[Info-vax] CLI editing, was: Re: VMS - Virtual Terminals - A security risk way back yonder OR was that an Old Wives Tale ?

[David Froble]

Stephen Hoffman wrote:

> TL;DR: Folks buy servers to solve problems.   Unless you have existing 
> OpenVMS software, why would you even consider or buy it?   That's 
> something VSI management and marketing will be ruminating on, too.  
> Because if you're not adding customers and installations and wholly new 
> applications, you're (unfortunately) in a declining business.   The 
> servers and the software will age out over the years, and be replaced 
> with what's currently familiar and what's currently affordable and — yes 
> — what's currently in vogue.

To the heart of the matter, huh?

Yes, to solve problems.  If using third party applications, then whatever the 
supported platforms are will be selected.  If you already have VMS based 
applications, you'll need VMS.

Sometimes, maybe not as often now, applications will be developed in house.  In 
my prejudiced opinion, there is no better development platform than VMS.  Maybe 
a bit neglected at this time, but still rather good.  Could be made better.

Also, those existing applications on VMS are not all stagnating.  Some are being 
actively developed and improved.  Maybe not going to go away.  Maybe will gain 
new users.  It's NOT an axiom that they will all wither and die.  Some will. 
Others will not.

There will be some wanna-be programmers who will develop some stuff with the 
likes of PHP and such.  Good luck to them, some will need it.

Solutions to needs, what will drive usage.