[Info-vax] Userland programming languages on VMS.

[Dave Froble]

On 2/1/2022 8:22 AM, Bill Gunshannon wrote:
> On 1/31/22 21:31, Dave Froble wrote:
>> On 1/31/2022 8:31 PM, Bill Gunshannon wrote:
>>> On 1/31/22 19:53, Johnny Billquist wrote:
>>
>>>> We covered this a long time ago. You don't need the RSTS/E sources to write a
>>>> new implementation of it. You just need time and energy.
>>
>> I really have to wonder, would anyone actually devote the time and resources
>> to re-implement RSTS/E?
>
> I would.  :-)

I'm not convinced, it would not be a trivial effort.

>> What hardware would one choose?
>
> Ideally, I would make it portable but initially probably PC Class
> machines and a certain 6809 I have.

So some more hackery to run on x86, huh?  Why not ARM?

>> What implementation language would one choose?
>
> Probably C as that is the language I am most likely to find compilers
> for on different machines.

C is so disgusting.  Ok, I'll admit that it's just about everywhere.

>> What would one do with it?
>
> What do Hobbyists today do with any of the old OSes and systems they
> have.  I would play with it.  I would look into adding networking and
> probably X11.

That statement makes me wonder.  To me, "adding networking" isn't an extra, it's 
part of the OS, and should not be an "add-on".

Would you be targeting earlier versions, such as V4, V5, or V6, or V10 or so?"

With the later versions, DCL is part of RSTS/E, you ready to re-implement DCL, 
TCP/IP, DECnet, and all the rest that was RSTS/E?

> It's all for fun anyway.

Ok, then perhaps one good way to get started, is to get ahold of some design 
documentation to allow a decent start.  If I was to consider such an attempt, 
I'd want a decent design to start with.

John Santos and EG&H developer ROSS/V way back in the day.  In case you don't 
know what that is/was, it is software that used the PDP-11 compatibility mode to 
implement a RSTS/E "look and feel" on early VAXs.  In order to do so, I'd think 
that they had a decent design to start with.  Perhaps such documentation still 
exists.  Perhaps they might provide you with a copy, if you asked nicely.

Still having "fun" ?????????????????????


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David Froble                       Tel: 724-529-0450
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