Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!cos!howard
From: howard@COS.COM (Howard C. Berkowitz)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.questions
Subject: Re: UNIX NAME ABBREVIATIONS
Message-ID: <714@cos.COM>
Date: 23 Dec 87 20:35:18 GMT
References: <10376@brl-adm.ARPA> <16550@topaz.rutgers.edu> <388@cogen.UUCP> <2276@homxc.UUCP>
Organization: Corporation for Open Systems, McLean, VA
Lines: 31

In article <2276@homxc.UUCP>, wel@homxc.UUCP (Winston Lee) writes:
> In article <1886@celtics.UUCP>, roger@celtics.UUCP (Roger B.A. Klorese) writes:
> > By the way, HASP = Houston Automated Spooling Program... a nested acronym.
> 
> Funny story about HASP. When NASA was still brainstorming it in its infancy,
> IBM got wind of their intentions (it was developed on the early 360s, when
> these beasts had no spooler), called them up and, in effect, said "Great Idea!
> How long do you think it'll take you to write it?", to which NASA apparently
> responded "Four months", which was countered by IBM with "Well how about if we
> send you some of our guys to help? How long do you think it'd take you then?"
> and trumped with "Nine months".
> 

My understanding of the story (through SHARE meetings) is different,
and gives credit to a couple of very good software people.  As I
heard it, NASA Houston was very unhappy with IBM's initial spooler
for OS/360, and suggested that they might drop IBM if IBM didn't
do something about it.  

IBM's response, according to folklore, was to assign two technical
support people under marketing management, Simpson and Crabtree,
to write an acceptable spooler and save the sale.  They did,
and HASP eventually became generally available, subsequently becoming
JES on the 370.


-- 
-- howard(Howard C. Berkowitz) @cos.com
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