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

Of course at lot depends on the definition of "stable". To take your
medical example, I think that "stable" there means "not getting any worse"
or "unchanging". And "unchanging" and "evolving" are kind of opposites.
Now, I agree that you can adapt in an *orderly* manner and that might
be called stable; at least in the sense of "not getting any worse".
But we have probably wrung out what there is to be said about this...

----- Original Message -----
From: Jim Damato <jdamato@dollargeneral.com>
To: <midrange-nontech@midrange.com>
Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2001 5:32 PM
Subject: 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>
> > _______________________________________________
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