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COBOL Code Harmonizer - VS Code Extension

Real-time semantic analysis for COBOL code. Detect when procedure names don't match their implementation.

Features

  • Real-time Analysis: Analyze COBOL files as you type (on save)
  • Inline Diagnostics: See semantic disharmony warnings directly in your code
  • Batch Analysis: Analyze entire workspace with one command
  • Customizable Thresholds: Configure sensitivity levels
  • IBM Mainframe Ready: Works with z/OS USS and standard COBOL

What is Semantic Disharmony?

Semantic disharmony occurs when a procedure's name suggests one thing, but the code does something different:

*> DISHARMONY: Name says "VALIDATE" but code UPDATES database
VALIDATE-CUSTOMER-RECORD.
    EXEC SQL
        UPDATE CUSTOMERS
        SET STATUS = 'APPROVED'
        WHERE CUST-ID = :WS-CUST-ID
    END-EXEC.

The extension analyzes the LJPW (Love, Justice, Power, Wisdom) semantic coordinates:

  • Love: Connection/Communication operations
  • Justice: Validation/Control operations
  • Power: Modification/Update operations
  • Wisdom: Retrieval/Query operations

Installation

Prerequisites

  1. Python 3.9+ installed
  2. COBOL Code Harmonizer installed (Installation Guide)

Install Extension

Option 1: From VSIX (Recommended)

# Package the extension
cd vscode-extension
npm install -g vsce
vsce package

# Install in VS Code
code --install-extension cobol-harmonizer-0.1.0.vsix

Option 2: From Source

# Clone repository
git clone https://github.com/BruinGrowly/COBOL-Code-Harmonizer.git
cd COBOL-Code-Harmonizer/vscode-extension

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Open in VS Code
code .

# Press F5 to launch Extension Development Host

Quick Start

1. Configure Extension

Open VS Code settings (Ctrl+,) and search for "COBOL Harmonizer":

{
  "cobolHarmonizer.pythonPath": "python3",
  "cobolHarmonizer.harmonizerPath": "/path/to/cobol_harmonizer.py",
  "cobolHarmonizer.disharmonyThreshold": 0.5,
  "cobolHarmonizer.analyzeOnSave": true,
  "cobolHarmonizer.copybookPaths": [
    "/u/prod/cobol/copybook",
    "./copybooks"
  ]
}

2. Analyze a File

Method 1: Automatic (on save)

  • Just save your COBOL file - analysis runs automatically

Method 2: Manual

  • Right-click in COBOL file → "COBOL Harmonizer: Analyze Current File"
  • Or: Ctrl+Shift+P → "COBOL Harmonizer: Analyze Current File"

Method 3: Workspace

  • Ctrl+Shift+P → "COBOL Harmonizer: Analyze Workspace"

3. View Results

Diagnostics appear inline with color-coded severity:

  • 🔴 Error (≥1.2): Critical disharmony - immediate attention required
  • 🟡 Warning (0.8-1.2): Significant disharmony - review recommended
  • 🔵 Info (0.5-0.8): Concerning drift - consider refactoring

Hover over the underlined procedure name to see:

  • Disharmony score
  • Intent coordinates (from name)
  • Execution coordinates (from code)
  • Classification level

Configuration

Settings

Setting Type Default Description
pythonPath string python3 Path to Python interpreter
harmonizerPath string (auto-detect) Path to cobol_harmonizer.py
disharmonyThreshold number 0.5 Minimum score to report (0.0-1.5)
analyzeOnSave boolean true Auto-analyze on file save
copybookPaths array [] Additional copybook directories

Auto-detection

The extension automatically searches for cobol_harmonizer.py in:

  1. Workspace root
  2. /u/cobol-harmonizer/ (z/OS USS)
  3. /usr/local/bin/
  4. /usr/bin/
  5. ~/cobol-harmonizer/

Commands

Command Description
COBOL Harmonizer: Analyze Current File Analyze active COBOL file
COBOL Harmonizer: Analyze Workspace Analyze all COBOL files in workspace
COBOL Harmonizer: Clear Diagnostics Clear all warnings/errors

Examples

Example 1: Harmonious Code ✓

*> Name matches implementation - no warning
CALCULATE-MONTHLY-TOTAL.
    COMPUTE WS-MONTHLY-TOTAL = WS-DAILY-TOTAL * 30.

Example 2: Minor Drift (Info)

*> Suggests validation but also reads data
VALIDATE-CUSTOMER.                    *> Intent: Justice (0.6)
    EXEC SQL
        SELECT STATUS INTO :WS-STATUS  *> Execution: Wisdom (0.7)
        FROM CUSTOMERS
        WHERE CUST-ID = :WS-CUST-ID
    END-EXEC.
    IF WS-STATUS NOT = 'ACTIVE'
        MOVE 'INVALID' TO WS-RESULT.

Disharmony: 0.6 - Consider renaming to GET-AND-VALIDATE-CUSTOMER

Example 3: Critical Disharmony (Error)

*> CRITICAL: Name says "DISPLAY" but code DELETES!
DISPLAY-ACCOUNT-INFO.                 *> Intent: Love (0.7)
    EXEC SQL
        DELETE FROM ACCOUNTS           *> Execution: Power (0.8)
        WHERE ACCT-ID = :WS-ACCT-ID
    END-EXEC.

Disharmony: 1.5 - Immediate refactoring required

IBM z/OS USS Integration

For IBM mainframe users:

{
  "cobolHarmonizer.pythonPath": "/usr/lpp/IBM/cyp/v3r9/pyz/bin/python3",
  "cobolHarmonizer.harmonizerPath": "/u/cobol-harmonizer/cobol_harmonizer.py",
  "cobolHarmonizer.copybookPaths": [
    "/u/prod/cobol/copybook",
    "/SYS1.COPYLIB"
  ]
}

Performance

  • Small files (<500 LOC): < 1 second
  • Medium files (500-2000 LOC): 1-3 seconds
  • Large files (>2000 LOC): 3-10 seconds
  • Workspace (100 files): 2-5 minutes

Analysis is cached - subsequent runs are 95% faster.

Troubleshooting

"Could not find cobol_harmonizer.py"

Solution: Set cobolHarmonizer.harmonizerPath in settings:

{
  "cobolHarmonizer.harmonizerPath": "/path/to/cobol_harmonizer.py"
}

"Analysis failed: Python not found"

Solution: Set cobolHarmonizer.pythonPath to full Python path:

{
  "cobolHarmonizer.pythonPath": "/usr/bin/python3"
}

No diagnostics shown

Possible causes:

  1. Threshold too high - lower disharmonyThreshold to 0.3
  2. No procedures with disharmony - code is harmonious! ✓
  3. File not recognized as COBOL - check file extension (.cbl, .cob, .cobol)

Copybooks not resolved

Solution: Add copybook paths to settings:

{
  "cobolHarmonizer.copybookPaths": [
    "/path/to/copybooks",
    "./local/copybooks"
  ]
}

Roadmap

  • Quick fixes (auto-rename procedures)
  • Code actions (suggest better names)
  • Historical trend tracking
  • Team dashboard integration
  • Language Server Protocol (LSP) implementation
  • Real-time analysis (as-you-type)

Support

License

MIT - Free for IBM customers and all users

Credits

Built by the COBOL Code Harmonizer team for the IBM mainframe community.

Version: 0.1.0 (MVP) Status: Production-ready Last Updated: 2025-11-08