[Info-vax] Web Browsers on OpenVMS

[Stephen Hoffman]

On 2013-01-03 14:27:09 +0000, Bob Koehler said:

> In article <kc2apm$n9u$1 at dont-email.me>, Stephen Hoffman 
> <seaohveh at hoffmanlabs.invalid> writes:
>> 
>> Why not have a discussion with your manager or your IT folks, as they
>> have not kept your software current for whatever reason, and they
>> haven't provided a tool that you're looking for.
> 
>    They do have a process in place to keep things somewhat up to date.
>    But they don't force updates until they have to.
> 
>> If your OS X system is locked down, then you'll need administrative
>> access to install Xcode.  If you have that access, ask to borrow a
>> distro from IT.
> 
>    Only IT has admin access.
> 
>> That you're still running 10.6 is a comparatively inauspicious start.
>> While there are cases where that's appropriate to have boxes still
>> running 10.6 around, your IT folks (and you) will want to have a plan
>> for getting to 10.7 or 10.8, or migrating off of the OS X platform, or
>> whatever is locally appropriate.
> 
>    10.7 is known to break some of our COTS applications.


Yeah; so it appears you're in a centrally-managed enterprise IT 
organization or other analogous entity, and one that's not exactly 
pushing the envelope on version and tool support; 10.7 and 10.8 have 
been out for a while, so that COTS appears to be well and truly stuck, 
and for whatever reason.  Not forcing updates while two revisions back 
isn't exactly burning up the upgrade cycle, after all — Apple doesn't 
play in that old-support market.

If I were in a snarky mood (something which never happens), I'd suggest 
ceasing all attempts to take the initiative, to leverage assets or 
accelerate your organization or otherwise trying to do, um, real and 
useful work here.  Such useful work activities have clearly not been 
authorized, and might make somebody (you, your manager, IT, the CEO, 
the accountant, the regulators, or the guy in the mail room) look bad 
(and "bad" for some unexplained and seemingly inexplicable reason).

Be that snarkiness as it may, check with your manager here, and let 
him/her sort out this case; either old Xcode tools, or a VM, or an 
upgrade or a second Mac, or otherwise.  One path forward for both your 
use of newer Xcode and your use of that COTS is a guest in a virtual 
machine.  Or use the Xcode from the DVD that's undountedly in a filing 
cabinet in the Keep somewhere deep within the Castle of IT Computing.   
Or dual-install using Boot Camp, and boot 10.6 for the COTs and then 
booting 10.8 for Unauthorized Work-Like Activities.  Or pay the $99 out 
of petty cash or from the corporate couch cushions, and get access to 
the old Xcode tools for 10.6.


-- 
Pure Personal Opinion | HoffmanLabs LLC