In order to migrate all COBOL code into a more modern language within a few months, DOGE would likely need to employ some form of generative artificial intelligence to help translate the millions of lines of code, sources tell WIRED. “DOGE thinks if they can say they got rid of all the COBOL in months, then their way is the right way, and we all just suck for not breaking shit,” says the SSA technologist.
https://www.wired.com/story/doge-rebuild-social-security-administration-cobol-benefits/
@buercher
Yes, a controlled rewrite probably could make the code smaller and easier to understand. But that would require knowledge of its actual operation. Including the corner cases.
But, as the article points out, this may not be the goal of the "rewrite".
See also the interpretation by Gary Legum for #Wonkette:
https://www.wonkette.com/p/elon-musk-rewriting-computer-code