Future of Unix (was: Help us defend agains VMS! -- DEC perspective)

[Bob Devine]

Doug Gwyn wrote:
> I don't know what you mean by this ["Each new version of System V
has become more onerous."]
                                                         
  Guess I wasn't clear.  I meant that AT&T has moved away from the days
of a note saying "here's your release tape, have fun" to the current
stance of "if you want to call your product conformant with Rel 3 but
it doesn't pass SVVS, AT&T can order it withdrawn from the market".
That type of sanctioning power restrains the growth of Unix and
serves to perpetuate the problem of multiple Unix varieties.  Many
companies don't want to spend development dollars just to see if
AT&T deigns to approve it.

> If you refer to the requirement that VARs advertising their systems
> as UNIX System V conform to the SVID, why is that a problem?  It's
> exactly what many customers want, and what has been specified in many
> government procurement actions.

  Customers don't want SVID conformance, per se, they simply want
a standard Unix.  Period.  In today's market they have a choice
of SVID or waiting for Posix.  But many sales are made according to
what is available *now*.

> While on this topic, the NBS-proposed
> POSIX-based FIPS is by no means a suitable replacement for the SVID;
> it does not provide nearly as comprehensive and "crisp" a specification
> as the SVID does; therefore it does not meet end-user needs nearly so well.

  I don't know what you mean by this.  Please cite some examples
that show the lack of "crispness".  I know of some differences
in areas of features, but, none should be overwhelming.

  And which SVID are you talking about?  This year's version or the
semi-announced revision that is due out next year?

  If the Posix/FIPS is not a replacement for SVID then the hoped for
growth of Unix as a vendor-independent OS will suffer from the split
identity problem it now does.

  Finally, for those who are not bored with this discussion, take a
look at the April issue of UnixWorld.  I've been told it has some articles
on the Sun/AT&T and DEC/HP/Apollo/etc. competing views on Unix's future.

Bob Devine