In a message dated 10/3/02 2:30:38 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:


> But, even if we did offer MPE source to the public, how easy
> do you think it would be to make a change in MPE and verify
> that the change is correct and does not have any negative
> side effects?
>

Jeff: This is a key issue.  No source code equals no enhancements to MPE in
the future.  Long term, organizations that elect to stay on the HP-3000/MPE
platform (with or without an emulator) will need to have enhancements
incorporated into MPE.

Regardless of how hard it is to deal with the source code, it is a way and
the ONLY WAY that future enhancements to MPE can be made.  The Linux world
manages to evolve their operating system using open source code and despite
the difficulties, they are succeeding.  What a lot of us would like to hear
and see, is HP working towards turning over the source code (and related
stuff) to MPE/iX 7.5 at some point in the future.  I doesn't have to be
today, but the commitment from HP is critically important.

I have heard that there is some code inside of MPE is isn't the property of
HP and thus HP cannot release this source code. OK, fine.  Delete it out of
the source code and simply add: "/* contact Joe Blow Co. at (800) 555-1212
*/" where the code was used.  It's more work but it's doable.  If we have to
round up some $ for Joe Blow - OK we can work on that.

There are quite a few people with lots of experience with MPE.  Somehow, with
the source code, we can make it work and eventually produce MPE/iX 8.0 and
future releases.  Without the source code, we can't.

Please push this idea within HP.  Maybe it takes lots and lots of HP
mangement 'buy-in' but it's necessary and what does HP have to lose by
releasing the code?

Wayne Boyer
Cal-Logic