[Info-vax] VAX VMS going forward

[Stephen Hoffman]

On 2020-08-01 15:40:06 +0000, Galen said:

>> Ditching 32-bit source code and 32-bit conditionals can make the source 
>> code much simpler, particularly when the source code is working with 
>> 64-bit values.
> This and its ensuing responses, though interesting to read, drift a bit 
> O.T. unless one takes “VAX/VMS going forward” to mean something like 
> “Moving forward _from_ VAX/VMS [to non-32 bit environments]”.
> 
> :-)

There is no "going forward" that doesn't involve OpenVMS Alpha, and 
OpenVMS I64, and involves OpenVMS x86-64 as that becomes available.

There will be no new VSI releases of OpenVMS VAX.

There will be no hobbyist VSI OpenVMS VAX PAKs available from VSI.

There will be no release of OpenVMS VAX source code.

If you want to buy permanent licenses for OpenVMS VAX, or if you want 
free permanent licenses for hobbyists, contact the folks at HPE.

Probably best to buy PAKs sooner, too.

Put differently, OpenVMS Alpha, OpenVMS I64, and OpenVMS x86-64 and the 
associated apps and designs _are_ "VAX VMS going forward".

Various features and limitations of OpenVMS VAX live on within OpenVMS 
Alpha, OpenVMS I64, and OpenVMS x86-64 apps and designs.

Working around and variously extricating the VAX-era limits will 
continue to be an ongoing issue both for the folks at VSI, and for the 
folks using OpenVMS.

The "fun" that has been 32-bit addressing is one such area. There are others.

Removing some of these limits dating back to VAX/VMS will be disruptive 
to applications, too.

At some future time some years after the OpenVMS x86-64 release is well 
established and stable and (hopefully) thriving, OpenVMS Alpha and 
OpenVMS I64 will follow OpenVMS VAX into product retirement, too.

Which will prolly be roughly contemporary with the realization that an 
Arm or RISC-V port is increasingly necessary for the future of 
then-established OpenVMS x86-64 apps.

As for your other question, there's aerospace and automotive 
anti-chaffing tape around, not that I have a roll of that handy. Some 
better-grade duct tape will probably work well enough for that SCSI 
adapter connector application, though. Or stick-back tape and a thin 
section of polycarbonate, if you wanted to get slightly fancier with 
the hackery.


-- 
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