A New Generation,
The Same COBOL.

WapForm is an automated markup language that can be applied across Windows, Web, App, AI, EDA, and COBOL platforms. WapForm for COBOL does not replace COBOL—it provides a modernized, structured way to develop with it. Developers import COBOL into WapForm, build dynamically as if developing for the web, and finally export the same COBOL code again. No matter who develops it, the result is identical COBOL code. It preserves COBOL’s stability while delivering the flexibility and efficiency of modern development.
Why do we need WapForm?

COBOL is still running, but the talent and development model can no longer keep up

Core mainframe systems cannot stop, yet every upgrade feels like ‘defusing a bomb’.
Senior COBOL engineers are gradually retiring, and younger developers are reluctant to invest in an aging language.
Every bank and every team has its own COBOL style—the same logic written in different ways—which increases maintenance complexity and risk.
Adding new features is slow, because every line of code has to be ‘hand-carved’.
System risk keeps rising because no one dares to touch that big block of legacy code.
Rewriting into a new language is far too costly—an all-at-once rewrite is hard to bear in terms of both risk and budget.

The core value of WapForm is to give COBOL a sustainable development model that multiple generations can take over—under the premise of ‘no rewrites and no downtime’.

Automated Markup

What is WapForm?

The fastest window-based development tool, powered by built-in form and report generators, enables efficient and robust application development. However, because it is not based on web language architecture, it lacks flexibility across web platforms. Meanwhile, dynamic web languages—designed for the web with concise syntax—excel in web environments but fail to meet the needs of windowed applications, creating a clear technological gap.

WapForm bridges this gap by transforming powerful window-based development capabilities into an automated web markup language, combining the strengths of both worlds to open up a new frontier in application development:

  • Faster than fast: Greatly shortens development cycles with real-time editing and dynamic updates, pushing productivity beyond limits and keeping you ahead of the market.
  • Truly cross-platform: Develop once and deploy seamlessly across Windows, Web, multi-tier, and mobile platforms, ensuring efficient maintenance and consistent performance.
  • Web-native innovation: Built-in, flexible template-trigger mechanisms simplify report binding and reduce main program load, providing users with an intuitive and smooth operational experience.
  • Rock-solid stability: Modular architecture and rigorous data logic validation ensure reliability and scalability to meet enterprise-grade application standards.

WapForm features a complete form and report generation framework with flexible template design capabilities. Its template-trigger pages streamline control logic and simplify processes. The system supports multiple output formats including preview, print, PDF, and Excel. Lightweight and highly extensible, WapForm can be rapidly integrated into various systems, delivering true cross-platform deployment.

Still COBOL

From COBOL to WapForm and Back to COBOL

Import Existing COBOL

Import existing COBOL programs into WapForm. Through automated analysis and structured markup, the system decomposes code into understandable and reusable logic blocks.

Design and Develop in WapForm

Like writing in a markup language, you can modularize business logic, define inputs and outputs, transaction flows, and exception handling. Using standardized syntax and development rules ensures consistent coding styles across teams.

One-Click Export to Standard COBOL

After completing the design, WapForm automatically generates COBOL code that can be compiled and executed directly in mainframe environments. Regardless of developer or project, the output’s format and structure remain consistent, reducing maintenance costs.

No Downtime, No Rewrite — Stable Deployment

Because the final result is still COBOL, the original mainframe environment remains intact. Existing toolchains and deployment processes continue to work, minimizing the risks of large-scale rewrites or system migrations.

Key Features & Advantages

Transform COBOL development into a standardized and transferable engineering process

Automated Code Generation

COBOL code is automatically generated by WapForm, minimizing manual errors and human oversight.

Code Consistency and Standardization

Regardless of developer or outsourcing team, the final COBOL output maintains a consistent and predictable structure and style.

Modular Design and Code Reuse

Encapsulate common logic into reusable modules—design once, reuse many times—reducing overall maintenance costs.

Cross-Platform Support: Design Once, Deploy Anywhere

The same model and framework can extend to Windows, Web, App, and AI, allowing existing mainframe logic to naturally evolve into multi-platform applications.

Automated Testing and Quality Control

Standardized processes and automated testing ensure that every change is verifiable and traceable, improving long-term maintenance quality.

Shorter Development Cycles, Lower Human Risk

New-generation engineers no longer need to master COBOL’s low-level details—using familiar structured and markup-based thinking, they can develop new features for COBOL systems with ease.

Six core features that make COBOL system development faster, more stable, and more sustainable.
Enterprise Value & Use Cases

Extend mainframe investments, solve the talent gap, and accelerate new feature releases

Extend Existing Mainframe Investments

No need for large-scale rewrites — existing COBOL assets continue to deliver value.

Reduce Talent and Handover Risks

New-generation developers can enter the COBOL world through WapForm — without mastering traditional syntax, they can maintain and expand core systems.

Accelerate New Feature Development & Deployment

With standardized processes and automated generation, the time from request to production is dramatically shortened.

Enhance Long-Term Maintainability & Scalability

Modular architecture and automated testing ensure the system remains easy to modify and extend even after many years.

Smooth Transition to Modern Architecture

Gradually migrate existing COBOL systems into the WapForm development model without disrupting business continuity — laying the foundation for cloud, API, and AI transformation.

Build Sustainable Competitiveness

By combining mainframe stability with modern development flexibility, enterprises can maintain efficiency, reduce risk, and continuously innovate through transformation.

Outlook

Make COBOL an evolving asset — not a burden

If your organization:

  • Still runs critical systems on COBOL,
  • Is concerned about the talent gap and rewrite risks,
  • Yet wants to accelerate new feature development and expand to Web / App / AI platforms…

Then WapForm for COBOL is the solution designed for you.

WapForm is not here to replace COBOL — it’s here to ensure that COBOL can continue to be developed and maintained safely and efficiently for the next ten, even twenty years.

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