[Info-vax] VMS Cobol - GnuCOBOL

[bill]

On 2/27/2023 4:14 PM, Arne Vajhøj wrote:
> On 2/27/2023 1:43 PM, Dave Froble wrote:
>> On 2/27/2023 10:37 AM, Scott Dorsey wrote:
>>> You could argue that the need for customized environments is reduced 
>>> today,
>>> now that standardized environments are more sophisticated.  I don't 
>>> agree
>>> with that at all but it is a thing which could be debated.
>>
>> I'm with you on this.  What I'm seeing is that some "standardized 
>> environments" is actually "this is what you're going to get, don't ask 
>> for more".
> 
> "this is what you're going to get, don't ask for more" is practically
> the definition of standardized.
> 
> But the point being is that what you get is a lot more than what
> it was 40 years ago.

 From who's viewpoint?

> 
>> Perhaps "standardized environments" aren't so good for everyone?
> 
> Custom is more expensive than standard.

Didn't used to be.  That happened when they started paying someone
outside of their own organization to do the work.

> 
> So it depends on whether custom can generate enough extra revenue than
> standard to cover the extra cost.

Back in the day :-)  making changes to satisfy your user's requirements
wasn't a separate budget line item.

> 
> If it is not related to the company's core business then the answer
> is likely no.

In many cases today, even if it is related to the company's core
business the answer is no.

> 
> If it is related to the company's core business then it may be a yes.

But probably not.

And then we now have the issue of which company's core business?  Yours
or the software package provider's?

> 
> Especially of the business is huge so even significant absolute cost
> becomes small relative cost.
> 
> Arne
> 
> 


bill