[Info-vax] "bad select 38" (OpenSSL on VMS)

[David Froble]

Stephen Hoffman wrote:
> On 2016-09-17 17:54:55 +0000, John Reagan said:
> 
>> On Friday, September 16, 2016 at 11:11:48 AM UTC-4, Stephen Hoffman 
>> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> And (in all seriousness) does anybody still need __VAXC?
>>
>> __VAXC is what is set with /STANDARD=VAXC.  That doesn't mean "I'm a 
>> VAX compiler".  That is __VAX.
> 
> I'm well aware.
> 
> I find the use of VAX C an excellent flag to identify C source code that 
> tends to be unmaintained or ill-maintained, and of source code that's 
> often buggy, unstable and/or contains security vulnerabilities.
> 
>> That said, I'm all for tossing /STANDARD=VAXC over the side, but such 
>> things tend to hang on for a long time until you are forced.
> 
> Then go do it.  Have the courage of your convictions.
> 
> Establish and then communicate your future plans.   That and the ensuing 
> discussions are part of what boot camp is useful for to VSI and to 
> customers, after all.
> 
> In this case, announce the end of VAX C.   That VAX C code won't make it 
> across to x86-64.
> 
> (I'm here assuming there'll be little new C work on OpenVMS I64 or 
> earlier.)
> 
> If folks really need VAX C and if VSI has the cycles, make'm pay for it.
> 
> I'd likely also announce that specific identified existing (and 
> deprecated) APIs are also subject to removal.
> 
> Then start providing replacements for other problematic APIs, and then 
> deprecate those problematic APIs, and then remove them.
> 
> I'd be seriously tempted to announce the deprecation and eventual 
> removal of DECnet, for that matter.

Booo!  Hisssss!

Ok, we know it's not secure.  Run at your own risk.

I'm guessing that DECnet users use it only in house, for FAL and such, so if the 
in house environment is secure, then security isn't an issue for DECnet.

If it's not going to take up time and effort, then why kill it off?

I personally find it can be useful.

It sure is handy when you need to shutdown and re-start TCP/IP on a remote (but 
in house) system.