[Info-vax] The real problem that needs solving to grow VMS

[Dave Froble]

On 12/14/2022 3:04 PM, Dan Cross wrote:
> In article <tncms9$2qee4$1 at dont-email.me>,
> Dave Froble  <davef at tsoft-inc.com> wrote:
>> On 12/14/2022 8:59 AM, Dan Cross wrote:
>>> In article <tk9jug$12ar$1 at gioia.aioe.org>,
>>> Arne Vajhøj  <arne at vajhoej.dk> wrote:
>>>> If VSI goes bust - which there is no indication that it will - and
>>>> if there is noone picking up VMS - which seems unlikely if there
>>>> are companies willing to pay - and it falls unlucky at the
>>>> end of a license period and if the server is critical and if
>>>> they did not negotiate and got a forever license from VSI, then
>>>> it would be a problem.
>>>>
>>>> But that is a lot of if's.
>>>
>>> That _is_ a lot of if's, but still "what if?"s that need to be
>>> addressed, and none of them are relevant to Linux.  A small
>>> likelihood of catastrophic failure is still non-zero; why chance
>>> it when one need not?
>>
>> Many can play the ""what if" game ...
>>
>> Would we ever have left the caves, if some were willing to try something new, or
>> in the case of VMS, something old?
>>
>> You seem to think Linux is a better choice.  Fine.  But that doesn't make you
>> right, or wrong.  Just different.
>
> Incorrect; see below.
>
>> Bottom line, some of us like VMS.  The question is, why do you attempt to talk
>> us out of it?
>
> This is where you guys don't get it.

Oh, I get it just fine.

> You say you like VMS?  I don't believe you, because if you liked
> it, if you wanted to see it thrive and continue to be useful,
> then you'd face up to the fact that you have to answer a lot of
> hard questions.  Now, in late 2022, not 30 years ago, and not by
> deflection or appeal to the storied reputation of the distant
> past.

I agree 100%.  Issues need answers.  But sometimes some people won't like the 
answers.  For instance the size of VSI.  It is what it is.  IBM isn't going to 
support VMS.  However, you seem to imply that that is a show stopper.  You're 
entitled to your opinion.  But there can, and are, other opinions.

> You'd better figure out how those answer the hard questions
> because purchasing managers _will_ ask them or they wouldn't be
> doing their due dilligence.
>
>> I might ask, "why chance Linux if one need not?"
>
> That sounds a lot more like something I'd expect from a
> hobbyist than anyone seriously working on production systems.

Well, with over 45 years working in IT, perhaps I'm a bit more than a hobbyist.

> Again, you guys really just don't seem to get it: the world
> went through the era of vendor-locked proprietary systems and
> came out the other end.  No one wants to deal with that again.

Your opinion is then universal, and must be accepted by everyone?

> If you _like_ VMS and want it to be competitive, then come up
> with some good answers to these questions and nightmare, "what
> if?" scenarios.  Hope is not a strategy and getting mad at
> people who ask the questions isn't going to keep VMS alive.

Not mad, or even angry.  I too ask those questions.

-- 
David Froble                       Tel: 724-529-0450
Dave Froble Enterprises, Inc.      E-Mail: davef at tsoft-inc.com
DFE Ultralights, Inc.
170 Grimplin Road
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