[Info-vax] DECUS Software

[David Wade]

On 18/07/2023 23:53, bill wrote:
> 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 believe so. They were charged for so users only bought what was 
needed. You weren't supposed to redistribute. Its very sad.


> 
> 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).
> 

The probably won't help. They will quote the legalese.


> 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.
>

I tried and failed for :-(


> bill
> 
> 
Dave