[Info-vax] VMS Software Releases Roadmap Updates

[Arne Vajhøj]

On 9/27/2021 9:42 PM, Dave Froble wrote:
> On 9/27/2021 9:00 PM, Arne Vajhøj wrote:
>> On 9/27/2021 8:26 PM, Bill Gunshannon wrote:
>>> On 9/27/21 2:08 PM, Arne Vajhøj wrote:
>>>> (Dave Turner - maybe start advertising a prepacked Itanium with
>>>> cross compilers bundle)
>>>>
>>>> Way too much for a hobbyist but should not be a problem for
>>>> commercial context.
>>>
>>> If I was a CEO and my CIO came to me with a scheme like that he
>>> would be looking for a new job.
>>
>> Maybe. But it would be pretty silly.
>>
>> You have one or more inhouse applications on VMS
>> or you are an ISV selling a VMS application. You spend
>> between a few hundreds of thousands per yer up to
>> a few dozens of millions per year on that/those
>> applications. And you are not willing to spend
>> 5000 to get 6-15 months head start on porting
>> to the new VMS platform.
>>
>> That does not make any sense. There can be other
>> valid reasons not to do it. Like no need/demand
>> or wanting to see the production platform before
>> committing to port. But the money in itself should
>> not be an issue.
> 
> I don't think it was the money.  Bill is a bit old fashioned, like me, 
> and just feels the build tools should be native.

OK. Maybe that is the case.

But the CIO should not be fired for not sharing such semi-religious
beliefs.

This is a business decision. What makes most sense for
the business. If it makes sense to get a version of the
application out quickly (and that is frequently a goal
in business) then cross compilers are how to do it.

Everybody want the native compilers for VMS and they will
show up. It just takes some time. More time than what we
prefer, but life is tough.

And look at it like this. VSI need cross compilers to
build VMS and the VMS compilers for x86-64 for obvious
reasons. They have made these compilers available to get
everybody started porting early. And I believe everybody
agrees that is much better than to have everybody outside
VSI wait for native compilers. Including those that may decide
to wait for valid business reasons (demand).

Arne