[Info-vax] DCL, was: Re: Microkernel

[Paul Sture]

On Mon, 13 Aug 2012 08:34:24 -0700, FrankS wrote:

> Providing examples of what you're doing on BASH doesn't quite cut it for
> me, because we have ways of working around things on OpenVMS that might
> not be available on Unix and its variants.
> 
> For example, you mention the ability to type a few characters to recall
> a single, often-used, complex command.  I do that now on OpenVMS by
> setting up a global symbol in my login procedure.

When I used to spend a lot of time working on a large variety of customer 
machines I didn't want a large LOGIN.COM.  Yes I had a few favourites but 
I really didn't want to form the habit of relying on a customised login 
procedure.

This approach was vindicated by a former colleague who had got so used to 
his heavily customised login that when he came across a virgin system he 
couldn't work with the native VMS commands alone, and wrote a quick and 
dirty assembler program to get his LOGIN.COM across a serial line.

> So I'm still unconvinced that the existing OpenVMS facilities need to be
> augmented by a permanent command buffer, and all the associated
> headaches related to consolidating those buffers across multiple
> terminal sessions.

At one time I would have agreed with you, but the more I am exposed to 
other systems, the more useful I see such features.  Command line 
completion is another feature I miss when I go back to VMS - it really is 
useful.

-- 
Paul Sture