COBOL vs Hack: What are the differences?

Introduction

In the realm of programming languages, COBOL and Hack stand out as distinct entities with unique characteristics. Below are key differences between COBOL and Hack that programmers and developers should be aware of.

1. Primary Usage: COBOL, which stands for Common Business-Oriented Language, is primarily used in the business and finance sectors for large-scale, mission-critical applications such as banking systems or governmental applications. In contrast, Hack is a programming language developed by Facebook that is mainly used for web development and focuses on scalability and performance in building complex websites and apps.

2. Temporal Context: COBOL has been around since 1959 and has a rich legacy as one of the oldest high-level programming languages still in use today, known for its readability and robustness in handling extensive data processing tasks. On the other hand, Hack is a more modern language that emerged in the 2010s, built on top of PHP, incorporating features for static typing, enhanced security, and interoperability with existing PHP code bases.

3. Type Systems: COBOL follows a more traditional approach with a weak static typing system, where data types are not explicitly declared, leading to potential type-related errors at runtime. Conversely, Hack embraces a strict and strong static typing system that helps catch errors at compile-time, improving code quality and maintainability by enforcing type safety throughout the development process.

4. Tooling and Ecosystem: The tooling and ecosystem around COBOL are well-established but may lack some modern development conveniences, given its age and focus on long-term stability. In contrast, Hack benefits from robust tooling support, particularly within the Facebook developer community, with tools like HHVM (HipHop Virtual Machine) for runtime execution, Hack type checker for static analysis, and Hack language server for editor integration.

5. Community and Adoption: COBOL has a relatively smaller and aging community due to its specialized usage in legacy systems and specific industries, making it challenging for new developers to enter the field. Hack, being backed by Facebook, has a more vibrant community and growing adoption among web developers, especially those working on PHP-based projects, due to its modern features and performance enhancements.

6. Language Philosophy: COBOL is designed with a focus on readability and ease of understanding for non-technical stakeholders involved in business processes, aiming to bridge the gap between business requirements and technical implementation. Conversely, Hack emphasizes efficiency, security, and scalability in web development, leveraging modern programming language principles to address the challenges of building and maintaining large-scale web applications.

In Summary, COBOL and Hack differ in their primary usage domains, temporal contexts, type systems, tooling and ecosystems, community support, and underlying language philosophies, catering to distinct needs in the ever-evolving landscape of programming languages.