[Info-vax] Reimplementing VMS, was: Re: HP adds OpenVMS Mature Product Support beyond the end of Standard Support

[Bill Gunshannon]

In article <lcqujk$gq8$1 at reader1.panix.com>,
	JohnF <john at please.see.sig.for.email.com> writes:
> Bob Koehler <koehler at eisner.nospam.encompasserve.org> wrote:
>> In article <lcqnkm$ekk$1 at reader1.panix.com>, JohnF <john at please.see.sig.for.email.com> writes:
>>> 
>>> Do you know if a re-implementation of vms system services,
>>> rtl, etc, has been done, using unix ipc mechanisms, etc?
>> 
>>  Since two or three vendors have products in this space, it
>>  must have been done.
> 
> Yes, my automated logical inference engine confirms
> the validity of your conclusion from your premises.
> But I'm unable to construct a google query to generate
> concrete examples, i.e., could you provide a few names?
> Thanks. P.S. Got any free ones?

So, based on more recent comments here, I draw these conclussions.

1. Actually porting the original VMS, while probably possible, is not
a practical solution.

2. Apparently the idea that nothing but the original VMS is capable of
doing the job is no longer true.

3. A VMS API and userland running on some other underlying kernel would
meet the needs and satisfy the majority of remaining VMS users.

4. "a re-implementation of vms system services, rtl, etc, has been done,
using unix ipc mechanisms, etc

Which leads us to the question:  Why is there not already a group
working on an Open Source Complete VMS API capable of running on
top of any POSIX infrastructure?  This would allow to pick their
underlying architecture based on their needs, be it: Linux, BSD,
Solaris, Mach, whatever.  Seesm this would make more sense than
the current "porting project" that meets several times a month.
And could be accomplished by pretty much the same people.

bill


-- 
Bill Gunshannon          |  de-moc-ra-cy (di mok' ra see) n.  Three wolves
billg999 at cs.scranton.edu |  and a sheep voting on what's for dinner.
University of Scranton   |
Scranton, Pennsylvania   |         #include <std.disclaimer.h>