[Info-vax] How do I make zip, unzip etc. available to all users?

[David Froble]

Stephen Hoffman wrote:
> On 2016-01-05 19:00:44 +0000, Bob Gezelter said:
> 
>> However, the phrasing "where should I put them" brings to mind the 
>> manner in which many *IX systems are run.
>>
>> OpenVMS do not have an equivalent of bin on *IX systems (where the 
>> shell will automatically search for otherwise unspecified 
>> executables). There is a facility to do the equivalent (DCL$PATH), but 
>> generally it is used with extreme caution (searching large directories 
>> can be expensive).
> 
> OpenVMS also entirely lacks /usr/local and other such norms, which 
> basically means kitting chaos past what Unix and PATH usually sees.   On 
> OpenVMS, it's all been informal practice at best, and it's increasingly 
> variable.
> 
> Even VMS itself seemingly can't decide what should be in SYS$UPDATE, 
> SYS$MANAGER, SYS$SYSTEM, SYS$SHARE/SYS$LIBRARY, SYS$ETC, and what should 
> be located elsewhere...  When to use a prefix, and when not to, too.
> 
> Then there's the lack of a mechanism like an application bundle, which 
> just means that bits of kits get splattered all over the place.
> 
> Then there's the "fun" of DCL$PATH and what actually gets activated.  
> Maybe don't have any local procedures that do something nasty around 
> with filenames like N.COM or Y.COM, and don't enter % or * at the DCL 
> prompt, etc.
> 
> Etc.
> 
> Welcome to OpenVMS!
> 
> 

Ya know, some of that is actually rather funny ....

Perhaps DCL$PATH should be deprecated ??