[Info-vax] DECUS Software

[bill]

On 7/18/2023 2:13 PM, Johnny Billquist wrote:
> On 2023-07-18 19:20, bill wrote:
>> On 7/18/2023 11:25 AM, Arne Vajhøj wrote:
>>> On 7/18/2023 9:08 AM, bill wrote:
>>>> I know that most (but sadly, not all) of the DECUS Symposium Tapes
>>>> are scattered around the web for the taking but.....
>>>>
>>>> Is there an archive anywhere of all (or some?) the various DECUS
>>>> products that are listed in the PDP-11 and VAX Software Sourcebooks?
>>>>
>>>> There are a lot of really interesting things listed in there and it
>>>> would be not only fun read some of the sources but even more fun to
>>>> try and revive some of them on more current systems.
>>>>
>>>> Anybody know where they might be found?  Does anyone who might have
>>>> helped maintain the DECUS archives back in the day still exist?
>>>
>>> https://www.digiater.nl/openvms/decus/
>>>
>>> has some of the "later" VMS and L&T SIG tapes.
>>>
>>> I have no idea about the more "exotic" ones
>>> like all the PDP-11 OS SIG's.
>>>
>>> Glen Everhart should still be around and may know more.
>>>
>>
>> Again, I am not talking about SIG Tapes.  I am talking about products
>> that DECUS sold that were listed in the DEC Software Sourcebooks for
>> the PDP-11 and VAX.
>>
>> Maybe a few examples might help,
>>
>> Dual-Processor RT-11 System - DECUS number 11-436  Price: $5-$225
> 
> This one I have no clue what it actually was/is.

"This set of RT-11 device handlers allows two PDP-11 CPUs
connected by a DA11-F bus interface to share the same disk
or DECtape controllers: RK11, RL11, or TC11.  Each CPU runs
its own RT-11 operating system with a small foreground job
on one system dedicated to supervising disk and DECtape I/O
for the other systems."

> 
>> C Language System, Second Master Release - DECUS number 11-SP-18  
>> Price: $5-$225
>> (This is not DECUS C!!)
> 
> Actually, I think it is. They did have a second master release. Lots of 
> things moved around.

I think your right, I mos-read t. I thought it said the source was also
in C but it actually doesn't say.

> 
>> And  in the VAX book:
>>
>> APL-11 - DECUS number 11-SP-25  Price: $5-$225
> 
> I might actually have this one. Had to fix a few things to make it work 
> on a more modern version of RSX...

Actually, this version runs on the VAX under VMS.  The PDP_11 version
has always been readily available on the web.  I have it.

> 
>> SEDT: Full-Function Screen Editor Program - DECUS number VAX-93  
>> Price: $5-$225
>>
>> Interesting pricing scheme.  :-)
> 
> My recollection of the pricing was that it was the cost of media, plus a 
> modest cost for making the copy. And then you could (at least in some 
> cases) also order hardcopy documentation, which added to the price.
> 
> I did order some PDP-8 software from DECUS back in the 80s... Got some 
> nice 8" floppies with what I wanted. Wasn't that expensive, but it did 
> cost me a little bit.

But the main point is still have we lost all this DECUS software?

I wish we could contact some of the people at the commercial sites
as well.  There can't actually be any commercial value left in any
of this stuff.  But it would be great to be able to show people how
we used to do this stuff.

One name that pops up a lot is Evans, Griffiths & Hart.  Name is
very familiar and may have been around until recently (if not still around).

And S & H Computer Systems INC. which not too long ago (in computer
years) publicly released a version of TSX for hobbyist use.

Surely there are people still floating around here who knew a lot
of these companies back in the VAX and PDP-11 days.

bill