bob@sdcsvax.UUCP (Robert Hofkin) (07/25/84)
I've got to port some Unix/C software to VMS. Now, to make the best of a mediocre situation, what do the experts favor: fake the missing system calls and work around language differences, or buy a Unix emulator? I'd appreciate any help, but please no flames about VMS.
crm@rti-sel.UUCP (07/27/84)
Even better, use the system calls that VMS C provides, then read the VMS RunTime Library Manual for whatever else you need (if anything.) I'm currently porting some stuff the same way, and the RTL (compared to the C routines) just *blazes!*
daemon@decwrl.UUCP (The devil himself) (07/30/84)
Re: Opinion of VMS C?__________________________________________________________ > [F]ake the missing system calls and work around language differences, or buy > a Unix emulator? Well, DEC has announced a good Unix emulator for VMS called DEC/Shell, but I don't believe it's available to the public yet. I've used it, and it works quite well. I'm not familiar with other Unix emulators for VMS (such as Eunice) so I can't offer any information on those. I can offer information on porting Unix software to VMS, though; and that's the strategy I'd recommend over buying a Unix emulator (depending, of course, on the software you're trying to port). I've had much success getting Unix software - like things from net.sources - running on VMS. VAX C (formerly VAX-11 C) has a run-time library that implements most of the Unix system functions. Most of the ones that aren't implemented seem to be Unix-specific. Appendix A of "Programming in VAX-11 C" tells you which ones are implemented and which ones aren't. Look on the bright side; you may be losing a few dozen Unix system functions, but you're gaining hundreds of new functions: System service (SYS$) functions, run-time library (LIB$, SCR$, STR$, OTS$) functions, functions used by other languages (BAS$, FOR$, PAS$, PLI$, etc.), and various others (CLI$, LBR$, etc.). Have fun! <_Jym_> :::::::::::::::: Jym Dyer ::::' :: `:::: Nashua, New Hampshire ::' :: `:: :: :: :: DYER%VAXUUM.DEC@DECWRL.ARPA :: .::::. :: {allegra|decvax|ihnp4|ucbvax}!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-vaxuum!dyer ::..:' :: `:..:: ::::. :: .:::: Statements made in this article are my own; they might not :::::::::::::::: reflect the views of |d|i|g|i|t|a|l| Equipment Corporation.