[Info-vax] What does VMS get used for, these days?

[abrsvc]

On Monday, October 24, 2022 at 4:42:51 PM UTC-4, Arne Vajhøj wrote:
> On 10/24/2022 10:06 AM, Dave Froble wrote: 
> > On 10/23/2022 7:18 PM, Arne Vajhøj wrote: 
> >> On 10/22/2022 5:09 PM, Bill Gunshannon wrote: 
> >>> When Banner was brought in to replace the custom apps on VMS at the 
> >>> University it was understood upfront that everything was going to 
> >>> change the users were the one's that would have to adapt. 
> >>> 
> >>> Compare that to where I worked in 1980 where I was tasked with 
> >>> developing a microcomputer based data entry system to get the 
> >>> "keypunch" people off the mainframe to free it up for production 
> >>> and development work.  The first requirement was that what I was 
> >>> to develop had to present itself to the users exactly like what 
> >>> they had been using on the Univac-1100. 
> >>> How times change. 
> >> 
> >> Usually adapting usage to the standard packages way of doing things 
> >> is the smart approach. 
> > 
> > This is where Arne departs from reality ... 
> > 
> > He seems to believe in "lowest common denominator" ...
> > Reality is that some people suffer with poor tools, and if a well 
> > designed package can be found, it can be an improvement. 
> > 
> > The other side of that is that some people are working with tools that 
> > have been designed and refined over time to be exactly what they need, 
> > and anything else will affect their work, sometimes quite drastically.
> Not really. I don't think you got the point. 
> 
> It may make sense to pay for a custom solution tailored for 
> specific needs. 
> 
> It may make sense to go for a standard solution and use it 
> the standard way. 
> 
> What I am skeptical about is the approach of taking a standard 
> solution and do extreme customization. 
> 
> That sort of defies the point of the standard solution. 
> 
> Arne
I think that the key is how these "standard" solutions fit with the workflow of the place that adopts it.  Significant changes to existing workflow can have an affect on overall productivity. This is why customization is usually a feature.  Not everyone works the same way.

Dan