[Info-vax] Java on VMS, was: Re: So is there still a hobbyist program or not

[Arne Vajhøj]

On 7/20/2019 4:40 PM, Dave Froble wrote:
> On 7/20/2019 1:41 PM, Arne Vajhøj wrote:
>> On 7/20/2019 1:07 PM, Dave Froble wrote:
>>> On 7/20/2019 9:34 AM, Arne Vajhøj wrote:
>>>> On 7/20/2019 8:13 AM, Bill Gunshannon wrote:
>>>>> The list of conversions from COBOL to other "more modern" languages
>>>>> that resulted in business failures just goes on and on and on.
>>>>
>>>> The list of conversions from anything to anything that
>>>> result in failures goes on and on.
>>>
>>> What's interesting is that people seem to never learn.  Yes, there are
>>> disasters, and then others follow in their footsteps.  Lemmings.
>>>
>>> If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
>>
>> That has also resulted in disasters even though not doing
>> anything usually lead to slow decay instead of sudden disaster.
> 
> I do not advocate not doing anything.  Enhancements, fixes, and such, 
> sure.  But don't re-write things in the "language of the week" just 
> because some bigot tells you that you're old and decrepit.  Do what's 
> necessary, and usually there is plenty of that to keep one busy.

I think it is rare that applications get totally rewritten often. Cost
prevents that.

Drivers for rewrites are usually one or a combination off:
1) the platform is burning aka no support from vendor and
    difficult to find people with skills
2) changes in general IT strategy where the platform is
    no longer an option because it will not run in the new
    environment
3) there is a business need for very significant enhancements
    that just are not practically possible with current
    platform
4) there is a significant cost saving by changing platform

Platform is used in a broad sense: hardware, operating
system, programming language, servers (database servers,
application servers, message queues etc.), major
frameworks etc..

I don't know that much about what you are doing, but my guess is
that:
- you have and will port VAX->Alpha->I64->x86-64 to avoid #1
- you hate it when you lose a customer because a new CIO declared
   that everything with no exceptions have to run Linux in AWS cloud
   aka #2
- so far you have avoided #3 by doing what can be done in
   current technology or by bolting new stuff on the foundation
   instead of replacing the foundation
- so far you have not seen any indication of #4 that you would
   see lower cost by moving

Arne

PS: I suspect that the "disappoint rate" for conversions driven only
     by #4 are sky high.



Arne