[Info-vax] VSI OpenVMS Community License

[David Goodwin]

In article <utvdak$2bpcm$1 at dont-email.me>, davef at tsoft-inc.com says...
> 
> On 3/26/2024 4:13 PM, David Goodwin wrote:
> > In article <utv9j6$2asrl$1 at dont-email.me>, arne at vajhoej.dk says...
> >>
> >> On 3/26/2024 10:26 AM, Chris Townley wrote:
> >>> Just received 2 mails from VSI
> >>>
> >>> End of Alpha and I64 community licenses
> >>>
> >>> Looks like a more restricted X86 - WE can download a pre-built and
> >>> licensed VMDK with a few LP, including compilers
> >>>
> >>> Or there is an Ambassador program
> >>>
> >>> Not sure what to think yet...
> >>
> >> (warning: this is going to be a long rant)
> >>
> >> First announcement link:
> >>     https://vmssoftware.com/about/news/2024-03-25-community-license-update/
> >>
> >> The changes seems to be:
> >> * student license program is dropped
> >> * community license program is changed
> >>    - not available for Alpha and Itanium, only available for x86-64
> >>    - not available as license+kit, only available as preinstalled disk image
> >> * new VMS ambassador license
> >>    - with obligations to contribute
> >>    - license for all 3 platforms
> >>    - license+kit model
> >>
> >> Reasons given are to solve problems:
> >> * too much work managing licenses
> >> * too little contribution back
> >>
> >> I don't think the changes will solve the problems.
> >>
> >> It is obvious that VSI has been struggling with the community licenses,
> >> but VSI will still have to do commercial licenses, ISV licenses and
> >> the new VMS ambassador licenses. If that process is not automated, then
> >> it will stille be hassle.
> >>
> >> And I suspect that the change will reduce community contributions not
> >> increase them.
> >>
> >> In reality the changes could also be described differently:
> >> * student license is being renamed to community license and
> >>    platform upgraded from Alpha to x86-64
> >> * community license is being renamed to VMS ambassador license
> >>    and with a specific requirement for contributions
> >>
> >> But the student license was never popular as far as I can tell
> >> and the VMS ambassador requirements will scare people.
> >>
> >> So my best guess is that if we look at 1000 communityt license users,
> >> then we will see:
> >>
> >> 25 that has been contributing and will switch to VMS ambassador license
> >> 25 that has been contributing but will drop out because VMS ambassador
> >> license is not for them
> >> 400 that has been running VMS on Alpha and will drop out
> >> 100 that are oldtimers interested in VMS on x86-64 and will switch to
> >> the new community license
> >> 200 that are oldtimers interested in VMS on x86-64 and will drop out
> >> because they don't like images
> >> 250 that are newcomers interested in VMS x86-64 and will switch to the
> >> new community license
> >>
> >> or:
> >>
> >> 25 VMS ambassador licenses
> >> 350 new community license
> >> 625 drop outs
> >>
> >> with:
> >>
> >> 50% reduction in contributors
> >> no change in number of newcomers needing a lot of handhelding with basics
> >>
> >> But I could be wrong, but that is what I predict.
> >>
> >> And that is pretty bad!!!!
> >
> > I wonder why community licenses were never automated. Why was there ever
> > a queue? Why did it need someone to do things to process it?
> >
> > Surely they could have just had a form that added a row to a database
> > and then sent an email. Would have been a lot easier than all of this.
> >
> 
> Well, if it was/is that much work, then should that not indicate that there has 
> been plenty of interest?  And if so, why kill the goose that lays the golden eggs?
> 
> Or, if there is such interest, perhaps some beancounter (everyone knows I 
> dislike beancounters, right?) sees it as a way to milk some money from the interest?
> 
> The community license seemed like someone understood.  What happened to that 
> understanding?

I'd gladly buy non-expiring non-commercial VAX/Alpha/x86 licenses for a 
reasonable price, like what HP/Compaq did for Tru64. Sadly that option 
is not being offered.