Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!seismo!sundc!pitstop!sun!decwrl!casee.dec.com!wyman From: wyman@casee.dec.com (Bob Wyman) Newsgroups: comp.software-eng Subject: ECMA TC-33 "Portable Common Tools Environment" Message-ID: <8802151826.AA26943@decwrl.dec.com> Date: 16 Feb 88 03:22:00 GMT Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation Lines: 306 This is the second of two postings containing the minutes of the recent ECMA TC33 inaugural meeting. bob wyman =============================================================================== ECMA / TC33 / 88 / 11 E C M A European Computer Manufacturers Association Minutes of TC33 1st Meeting Geneva, 1-2 February 1988 Chairman : Mr. Morron (ICL) Secretary : Mr. Brockway (ECMA) In attendance : Dr.Bologna (Olivetti), Dr.Crispin (Hewlett-Packard), Messrs.Davis (ICL), Frost (British Telecom), Harvey (ALCATEL), Hekimi (SG ECMA), Jeanrond (Nixdorf), Kelter (Universitt Dortmund), MacDonald (UNISYS), Minot (Bull), Mittermaier (Siemens, Myrn (Televerket -Swedish Telecommunications Administration), Nielsen (DDC - Dansk Datamatik Center), Smedema (Philips), Steenput (BIM), Prof. Dr. Weber (Universitat Dortmund), Wyman (DEC) Excused : Messrs. Moreau (BIM), Thomas (Bull) Absent : Mr. Hayselden (Software Sciences Ltd) 1.Welcome by the Secretary General ECMA Secretary General Mr.Hekimi welcomed participants to this inaugural Meeting of TC33; participants introduced themselves. 2.Adoption of Agenda An Agenda prepared by the Coordinating Committee (88/2) was adopted as a basis on which to proceed. It was subsequently refined, as reflected by the sequence of items in these Minutes. 3.Presentation by the Secretary General of the working methods of ECMA TCs For newcomers to the ECMA standardization environment, Mr. Hekimi outlined the working methods of ECMA Technical Committees and the support functions provided by the Secretariat. Mr.Hekimi drew the attention of participants to the annual ECMA Memento, containing the coordinates of all Member and Associate Member Companies and their representatives, the titles, scopes and terms of reference for all ECMA TCs and TGs, as well as the By-Laws and Rules of the Association, and lists of available ECMA publications; the 1988 Edition will be available in the coming weeks. Meeting locations are open to invitation with alternate Meetings in principle located in Geneva. Mr.Hekimi then handed over to Mr.Morron as Chairman of TC33 nominated by the Coordinating Committee (CC). - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Secretariat Note: For readability, in these Minutes TC33 documents are referenced in an abbreviated notation whereby ECMA/TC33/88/n is shown as 88/n. 4.Identification and distribution of documents The scope and terms of reference (ToR) of TC33 as prepared by the CC were noted (88/1), Mr.Hekimi adding that they are of course open to refinement by the technical experts present (subsequently revised, see item 5 below, and 88/8). PCTE Functional Specifications 1.4, volumes 1 and 2, were also made available to participants. A number of specifications, and background and requirements documents, were listed: Background: Requirements: Specifications: Other: RAC EURAC PCTE 1.4 PICG Guide CAIS (1838) N-RAC PCTE ADA 1.0 The German Initiative VDM (yet to appear) RAC Rationale PCTE+ (yet to appear) For circulation within TC33, participants agreed to forward relevant documents to the Secretariat. It was recognized that documents that are both voluminous and readily available to members of the PIMB or the PICG will receive an appropriately narrower TC33 circulation. The Secretary pointed out that papers circulated by the Secretariat become public domain documents. The Secretary was actioned to ascertain the availability of the VDM specification from the CEC. Prof.Dr.Weber kindly agreed to provide the Secretariat with an index of documents of potential relevance to the work of TC33. Other documents were made available: Requirements for enhancement of PCTE/OMS - the German PCTE Initiative, December 1987 (88/3), Guide for the submission of PCTE comments to the PICG, Mr.Kelter, January 1988 (88/4), and the schedule of PICG work (88/5). Documents 88/3 and 88/4 were not considered during the present Meeting; document 88/5 was considered under item 8 below. A list of names, Companies, postal addresses, telephone, telex and telefax numbers of all present TC33 members was brought up to date and distributed. 5.Review and revision of the scope and terms of reference of TC33 The scope and ToR as prepared by the CC and dated January 1988 were reassessed in detail (88/1), and a revised version agreed upon (88/8). In reviewing these ToR, Mr.Hekimi recalled to participants that the creation of an ECMA standard based on PCTE Functional Specifications 1.4 is seen as a necessary first step, which needs to be achieved rapidly, and which could then lead on to further steps if and as required. A number of participants questioned the value of a routine ECMA endorsement of PCTE 1.4 (applying only editorial changes and clarifications) and expressed the view that, in its scope and ToR, TC33 should focus effort beyond the PCTE 1.4 exercise. It was equally appreciated that publishing a first ECMA standard only when PCTE+ activities have reached maturity would represent an unacceptably long delay. 6.Future liaison with ECMA TC22 and TC32-TG2 The scope and terms of reference of TC22 (Database) and TC32-TG2 (Communication, Networks and Systems Interconnection - Distributed Interactive Processing) were briefly introduced (88/7). As a first step it was agreed that TC33 participants will seek to identify precise areas of liaison with TC22 and TC32-TG2 by internal discussion within their own Companies with their representatives to these groups. In this way, the subject will be addressed more specifically at the next Meeting. In the meantime, copies of the TC33 ToR (88/8), Minutes (88/11) and Agenda for the next Meeting (88/12) will be sent to the Chairmen of TC22 (Dr.Lamersdorf, IBM) and TC32 (Mr.von Studnitz, Philips) and to the Convenor of TC32-TG2 (Mr.Brenner, ICL). 7.Future submission of ECMA standards to ISO With one of the objectives of TC33 being to launch its future PCTE standards into ISO, utilizing the fast-track procedure, the importance was recognized in ascertaining at an early stage whether a language- dependent ECMA standard or standards (for example C- or ADA- dependent) would be acceptable to ISO. Consulted outside the Meeting, Mr.Hekimi opined that language-dependent ECMA PCTE standards would present no formal problem for acceptance by ISO. It was unclear to which ISO/IEC JTC1 subcommittee the work on PCTE would pertain, the likelihood being that none of the presently existing SCs cover PCTE in scope. It was recognized that at an appropriate future point in time TC33 should contribute a proposal to ISO for the creation of a suitable new work item. On both the above points the ECMA Secretariat will investigate the present situation within ISO/IEC JTC1 and report at the next Meeting. 8.Introduction of schedule of PICG work The latest available schedule of PICG work was introduced by Mr.Kelter (88/5). For identification, the document was given a 2 February 1988 date. For ease of discussion it was agreed to refer to the mid-year 1988 PCTE output as 1.5 and the November 1988 output as 1.6. Mr.Kelter indicated that 1.5 is intended to remove as many as possible of the difficulties identified by mid-1988, and for which a commentary procedure operates within the PICG (88/4 refers), whereas more substantial changes would be incorporated only within 1.6, or later in time. Mr.Kelter agreed to report on PICG developments on an ongoing basis at future TC33 Meetings. Dr.Crispin pointed out that the dates shown for 1.5 and 1.6 refer to output from the PICG and that for each date a further two months could elapse before these outputs gain PIMB approval. This point was recognized, it being understood that in any event TC33 will be monitoring the PICG work schedule and forwarding any concerns with regard to a timeframe that appeared to be moving unfavourably. 9.TC33 work planning and timing Although a proposal from Mr.Davis (88/6) was not formally considered, its content was taken up in discussion. Taking into account the current schedule of PICG work (88/5), an overall roadmap and timeframe for TC33 was elaborated (88/9). Looking to the dates of ECMA General Assemblies in 1988 and 1989, a February 1989 deadline was identified for completion of a Final Draft for a first ECMA PCTE standard and the achievement of a consensus within TC33. The planning (88/9) will be updated at each TC33 Meeting. Discussion of conformance requirements and a preliminary look at conformance testing was deferred to the next Meeting. The Chairman proposed that TC33 work be envisaged as proceeding within two future Task Groups, one to pursue work on the definition of a layered reference model and the other, starting its work later, to progress the development of interface standards for the lowest layer of the model. In proposing a reference model, the importance was recognized of taking into consideration input from other relevant ESPRIT projects. Before establishing a Task Group to define a reference model it was seen that certain preparatory steps need to be taken, including establishing requirements for the model, and assessing the relevance of existing work in this area. Accordingly, it was agreed to create a small Ad-hoc Group to address these tasks prior to the next TC33 Meeting. 10.Creation of TC33 Ad-hoc Group to address preliminary tasks An Ad-hoc Group was mandated to pursue studies prerequisite to the establishment of a TC33 Task Group to work on the definition of a reference model. Terms of reference for this Ad-hoc Group were prepared and agreed (88/10). In addition relevant existing work in this area, as well as points of contact, were identified (88/10). For efficiency it was agreed to restrict the size of the group to a maximum of three persons. Dr.Crispin,Mr.Davis, and Mr.Wyman agreed to constitute the group, which will meet prior to the next TC33 Meeting, and Mr.Wyman agreed to coordinate its report to TC33. 11.Liaison with PIMB and PICG It was agreed that TC33 liaison will formally be with the PIMB, although informal links will remain with the PICG due to a degree of common membership with TC33. Mr.Morron was actioned to raise at the next PIMB Meeting: (i) questions as to the exact status of ADA work and the intentions of the CEC in this regard, and (ii) a proposal, for addressing to the CEC, indicating the desirability of rewriting the C-specifications in the style and quality of the ADA-specifications, and requesting allocation of the necessary resources. It was recognized that the division of responsibilities between the PIMB, PICG and TC33 needs to be addressed in both PIMB and TC33. This item was therefore included in the Agenda for the next TC33 Meeting (88/12). Dr.Crispin agreed that Mr.Taylor of his Company will raise the subject at the next PIMB Meeting. The PIMB will next meet on 9 March, and 6 May 1988. Mr.Morron agreed to provide the ECMA Secretariat with lists of the memberships of the PIMB and the PICG. 12.Overview of Secretariat equipment and document handling procedures Mr.Brockway briefly described the hardware and software used within the Secretariat, and relevant to document interchange in the context of TC33 work, and new material envisaged for acquisition during 1988. Plans for the Secretariat to become a member of EuroKom are at an advanced stage (GA/87/45 refers); implementation is envisaged in the course of 1988, depending on the experience of a pilot scheme already operational within one ECMA Task Group. Mr.Brockway indicated that the participants of TC33 may of course choose to use the EuroKom services to aid their own work, but proposed that adoption of EuroKom as a regular method of work of TC33 be addressed within a wider context. Mr.Brockway also referred to the guidelines offered by the ECMA General Assembly for editing, recording and exchanging drafts of ECMA Standards and TRs (GA/86/21); these guidelines are being circulated within TC33. 13.Date and location of next Meetings The 2nd Meeting of TC33 will be held 28-29 March 1988, in the region of Nice, France by kind invitation of DEC. The Meeting will begin at 14:00 hours on 28 March, ending at 17:00 hours on 29 March. A Venue Notice giving details of the exact location of the Meeting, hotel reservation arrangements, and recommended transportation from and to Nice international airport, will be circulated shortly. A proposed Agenda was agreed upon (88/12). Contributions for circulation to TC33 in advance should be sent to the Secretariat to arrive no later than 22 February. The 3rd Meeting of TC33 is provisionally scheduled for 24-25 May 1988, in Geneva, from 14:00 hours on 24 May until 17:00 hours on 25 May. The date and timing will be confirmed at the 2nd Meeting. 14.Other business (i) PCTE specifications on-line In view of ongoing and non-trivial revisional work on the PCTE specifications and the potential for realizing on-line access in the near future, it was agreed that the PICG will continue to maintain these specifications on the present host computer. The Meeting encouraged the PICG to bring the specifications on-line as soon as is feasible. (ii)Member Company representation in TC33 In addition to ECMA Member Companies represented at the present Meeting, it was recalled that IBM had expressed an intention to participate actively in the work of TC33, and that GEC had indicated potential participation. Responding to a question in this regard the Secretary reported that, to date, neither Company had followed up by announcing representatives to TC33. It was noted with interest that Apollo Computer have recently submitted an application for ECMA membership. The Secretary was asked to bring details of the formation of TC33 to their attention; documents 88/1 through 88/12 will be forwarded to Apollo. No other business was raised so Mr.Morron steered discussions to a halt and declared the Meeting closed, thanking participants for the progress achieved. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================== End of Posting 2/2 ==================