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

[Arne Vajhøj]

On 7/20/2019 7:36 PM, Bill Gunshannon wrote:
> On 7/20/19 6:50 PM, Arne Vajhøj wrote:
>> On 7/20/2019 6:16 PM, Scott Dorsey wrote:
>>> =?UTF-8?Q?Arne_Vajh=c3=b8j?=  <arne at vajhoej.dk> wrote:
>>>> 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
>>>
>>> The aforementioned Lubri-Moly issue is a case of #4, sort of.  The 
>>> idea was
>>> that by moving from proprietary applications designed specifically 
>>> for that
>>> business to commercial general-purpose business applications that 
>>> there would
>>> be cost savings in software maintenance, and that the software would 
>>> in the
>>> end be more flexible.
>>>
>>> This is not the case, as anyone who has ever seen an SAP disaster can 
>>> attest.
>>
>> There is typical not anything wrong with the logic when the project
>> starts.
>>
>> A standard application is much lower cost to maintain than a custom
>> application.
> 
> I would disagree with that. The Custom Application was, in most
> cases, written to specifically match a business paradigm.  The
> typical canned package will require the business model to be
> modified to match the software.

That is only a real problem if ones way of conducting business
is truly unique.

But in like 98% of cases the business is not really that different
from what similar companies around the world does for that particular
task.

If is often perceived as a problem though.

And if management listens then the company will be spending a lot
of money on IT.

>                                 That's like changing the design
> of your house to use nothing but nails because the builder doesn't
> have anything but hammers.

No. It is like asking the builder for a house using a base model the
builder has used previously instead of asking an architect and
engineer to design a fully custom house.

It saves money.

Arne