[Info-vax] VMS port to x86

[Neil Rieck]

Over the years we've watched companies like AMD reverse engineer the
x86 instruction set to produce a functionally similar x86 chip.
Likewise, companies like Compaq reverse engineered the PC (and BIOS)
to produce a functionally similar computer. In the past, big companies
charged big bucks for C compilers yet today every C programming course
instructs people to only use open-source compilers like GNU-C.

So why do people here always throw out BLISS as the reason why porting
VMS to x86 is not possible? After all, its only software. Software
patents have always been dubious but if there is a copyright on BLISS
then why not just reverse engineer it in C?

Just my 2-cents worth.

NSR