RE: VMS, etc. (was Proprietary Systems... from midrange-l)

OK.  I'm not sure how to apply your response to my post.  I don't think that
the definition of stability in thermodynamics applies well to the field of
computer technology.  It's possible to have stable business computer systems
and still adapt and evolve.

-Jim

-----Original Message-----
From: Leif Svalgaard [mailto:leif@leif.org]
Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2001 3:25 PM
To: midrange-nontech@midrange.com
Subject: Re: VMS, etc. (was Proprietary Systems... from midrange-l)


I was quite serious. Evolving to me means adapting to new
situations while preserving what works. We all still have a
reptilian part of our brain, etc.

----- Original Message -----
From: Jim Damato <jdamato@dollargeneral.com>
To: <midrange-nontech@midrange.com>
Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2001 2:12 PM
Subject: RE: VMS, etc. (was Proprietary Systems... from midrange-l)


> >  Leif:
> >In a thermodynamical sense when something is stable it is also dead.
> >To be alive means to be evolving.
>
> So, those of us who aren't dead are unstable.  I'll go along with that. :)
>
> I'm all for evolution -- see?
> >  Jim:
> >VMS has roots in Unix, but with enhancement and growth
>
> In medicine a stable patient is one who is expected to survive.  Stability
> can mean different things in different contexts.  A stable business
computer
> system is not a dead one.
>
> What I like about proprietary systems is compatibility.  Right now I'm
> struggling with a third party spooler for Unix that is not fully
compatible
> with either HP/UX or AIX, and which does not work on any one
implementation
> standard for Telnet.  I'm fighting with Oracle over a bug or WAD that does
> not allow us to read our data while we are updating it.  And don't ever
ask
> me to tell you about our experiences with marginally compatible "open
> storage" SAN solutions.
>
> I'm not sure how seriously I should take your response.  You've used the
> word "evolving".  To me, evolution implies growth through eras -- where
> species persist and eventually fall as others rise.  I'd prefer my systems
> evolve from era to era than be in a perpetual, thermodynamic state of
flux.
>
> -Jim
>
> James P. Damato
> Manager - Technical Administration
> Dollar General Corporation
> <mailto:jdamato@dollargeneral.com>
> _______________________________________________