Why DEC doesn't need an ABI

[Amos Shapir]

VAX is the  only successful architecture that has no  clones. Tahoe (CCI
Power 6/32) is a close imitation,  but certain changes were made to make
sure it was  *not* compatible with a VAX  - if you have a  Tahoe to hack
on, look at  the opcodes - they  are mostly the VAX's  opcodes, with the
hex digits reversed!

I participated in the original design team of the Tahoe; if there was an
ABI for the VAX at the time  (1982) CCI would probably use it. But DEC's
attitude made it clear that they  intend to make money selling iron, and
would not favor  cloning - the old 'software is  what makes the hardware
work' approach. (Rather  than the other way round, which  is more common
nowadays).
-- 
	Amos Shapir			(My other cpu is a NS32532)
National Semiconductor (Israel)
6 Maskit st. P.O.B. 3007, Herzlia 46104, Israel  Tel. +972 52 522261
amos%taux01 at nsc.com  34 48 E / 32 10 N