How do Unix and VMS compare?

[chip at t4test.UUCP]

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From: gwyn at brl-vgr.ARPA (Doug Gwyn )

I think you got the bit about VMS emulators on UNIX wrong.
Clearly, if VMS has a larger software base (as you claim),
then there would be motivation for VMS-on-UNIX, but this is
the opposite of the argument you gave for there not being one.

VMS doesn't matter in the big picture; it runs only on not-
very-cost-competitive DEC VAX processors.  UNIX runs practically
everywhere.  If Fortran is your bag, certainly there are fast
Fortrans available on various vendors' UNIX systems.  Shop around.

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In my original followup I tried to make the point that in nearly all
applications, computers are purchased to run specific software which
is targeted at specific needs.  I also hoped to convey that these
needs must be considered before any others a potential machine or
operating system may be considered.  I also aired my opinion that
VMS has a wider software base than Unix--I don't have any firm
statistics to back that up.

A premise which I took for granted and maybe I shouldn't have was
that it always takes some degree of work to port software into an
emulator environment.  At least, that is what our experiences say.
As a result, I reached the conclusion that there is a greater need
to be able to run in a native VMS environment than a native Unix
environment.

Combine this conclusion with the idea that it is much nicer for
the user to talk to Unix than VMS, you come up with explanation
why there is need for a Unix emulator to run under VMS, but not
vice versa.

The one exception to the above would be that the amount of software
which requires a VMS environment is minimal, and therefore its
porting into a VMS-emulator-under-Unix would not be too dificult.
In this case one would be willing to deal with the pain of the
portation to gain the benefits of true Unix.  

If the production of Intel's microprocessors matters "in the
big picture," then VMS does as well.  VMS is a prerequisite to
our ability to develop component tests.  If you would like some
additional examples where VMS matters, tune in net.physics.  There
are some folks over there knocking down Unix for their specific
applications, one of which is the ability to run Fortran.

Again, it is entirely reasonable to get into theoretical comparisons
of VMS against Unix.  (I'd vote for Unix.)  But when it comes to
shelling out the bucks, you'd better look at what you want that
computer to do first.

-- 
Chip Rosenthal, Intel/Santa Clara
{idi|intelca|icalqa|imcgpe|kremvax|qubix|ucscc}!t4test!{chip|news}

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