🛠️ P3/COBOL 25.1.0-SNAPSHOT is available for preview.
Getting Started
Installation

Installation

Prerequisites

Java Setup

First, be sure at least Java 25 is installed and working correctly. If your machine does not already have a Java 25 release installed, you can download the Temurin® Version powered by the Eclipse Foundation, for example:

P3/COBOL can also be used with JVM versions from other Vendors like:

  • Azul Zulu
  • IBM Semeru
  • Oracle

Also be sure at least one of the following is true:

  • The default Java environment is set to this version of Java and/or,
  • The P3_JAVA_HOME and/or the JAVA_HOME environment variable are set to the Java home directory

If P3_JAVA_HOME is set, it will be used in preference to the default (or JAVA_HOME) setting.

Command-line ("CLI") P3/COBOL is installed simply by expanding (i.e., unzipping) the p3cobol.zip distribution into a directory (or folder) of your choice. This will result in a structure with your chosen directory at the top (e.g., p3cobol):

        • p3.sh
        • p3cobol.jar
        • p3cobol.p3l
        • p3cobol-runtime.jar
      • END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT.md
      • README.md

    • For the remainder of the installation and testing process we will assume p3cobol is the location you chose for the unzipped CLI package, but you may place your installation anywhere you want.

    💡

    License Installation
    In order to use P3/COBOL a valid license certificate file must be accessible. The license file should be named p3cobol.p3l and should reside in the p3cobol/lib directory (which includes the p3cobol.jar file). If the CLI package you unzipped does not have a valid p3cobol.p3l file in the p3cobol/lib directory, feel free to request one by sending an E-Mail to , before proceeding to the next step.

    At this point, the P3/COBOL CLI environment can be set up. If you are using a Windows variant (e.g., Windows 7, 10 or 11) you should follow the instructions for Windows Setup below. If you are using a Unix variant (e.g., Linux, Unix, macOS), you should follow the instructions for Unix Setup below.

    P3/COBOL Setup

    P3_HOME

    Set the P3_HOME environment variable to the p3cobol installation directory (referred to as p3cobol here) either by setting P3_HOME as a system or user environment variable:

    export P3_HOME=/opt/p3cobol

    P3_JAVA_HOME

    Make sure either the JAVA_HOME and/or P3_JAVA_HOME environment variable is set to the installation (Home) directory of a Java 25 or later release as previously described:

    export P3_JAVA_HOME=/opt/java/jdk-25.0.4

    PATH

    Add the $P3_HOME/bin/darwin/arm64 path to the user’s PATH environment variable, depending on whether the operating system is Intel or Arm based, respectively. This p3 executable will serve as the single command to invoke the:

    • P3/COBOL compiler
    • Run a P3/COBOL program
    • and perform various utility functions.

    In the event that your Unix platform is not supported by any provided in $P3_HOME/bin, there is also a bash shell-script in the $P3_HOME/bin directory that may be used as a functional equivalent to the p3 utility (executed as a shell script, of course). The p3 Utility can be built for various platforms. If you are missing one, please let us know ().

    export PATH=$P3_HOME/bin/darwin/arm64
    IntroductionCompile & Run