[Info-vax] RSTS/E and VMS connection

[Dave Froble]

On 4/6/2023 7:02 PM, bill wrote:
>
> WE have often heard that VMS on the VAX was the logical procession
> from RS11 on the PDP.  I was looking around at my bookshelf and saw
> my 1983-84 RSTS/E PDP-11 Operating System book and it kinda piqued
> my interest so I picked it up and did a  little lite reading.
>
> This brought a couple question to mind.
>
> But first, the funny part.  Page 2-12 has Table 2-2 Disk Devices.
> Wish I had one of those 104MB RL02's it lists.  Mine were all
> 10.4MB.  :-)
>
> There is a whole paragraph about compatibility with VAX/VMS.  It
> mentions "The BASIC Transportability Package" for moving BASIC
> program from RSTS/E to VMS.  Of course, VMS BASIC at that time was
> probably nothing like what it is today.

BP2 using VAX compatibility mode.

Later Kirbey Altman led the project to implement VAX Basic.

A historical note.  ISVs with applications on RSTS wanted a more RSTS feel on 
VMS.  A DEC person turned it around, and said, "How about DCL on RSTS?".  And 
that's what DEC did.

I still missed "Ready", until SET PROMPT happened ..

:-)

> And there is another note about "The RSTS/E and VAX/VMS Compatbility
> Manual".  I would love to see a copy of that.
>
> And one other note or rather a kind of question.  The book (and some
> of the other DEC Books) are loaded with pictures of people working
> with DEC systems.  Does anyone know if these were all professionally
> staged pictures or are these people who worked at DEC?  And if the
> latter, any chance someone can identify any of them?
>
> bill


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