[Info-vax] Where to locate software

[Stephen Hoffman]

On 2016-06-09 16:19:11 +0000, johnwallace4 at yahoo.co.uk said:

> On Thursday, 9 June 2016 16:43:36 UTC+1, David Froble  wrote:
>> David Froble wrote:
>>> Stephen Hoffman wrote:
>>>> On 2016-06-09 12:58:12 +0000, Jan-Erik Soderholm said:
>>>> 
>>>>> Now, why was I expecting just that. Instead of some useful tips...
>>>> 
>>>> I've spent the last couple of weeks dealing with this particular 
>>>> question secondary to some software package and tools updates, and was 
>>>> striving to be civil about the current state of software packaging and 
>>>> related documentation on OpenVMS.
>>>> 
>>>> That work has involved establishing what should be some simple product 
>>>> dependencies — akin to what app stacking or containers or other forms 
>>>> of packaging would routinely encounter — and the results have been 
>>>> stupidly complex.
>>>> 
>>>> Knowing that there isn't any documentation and that there isn't any 
>>>> particular consistency here and that there aren't vendor 
>>>> recommendations — certainly not akin to the app bundles and containers 
>>>> that are available on some other platforms — is useful.
>>>> 
>>>> Anybody got a copy of the DEC 1988-vintage software engineering 
>>>> handbook?  That was the closest I've encountered outside of the modular 
>>>> procedures, and the handbook is both massively outdated and not 
>>>> directly on point here.
>>> 
>>> Sadly, true ....
>>> 
>>> It would not have taken much to have a short chapter of generic 
>>> suggestions for where to place things.  At least enough to give users 
>>> of the OS some things to consider.  Actually, a good subject for FAQ 
>>> ....
>> 
>> I've thought about this a bit more, and yes, FAQ is exactly where such 
>> questions should be answered.  Now, VMS doesn't have, as far as I know, 
>> an "OFFICIAL" FAQ.   Perhaps that should be addressed.  However, the 
>> existing FAQ can be very helpful, and should be included in any 
>> "OFFICIAL" FAQ, should such become available in the future.
>> 
>> Such an approach would both offer advice, and allow flexibility.

It's not just the users, it's also the operating system developer and 
layered products that are involved here, and that need to play better 
together here, too.

Then there are the tools and related work — which are preferably less 
like registered and non-registered facility names and message codes and 
isolation via conventions and more like automated and formal isolation 
and GUIDs and such, and preferably also with system entitlements and 
restrictions for applications as OpenVMS is an operating system that's 
marketed as being secure, after all.  Ain't just the OS that gets 
targeted for attacks these days, it's also the apps and the layered 
products that are also most excellent targets.    In short, toward 
better support for what Kerry seeks: app stacking.   But I digress.

> Didn't there used to be a VMS FAQ?

Several.   But AFAIK, there never was an official OpenVMS FAQ.   
Closest to being official were the few product or architecture-specific 
FAQs posted on the DEC/Compaq/HP/HPE corporate web site.

The ~decade old and entirely unofficial OpenVMS FAQ didn't include what 
amounts to complete manuals of content, either.   Because that's the 
scale of where this is headed.

> What happened to it and/or its maintainer?

Off ranting somewhere, most likely.




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