[Info-vax] VMS Software Inc. OpenVMS 8.4-1H1 Boots on i4 System

[David Froble]

Bill Gunshannon wrote:
> In article <mei42n$kh1$1 at news.albasani.net>,
> 	Jan-Erik Soderholm <jan-erik.soderholm at telia.com> writes:
>> David Froble skrev den 2015-03-20 20:42:
>>> Jan-Erik Soderholm wrote:
>>>> David Froble skrev den 2015-03-20 15:30:
>>>>> Richard Maher wrote:
>>>>>> On 3/20/2015 12:31 PM, David Froble wrote:
>>>>>>> Software doesn't wear out.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> Bit-Rot is very much a reality :-(
>>>>>>
>>>>> Perhaps an example of such?
>>>>>
>>>>> I have yet to see any software that after some time doesn't do what it had
>>>>> previously done.
>>>> I have seen software that after some time doesn't do what is needed to
>>>> be done (now).
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>> And just what does that have to do with my statement?
>> The point is that your statement is irrelevant. Who cares if that
>> code still does the "same thing", if that "thing" simply isn't the
>> "same thing" as it previously was. That code is worthless (today).
>>
>> And your software had of course been easier to manage and develop
>> today using a modern database instead of that inhouse RMS layers.
>>
>>
>>> I never claimed software could evolve.  That's why we have programmers.
>>>
>>> If I have the piece of code:
>>>
>>> Print "Hi there"
>> OK. I must have missunderstood. I though your software package
>> actualy did a bit more than that. Sorry.
>>
>>
> 
> I think the real problem here is with the definition of "bit rot".
> Rot implies something going bad on its own.  EEPROMs do that.  True
> "bit rot".  But software that no longer functions because of changes
> in the underlying system or no longer meet the erquirements of the
> task they were designed for because the task has morphed are not
> really "bit rot".  They are just the nature of technology.  Not
> being able to find an 8" floppy drive or a machine that can use it
> is not "bit rot".  having that hardware and finding that the magnetic
> data on the disk has faded beyond your ability to read it is.
> 
> bill
> 

GASP !!!

Somebody actually understands what I wrote.

Is the sky falling?