[Info-vax] State of the OpenVMS hobbyist program?

[Tim Sneddon]

Phillip Helbig (undress to reply) <helbig at asclothestro.multivax.de> wrote:
> In article <qr226r$2nt$1 at dont-email.me>, "Robert A. Brooks"
> <FIRST.LAST at vmssoftware.com> writes: 
> 
>> On 11/19/2019 9:52 AM, Hans Bachner wrote:
>> 
>> > And the probability that VSI will (be allowed to) issue licenses for 
>> > DEC/CPQ/HP(E) versions of VMS is rather low imho.
>> 
>> The probability is exactly zero.
> 
> What is the probability that, as mentioned in the first conference call, 
> VSI will have a hobbyist programme similar to that of HP at the time?  
> When can we expect it to be set up?
> 
> At the same conference call, it was said that Alpha and x86 would be 
> supported in the same cluster, at least for migration, so presumably 
> there will be Alpha and x86 hobbyist licenses, or one which works for 
> both, though perhaps only for some VSI version of Alpha VMS.
> 
> If HPE have just one guy doing the hobbyist licenses, it can't be that 
> much work for VSI to set up.  Maybe someone here from the newsgroup 
> would even volunteer to do it for free.

Just a bit presumptuous?

I'm guessing the problem with the hobbyist license is not so much to
do with someone answering an email and more likely to do with the
legalities.

You might recall that Pathworks never appeared on the hobbyist
license list, despite the fact I think it would have been popular.
Years later it was explained that Pathworks was off the list because
the license agreement with Microsoft required DEC/Compaq to collect a
fee for each license that went to M$.  Not a sensible move to offer
that for free, you instantly loose money.  Bit like making a sleeve
for a 12" single that cost 10p more than the sale price of the
record ;-)

VSI probably need to discuss with HPE how to make it all work and
waive royalties or something.  Either way, I think people need to
be a little more patient.  There are more important things on the
agenda and the hobbyist program probably gets pushed back a bit.

Regards, Tim.