[HECnet] Humour value alternative to DCL - a port OS/390 ISPF to VMS :)

[Brian Schenkenberger, VAXman-]

Johnny Billquist <bqt at softjar.se> writes:

On 2013-09-29 23:53, Brian Schenkenberger, VAXman- wrote:
Sampsa Laine <sampsa at mac.com> writes:

This is a little bit unfair for the blue guys :)
=20
ISPF is far more than a set of screens to invoke TSO commands. The =
panels (that's how ISPF screens are called) are just a part of the whole =
thing. ISPF integrates with TSO, so we are talking about:
=20
- The TSO command language (CLIST language) and also the REXX =
language.
- The panel facility.
- The skeleton facility.
=20
It is quite easy to "simulate" the ISPF panels (you just need DCL to =
do it, I did it when I worked with DEC machines in a mostly IBM-centric =
company), but that would be just the user interface. The APIs provided =
with ISPF are way beyond that...


I was planning on developing a simple format for defining the panels, =
mapping the options to DCL and any params / switches they need. I am =
aware that ISPF can be used for way more than the basic IDE / sysop =
functions that it comes with by default, don't some ISVs actually build =
their software using ISPF panels as the interface?

I just thought a IBM mainframe lookalike interface to VMS would be =
amusing if nothing else.

It's not amuzing; nor are the myriad absurd DCL menuing interfaces I've
seen implemented at all too many sites over the years.

If you really want to implement a menu interface on VMS, have a look-see
into the SMG$ library.   Roll-your-own ESCAPE sequences called out in DCL
command procedures leads to problems with terminal compatibility, as well
as horrors when trying to debug[*] and maintain it.

Apart from the SMG$ library, he might want to play with FMS. But I agree 
with you that I personally don't find it amusing at all.

Save that FMS is a layered product, that too could be a good choice.

-- 
VAXman- A Bored Certified VMS Kernel Mode Hacker       VAXman(at)TMESIS(dot)ORG

Well I speak to machines with the voice of humanity.