[Info-vax] x86 Compiler Update

[Dennis Boone]

 > Are you still doing Primos?

Only for fun.

 > Anybody ever try to get that OS released to Open Source?

As I recall, a few people over the years have looked at trying to
figure out who owns the IP at this point.  Just that piece seems nigh
impossible to decipher.  It's pretty certain that no one cares about
the IP any more.  (There are some "almost" exceptions: Information
stuff has downstream products that are still marketed, there's at
least one product out there that implements the MIDASPLUS API though
I'm not sure if that was a new construct or if it was based on the
Prime code, etc.)

 > Can't imagine anyone is actually still making money off of the IP.

There are a few people supporting the long tail customers, mostly
in the hardware realm.  I suppose it's possible whoever was doing
commercial Primos support might still have a few customers and just not
be selling new contracts.  Government systems sometimes stay around
for a Long Damn Time, so a few of those contractors may support some
systems yet.

 > It wold be fun to play with.  Might even be fun to port.

It's _way_ too dependent on the fairly unusual hardware architecture
to be portable in any meaningful way.  Not that said dependency has
anything to do with the fun of the project.

 > But then, it is probably just like the PDP-11 OSes and will eventually
 > become lost as someone with no interest keeps it locked away.

No realization that they own the IP, even.

De