[Info-vax] Using VMS for a web server

[David Froble]

Stephen Hoffman wrote:
> On 2015-06-06 10:35:49 +0000, Jan-Erik Soderholm said:
> 
>> This is of course a good thing for the users, but it does not help 
>> building and maintaining the knowledge in the support group. :-) And 
>> that is actualy seen as a real problem...
> 
> Ayup.  Skills can and do atrophy.
> 
>> But the system still does what it has done the last 30+ years, the 
>> users are happy and we have several different projects for additional 
>> functionallity. Mostly new connections to PLC's and logging additional 
>> status from the assembly lines.
> 
> Very familiar with that environment.   Thankfully, most PLCs are slight 
> less stupid than they once were.  Slightly.   Biggest discussions and 
> debates tend to happen with the next-generation installations.  When the 
> production line or the factory is due for replacement.  That's when 
> OpenVMS installations tend to be replaced.  With the existing production 
> lines, changes are rare and incremental, and spare parts are accrued and 
> the old server boxes are lovingly and very effectively run into the ground.
> 
> The support staff can get stuck in their own time warp — donno about 
> your bunch Jan-Erik, but I've seen it happen in factory environments — 
> in terms of their skills with OpenVMS and with newer and competitive 
> automation systems and PLCs, and also around newer development tools and 
> approaches.
> 
> 

So, what are we saying?  That there can be such a thing as "too good"?