🚀 go-pugleaf

>In article <1992Apr13.163724.10597@linus.mitre.org>, cazier@mbunix.mitre.org >(Cazier) writes:

>I would like to find out if the VMS 5.5 OS enhancements can really provide
>users with a UNIX-like environment or not.

>I gather that VMS 5.5 provides a shell to users who wish to work in
>a familiar UNIX environment. Do I assume that this includes sccs, vi,
>lint, and various other tools that a UNIX programmer might use in the
>course of developing programs?

The subject of your article addresses the POSIX layered product available for
VMS V5.5.  An important thing to remember is that POSIX does not mean UNIX.  

There currently are twelve flavors of UNIX installed in significant numbers.  The environment provided by the POSIX layered product for VMS will be very similar to the UNIX environment you are using IF your UNIX environment is POSIX (1003.1, .2, and .4) compliant. Not all UNIX environments are POSIX compliant.
In fact, VMS installed with the POSIX layered product is more POSIX compliant than some "open" systems available on the market...

In general, when a customer asks for an "open" system, I ask them what that means and then deliver what they specify. Sometimes it's U*IX, sometimes it's VMS/POSIX.  To answer all of your questions, a vendor needs to know all your needs/problems.  That way, they can respond exactly to make you a satisfied customer.  This may seem trite, but there are a number of vendors out there hyping "open systems"  that are built on proprietary flavors of various operating systems/products.  To provide an "open" system





, the vendor needs to understand 1) your business, 2) your problem, and 3) how the customer and vendor can work together to make the customer sucessful. Off my soapbox.

The POSIX layered product provides POSIX-compliant interfaces/utilities in addition to the VMS interfaces utilities.  I believe that user accounts can be set up to run the VMS shell (DCL) or a POSIX-compliant shell.  I am not sure about all the details (pathnames, etc.), so talk to your Digital Sales and Pre-Sales Support reps for the specific information you need.

If all else fails, send me mail and I'll try and answer your questions.

--
            Kent Sarff
      sarff@gsrc.enet.dec.com 
     Digital - Colo. Spgs., CO
Digital is blameless for my rambling