpress on a Windows Xp virtual machine). As I was writing pyqode, I thought it would be nice to use it to make a simple cobol editor for GNU/Linux.

I've only learnt COBOL 74 and the IDE has been designed with this standard in mind. I don't plan to work with cobol at the moment nor to learn a new standard but if you found a missing feature, feel free to open a feature request. I'm always looking forward to make OpenCobolIDE better for the experts.

Your advice will be very appreciated!

• Home page:

• Editor:

• Minimal view:

• Code folding:

• Offset calculator

• Dark style support