[Info-vax] BASIC compiler in the hobbyist distribution

[lists at openmailbox.org]

On Mon, 01 Jun 2015 16:29:05 -0400
David Froble via Info-vax <info-vax at rbnsn.com> wrote:

> lists at openmailbox.org wrote:
> 
> > I see this strictly as a way to let Itanium die without taking VMS with
> > it. An Intel port will stop the bleeding but prolong the agony. I doubt
> > they will get significant new business for the many reasons we have
> > already discussed. It will probably allow VMS shops to keep limping
> > along with existing apps when Itanic goes away. Depending how much it
> > costs to do the port and how the money is getting funneled around it
> > may make sense for certain groups.
> > 
> > I don't think it will last either. I think it will keep VMS on
> > life-support but unless they go to another platform I think this is
> > going to be it.
> 
> I've got to call "bullshit" on this claim.
> 
> What's wrong with existing apps?  Apps that are constantly being 
> developed and enhanced.  It's not clear to me that VSI needs a bunch of 
> "new to VMS" customers to succeed.

Companies in the modern world *always* need new customers to succeed.

Companies are getting bought and sold all the time. Companies go out of
business. Companies restructure. Without a healthy inflow of new licenses
there is no funding for development. Support contracts pay for support and
fixes and not much more than that. Support is expensive. Development is
even more expensive than support.

True, a small dedicated operation like VSI is positioned much better to do
survival mode stuff than a company like HP that simply doesn't want small
or low-performing business units in the portfolio *even* if they bring in
millions of dollars a year.

But without license growth they can't stay in business except as a
diminishing support operation. And when people paying for support see no new
releases are coming out the writing will be on the wall. They'll stop
new development on VMS applications (if that hasn't already happened) and
that in turn discourages other companies etc. and it's an ugly snowball.

Who knows how many people are already looking to get out as the result of
HP spinning VMS off? Big companies get nervous when major suppliers get out
of the business of serving them.

I've seen exactly this scenario played out before so it doesn't exactly
take a crystal ball to know what's going to happen.

> If VMS has the capability of running on continuously new HW, that's not 
> "life-support", that's a viable future.

Is Intel continually new hardware? And does VMS run on continuously new
hardware without human intervention or more importantly, expense? That's
not a viable future, that's nothing. Intel is a ticket to the old folks
home for anything but Linux. Running on new hardware is only important when
you don't have a prime platform to begin with.

Mark my words, this is life support under any other name.

> You got another platform?  Please tell us where to find it.

I have already made my views clear on this and your question has been asked
and answered several times already. If you don't like my answer that is
fine, but don't keep asking the question expecting my answer to change.

> Oh, and my customers are not limping, they are successful.

I don't wish anything but success to you and your customers and VMS. I just
don't believe the way things are going now are going to achieve that goal
and furthermore I don't know how anyone can think it will either.

> > I have no stake in VMS but don't get me wrong I want to see it succeed.
> > I like anything that gives us a choice over WinTel. I just don't
> > believe this is the way to do that.
> 
> Ok, don't bring us problems, bring us solutions.  What is the "right" 
> way to go?

It's already been said. The wrong way is to slide into the Intel cesspool
where you necessarily battle it out with free OS and get into a game of who
can be cheaper. VSI can't compete in that, nobody can.

Or you (re)make yourself into a Cadillac by running on premium hardware,
making yourself look sharp and charging big bucks for something that's
totally worth it.

-- 
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