There are two free and Open Source Software COBOL compiler packages: GnuCOBOL and the more recent GCC COBOL. GnuCOBOL ( cobc ) is the result of decades of incremental development and enhancement. It compiles COBOL source code to “equivalent” C language source code for GCC to compile into native machine language programs. GCC COBOL ( gcobol ) eliminates the C language and produces input directly into GCC's “middle and back ends.”
GnuCOBOL has seen extensive use by various developers. It has been a useful replacement for Microfocus COBOL users frustrated by the costs and limitations of that stack. Unfortunately, the use of C language as an intermediary language poses many challenges to its modernization and maintenance.
gcobol is a new technology based on a more modern COBOL Language Standard and a more straightforward design approach. It is also free and Open Source Software capable of generating native (machine language) programs for the many platforms supported by GCC.