The VM/CMS GUI was interesting in it's day as an end user tool. Today, user interface
technology is far beyond what it could ever have dreamed of. Also, the interaction
available with the system (z/VM) has grown up many fold. Systems Programmers can choose
to use a GUI or the green screen, which ever suits them. Of course, using the GUI hides
(read:protects) the Systems Programmer from potential pitfalls of their craft.
Advanced sysprogs may or may not appreciate this, but novices will certainly benefit
from such advances in these user interfaces.
On 11/23/2010 09:19 AM, George Henke/NYLIC wrote:
Please tell ur laughing friends that GUI, *point and click*, is for people who can't
type.
In the mainframe world and particularly z/VM you not only need to know how to *type*
but also *think* the old shibboleth of IBM, which made it great, and which George
Bernard Shaw claimed occurs among us only once or twice a year, though he claimed he
could think once a week.
GUI is *smoke and mirrors*, dream stuff.
OTOH, Mainframe, *Green Screen*, or whatever is a real operating system which does the
"thinking", really processing, since computers can't think, behind the GUI curtain.
--
Rich Smrcina
Velocity Software, Inc.
Mobile: 414-491-6001
Office: 262-392-3717
http://www.velocitysoftware.com
Catch the WAVV! http://www.wavv.org
WAVV 2011 - April 15-19, 2011 Colorado Springs, CO
