[Info-vax] OT: Rob Short: Operating System Evolution

[JF Mezei]

Bill Gunshannon wrote:

> Of course it does.  If I want to run an executable file under VMS
> using RUN if the file ends in .EXE I don't have to include the
> extension but if it is anything else, I do.  VMS uses extensions
> just like other OSes.

In particular, DECwindows, even the older one has a config file that
maps extensions to applications.

However, at the command line,while VMS *assumes* an extension in *some*
cases when none is specified (for instance "type chocolate" will assume
you meant "type chocolate.lis", or "cc chocolate" assumes you meant "cc
chocolate.c", the command line does not have any mapping of extension TO
application.  For instance, typing "chocolate.c" at the $ sign would not
invoke an editor or a compiler.

What is interesting is that the old MacOS had a file type and creator
fields in the file's meta data, and this was used to associate a file to
an application. (you could have a .jpg that would call up photoshop when
clicked, and another .jpg that would call up GraphicConverter when
clicked).  With OS-X, they downgraded to a file extension driven
application selection.