On Feb 15, 2008, at 7:44 AM, Phil Smith III wrote:
Ed Gould <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Can I ask an innocent(?) question here.. LINUX is it documented like
MVS or something like early 360 (YES 360) manuals ?
I do not have access to any of them to see.
Linux is Open Source, and as such is documented to whatever
standard someone felt like. This is one of the barriers to Linux
adoption by mainframers: we're used to good and complete
documentation, whereas with Linux, the answers are:
1) Read what doc there is
2) Read the source
3) Ask on various lists
4) Try it
5) Write it up yourself
And since it's a brave new world, #3 above often isn't that helpful.
The good news is, it's worth the trouble...
Phil:
Well that is somewhat true but then are we ready for them? The best
argument is look what happen 30+ years ago when IBM provided "some"
documentation. While some would say the PLM and source was all you
needed there were not enough then (nor is there now and in the
foreseeable future) to be able to debug source this way. In a
nutshell IBM is creating (IMO) a real opportunity for disaster for
itself? I can just see it now the 1-800 line for IBM will be
inundated with what is this error: the quick brown fox jumped over
the hedge. The answer is of course and S0C4 (well didn't you know
the secret handshake?) The product (LINUX) will essentially bomb
because there is are extremely few people out there that will
support it.
Its all well and good that its open source but if no one can read
it what difference does it make? *EVEN* if IBM started now
attempting to train people it would be 10-20 (or more years) before
they had enough people out there to support the number of LINUX
type environments that there could be out there. IBM will
(possibly) be out of business because there is no one out there to
support themselves. IBM has essentially dug a bomb shelter with no
door . Leaving the next gen without a way to stop the blast. We
have seen the dumbing down of everything IT related yet LINUX (IMO)
is meant for a rather smart type of environment. To me that will
NEVER happen unless some sort of smart pill is invented.
If the ruse of LINUX is to re-write MVS (to start over but with a
different design point) it is still going to be a real disaster
for IBM and the future generations (if IBM survives this). Yes it
will provide a LOT of new jobs (for the short term) running up
major costs at IBM. The employees at IBM are getting screwed by IBM
for insisting on OT because IBM is trying to save money. The future
IBM employee (almost any technical type) will be saying screw my
employer and IBM will not have a happy relationship with its
people. Where will that be in the mix? I won't go into the the
other IBM-EMPLOYEE issues here, but you think things are bad today
just wait 5-10-15 years (if IBM lasts that long) see how this has
affected the LINUX OS and you will see that we are in great bit of
trouble.
Ed
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