[Info-vax] RMS, was: Re: Assembly languages

[Simon Clubley]

On 2022-04-11, VAXman-  @SendSpamHere.ORG <VAXman- at SendSpamHere.ORG> wrote:
>
> Careful, there are those here that believe all files should be flat streams
> of bytes.
>

There is a strong argument for saying that the RMS record orientated
model has not stood the test of time.

In this case, I will say that it _was_ the right model for the 1970s/1980s,
but it's not the right model for 2022. In today's world, it just gets
in the way.

Also, RMS indexed files were a neat solution for the 1970s/1980s, but
in todays's world they also have not stood the test of time.

For example, you work on a punched card model as there's no field level
data structures in the RMS indexed file metadata, and unlike SQL databases,
you can't extend an RMS indexed file to add a new field, or change the
size of an existing field, while the applications are running.

Simon.

-- 
Simon Clubley, clubley at remove_me.eisner.decus.org-Earth.UFP
Walking destinations on a map are further away than they appear.