[Info-vax] Trying to build a case for Benefit of OpenVMS Hobbyist Program being beneficial to HP

[Jim Hopkins]

On Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:06:58 -0500, Bill Pedersen wrote:

> I personally believe that the OpenVMS Hobbyist program is a great asset to
> HP and OpenVMS.  But I have been challenged to show the return to OpenVMS
> from this program.  My hope in this process we can work toward getting
> access to patches for the OpenVMS Hobbyist community.  No guarantees, but
> I have to try.
> 
> 
>  
> So I am asking you, the OpenVMS Hobbyists, what Open Source applications
> have you ported?  What utilities have you developed?  Where are they
> published?  What have you done as far as possibly participating in field
> test programs?
> 
> 
>  
> Thanks for listening and I look forward to getting this information.
> 
>

Bill, I have not done any of that, but having the ability to run OpenVMS
as a hobbyist on a non-production system has certainly improved my OpenVMS
administration and programming skills.

I was scared to touch VMS when I first started my job, but after getting the
hobbyist license, installing the simh emulator and OpenVMS on top of that, 
(and BREAKING it on more than one occasion) I'm now comfortable with daily
administration and I know where to go for answers when there's something I
don't know how to do. 

I guess you might say that benefits me, not HP - but I'm far more likely now
which in turn make me more to recommend to my boss and upper management that we 
continue using OpenVMS.  


Jim Hopkins