[Info-vax] Creating an open source version of VMS, was: Re: OpenVMS Hobbyist Notification

[Dave Froble]

On 3/12/2020 1:27 PM, Stephen Hoffman wrote:

> As for itemlists and descriptors. Good ideas ~40 years ago. Now, not so
> much.

I'll see ya on that one, and raise.  Itemlists as implemented were NEVER 
a good idea.  Way too much what Steve calls "glue code.  Maybe, just 
maybe, they were the best option AVAILABLE at the time.  Start with 
recalling the initial memory available on a VAX 11/780.

Ask why DEC provided the LIB$... and such routines.  It was to hide the 
glue code from the customers.  Glue code isn't a bad thing.  It's what 
makes OO type routines work.  It's better if it's not seen.

But it's there ....

-- 
David Froble                       Tel: 724-529-0450
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