[Info-vax] OpenVMS in the future, Open sourced or Closed? Intent is to keep it...

[Bill Gunshannon]

In article <miditl$1sr$1 at dont-email.me>,
	Simon Clubley <clubley at remove_me.eisner.decus.org-Earth.UFP> writes:
> On 2015-05-06, Robert A. Brooks <FIRST.LAST at vmssoftware.com> wrote:
>> On 5/6/2015 12:02 AM, David Froble wrote:
>>
>>> But once all the requirements are set up and available, many would be capable of
>>> doing the build.  Not that I'm advocating such.  As I've written more than once,
>>> the reason I wanted to see VMS open sourced was to insure someone at HP could
>>> not decide to just delete everything.
>>>
>>> Don't kid yourself, that was a very real possibility.
>>
>> And with what knowledge and/or authority do you make that assertion?
>>
> 
> I'm not speaking for David here, but the obvious example which comes
> to mind are the PDP-11 operating systems and their current status.
> 
> While they were most certainly not "deleted" the end result, as it
> exists today, is effectively the same thing.
> 
> However, I strongly suspect it would be a major exercise to open source
> VMS because IIRC aren't there parts within the VMS codebase which are
> licenced from third parties ?
 
The same was true of Unix.  Thus the infamous BSDi law suit that
resulted in a steaming pile of dung called Linux being foisted
on the IT world.

In the end it didn't stop Unix becoming Open Source.

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>