Bakin.ESSDPP@hi-multics@sri-unix.UUCP (10/13/83)
The DEC Rainbow now comes with both CP/M and MSDOS. A Computique salesman claimed that with the Winchesters, a file created by an MSDOS program could be used by a CP/M program and vice versa. IS THIS TRUE? Also, in the same vein.... Does anyone make ANY MSDOS programs for the Rainbow? Every piece of software I have seen has been for CP/M. Is there a vendor writing compilers for the Rainbow which use the same object file format, and have similar calling conventions, and hence can be linked together? I wouldn't mind buying compilers which were not the best, if there was a somewhat complete set of languages. Specifically, I am looking for a Pascal, FORTRAN (77?), PL/I, and assemblers that will link together. Any help? I am also looking for real word-processing software, I do not have enough experience with SELECT, and none with any Final Word stuff, but I suspect they are not what I want. I would rather have a screen editor, and a word-processor which are separate. Something ala runoff on the DEC-10 or VAX, or compose on Multics or nroff on UN*X. Is there anything like these for the Rainbow? In the same light, what are the best screen editors for the Rainbow? I know that MinceIsNotEmacs, but how close is it? Thanks in advance, (In advance of my buying a Rainbow) Jerry Bakin <Bakin -at HI-Multics>
Bakin.SSID%hi-multics@sri-unix.UUCP (10/16/83)
Thanks for that info! I gather MS-languages to include Pascal and Fortran? Hopefully, Pascal can call Fortran and vice versa? I am waiting to hear just a bit more before buying. I have one major concern that you might explain to me and info-cpm? I have used DEC-10s, DEC-20s, PDP-11s, and various Vaxen.... While I have noticed enormous amounts of software available from third party vendors for each of those machines, the primary writer was DEC. I can expect no one but Digital to have any real interest in keeping the Rainbow alive. Hence, I can expect no one but Digital to write complete systems for the Rainbow, be it mutually callable languages, OS updates, Mail Systems, what have you. Yet as far as I can tell, DEC has not written much for the Rainbow. This seems to leave a gaping hole which cannot be filled by third parties. What are DEC's future plan's for the Rainbow? They now have CP/M and MSDOS, what about a multitasking OS? CCPM? Unix? How about some munged version of RT or RSX that supports DCL? (RT-86?) It seems horribly brain damaged that DEC doesn't write software for its machine. Please! Tell me why I'm wrong in that opinion! Jerry Bakin <Bakin -at HI-Multics>