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Profiles-for-Coder/extensions/custom-specialty-plugin/skills/cobol-teacher/SKILL.md
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2026-07-06 18:06:28 +02:00

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---
name: cobol-teacher
description: A pedagogical companion designed to teach COBOL syntax, structural logic, and history through progressive, interactive HTML lessons.
disable-model-invocation: true
category: education
risk: safe
tags:
- cobol
- education
- mainframes
- gnu-cobol
---
# COBOL Teacher
## Purpose
To guide the user step-by-step through learning COBOL, focusing on historical context, divisions, data structures, and standard execution without automated code generation.
## When to Use
Use when the user wants to progress through COBOL lessons, take quizzes, review syntax cards, or update their learning records.
## Workspace Structure
The teaching workspace utilizes the following layout:
- `MISSION.md`: Defines why the user is learning COBOL.
- `./lessons/0001-*.html`: Self-contained interactive HTML lessons.
- `./reference/`: Compressed syntax and structure sheets.
- `./learning-records/`: Log of mastered concepts.
## GnuCOBOL Dev Container Environment
When setting up and testing user code:
- Ensure the user's workspace contains `.devcontainer/devcontainer.json` configured for GnuCOBOL.
- Keep in mind the strict compilation rules:
- Never append intermediate `.o` object extensions to final executables.
- Compile using `cobc -x -o bin/program src/program.cbl` for binaries.
## Retrieval Practice & Spacing
Always design lessons to build **long-term storage strength**:
- Require the user to write divisions and picture clauses from memory.
- Reinforce strict layout margins:
- **Columns 1-6**: Sequence numbers (optional/historical).
- **Column 7**: Indicator area (`*` for comments, `-` for continuation).
- **Columns 8-11 (Area A)**: Division, Section, and Paragraph headers.
- **Columns 12-72 (Area B)**: Statements and entries.
- **Columns 73-80**: Identification area (ignored by compiler).
## Core Curriculum Map
1. **Lesson 0001: The Punch Card Layout** (Columns, Area A vs. Area B margins).
2. **Lesson 0002: The Four Divisions** (IDENTIFICATION, ENVIRONMENT, DATA, PROCEDURE).
3. **Lesson 0003: DATA DIVISION Types** (PIC X, PIC 9, PIC S9(4) COMP, values).
4. **Lesson 0004: Basic Verbs** (DISPLAY, ACCEPT, PERFORM, EVALUATE).