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From: chris@mimsy.UUCP (Chris Torek)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.questions
Subject: Re: dsb unix vs. dec's vms
Message-ID: <6570@mimsy.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 5-May-87 23:51:44 EDT
Article-I.D.: mimsy.6570
Posted: Tue May  5 23:51:44 1987
Date-Received: Thu, 7-May-87 06:10:58 EDT
References: <5828@shemp.UCLA.EDU> <34ab0e42.8be4@apollo.uucp> <34ab3c5c.8be4@apollo.uucp>
Organization: U of Maryland, Dept. of Computer Science, Coll. Pk., MD 20742
Lines: 48

In article <34ab3c5c.8be4@apollo.uucp> jps@apollo.uucp (Jeffrey
>P. Snover) writes:
>VMS is written/controlled by people who give a sh*t.

As with any other large group, some do, and some do not.  Listen
to some of the `horror stories' about SPRs and nasty kernel bugs
that are sent to the comp.os.vms (info-vax in ARPAland) group.

>... UNIX one the other hand, (even though I love it) really doesn't
>care whether it works or not.

Obviously an operating system does not care whether it itself works,
unless you have done what all the AI people are still attempting.

>The attitude seems to be one of "If I can make a funny remark or
>witty comment about the inadequancies of the program, then I don't have
>to make it work."  Thats why "FIND" is documented with:
>    "BUGS:  The syntax is very painfull."
>If they cared, they'd fix it.

Not so.  It is true that the very name `BUGS' is meant in jest;
but while stodgier names include `LIMITATIONS' and `RESTRICTIONS',
the contents of these sections in other systems' manuals are
identical.  `Fixing' the syntax of find would be a disservice, for
it is now too well engrained.  It would be like asking VMS to
fix the (to me painful) syntax of qualifiers.

>But no, its "HO HO HO thats so funny, isn't UNIX great. Oh yea
>man, thats like ""double panic"" right before your machine is about
>to be hosed HA HA HA.  How about all those wicked funny error
>messages that come up while your trying to patch the file system
>yuk yuk."

If you speak of `?CPU DBL-ERR HALT', this is a console message
built into Vax 11/780s, and occurs under VMS with equal frequency,
and often equal consequences.  I cannot imagine what other `wicked
funny error messages' you refer to.

VMS is a remarkably modern operating system.  It is *not* a model
of perfection.  It *is* a supported system.  4BSD Unix is primarily
a research vehicle; for support you must go to Mt. Xinu, or use
Ultrix or System `pick a release, any release' V or whatnot.  Oddly
enough, I find all of the supported systems less useful.  Maybe it
is because we are a research department.  (More likely it is because
we get sources without hassles.)
-- 
In-Real-Life: Chris Torek, Univ of MD Comp Sci Dept (+1 301 454 7690)
Domain:	chris@mimsy.umd.edu	Path:	seismo!mimsy!chris