> -----Original Message----- > From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Bob Shannon > Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2007 1:46 PM > To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU > Subject: Re: [spam] Open z/Architecture or Not > > > >> I grant you that untrammeled access to source code _can_ result in > >> disasters. > >Any example ? > > Sure. The thousands of in-stream usermods that were written > prior to XA, and which greatly inhibited subsequent upgrades. > I certainly agree that in the early days usermods were > written to overcome functional deficiencies in MVS. Some, > such as logical swap, were incorporated into MVS. Others, > such as the dual master catalog mod at a large US insurance > company, proved to be a nightmare to maintain and an even > worse nightmare to remove. > > Incidentally, that particular company had approximately 200 > instream usermods. Consider the effort it would take to roll > out z/OS releases with that level of modification even if > source code were available. > > Bob Shannon > Rocket Software
But isn't that a managerial failure, rather than a technical failure? I liked have the source to OS/VS1 when I started. It was a fantastic learning tool. I also used it to see what the code was actually doing when I didn't understand the documentation. Now that Linux is ported to the System z and in use as production, does that mean that people should stop publishing the source? Not that it is possible, due to the GPL and the Linux development philosophy. Or does is mean that Linux should never been use for mission critical infrastructure? Or am I just misunderstanding this entire argument (likely)? -- John McKown Senior Systems Programmer HealthMarkets Keeping the Promise of Affordable Coverage Administrative Services Group Information Technology The information contained in this e-mail message may be privileged and/or confidential. It is for intended addressee(s) only. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, reproduction, distribution or other use of this communication is strictly prohibited and could, in certain circumstances, be a criminal offense. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender by reply and delete this message without copying or disclosing it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
