In the beginning of the 80s I worked at the University of Regensburg; among other tasks I also did programming in the field of statistics using PL/I as the programming language (where I’m still fond of). When I started we used a Telefunken TR440 machine which was then replaced by a Fujitsu Siemens computer. This System ran FACOM/BS3000 and we received some manuals to get familiar with the OS and the dialog system. TSO there had an old version of SPF (the predecessor of ISPF) installed – where no docs were available at all. The manuals were written with a typewriter and the name “BS3000” was overtyped over FACOM). One of the system guys of the computer center later told me that he had visited Fujitsu in Japan to see how the OS was developed. In fact, they had there about 1,000 programmers to copy the source code of the OS into the “new” version by replacing names of the system components (e.g. IKJEFT01 was changed to KDEJFT01). Some years later there arose rumors that IBM has agreed with Fujitsu: The Japanese had to pay 1,000,000,000 US$ to IBM which allowed them to use the “cloned “ OS further on inside Japan.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN