[Info-vax] [OT] Early 64-bit test build of Windows 2000 for Alpha found

[Arne Vajhøj]

On 5/19/2023 4:45 PM, Simon Clubley wrote:
> In fact about the only major idea he didn't bring across was the use of
> Pillar (or something comparable) instead of C as the SIL.
> 
> We lost a major opportunity to establish a viable alternative to C because
> of that and the security of our computing infrastructure is poorer because
> of it.

I would tend to agree.

But there were a long period from late 80's to mid 10's
where C was considered the only viable language for OS
development.

NT was designed in (the beginning of) that period.
Cutler decided to follow the trend on that one.

Back in time "begin end" languages were not unheard of for
OS development. Multics used PL/I, NOS/VE used Cybil,
MPE used Pascal etc..

And in recent years both the Linux and Windows teams are
embracing Rust.

But in between ...

Arne