Mark Klein ([log in to unmask]) wrote:
: Alfred quotes in his essay:
 
: >...... Wim Roelandts, a high-ranking HP
: >executive, said in an interview with Computerworld
: >(November 2, 1992), "you can take unix software and
: >port it to MPE with the same degree of difficulty
: >as if you were porting it to another version of
: >unix."
 
: Having just ported GCC/G++ to the 3000, I can attest that it is
: possible, but not necessarily easy. However, the same can be said about
: porting gcc/g++ between various architectures that support Unix. This
: can further be interpolated to include other software, not just gcc.
 
Having ported a large portion of what's available on JAZZ, I think the
statement is absolutely correct.  When we began the POSIX effort, the
typical porting time was measured in _years_.  Now, it's measured in
weeks or days - just like any Unix to Unix port.  If you look at the
statement from an MPE point of view, it can be interpreted as a little
barb for Unix-philes :)
 
Steve
 
P.S.  We were once told that the Unix philosphy is "Standard is better
than better."  You be the judge.