phil@wubios.wustl.edu (J. Philip Miller) (06/03/89)
in: SUN-SPOTS DIGEST Friday, 2 June 1989 Volume 8 : Issue 1 > From: monty@nestor.bsd.uchicago.edu (Monty Mullig) > Subject: Re: An ISPF Clone for Unix/Sun Workstations > > >I want a replacement for IBM's ISPF full-screen menu and screen handling > >facility....A direct Unix clone for the Sun workstation of the ISPF > >functions would be superb. > > huh ? why ? i don't think you're going have any luck on this one. > besides, the window/icon system destroys ISPF (in my opinion) in every > possible way. were you just joking or baiting us with this one ? I think this is an unfortunate example of religious wars that is not needed on Sun-Spots. I think that Monty has not realized the diversity of uses that Sun machines have taken on in large organizations. When Sun systems start appearing on the desks of non-CS/non-engineering types, then many new constraints begin to emerge as being important (please listen Sun :-). One of them is that of porting existing applications. If an organization has been heavily dependant on IBM mainframe software support the conversion from the big iron to the workstation may be achieved best by retaining the "look and feel" of the application. This is particularly important if you are taking about applications which are not used sun-up to sun-down, e.g. entering purchase orders or searches in an applicant pool maintained by personnell. There are substantial training and productivity gains for having a platform independant appearance as much of the current developmental work by many vendors assumes. Currently these are not available to the mainstay IBM mainframe users, so perhaps we need to be able to play thier game as well. Finally, many use Sun machines as shared use computers with chracter oriented terminals - I have yet to see anyone show me how the super window/icon system that blows away ISPF works well on such a device! I wish I had a productive answer for the original poster. -- -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* J. Philip Miller - Div of Biostat - Washington Univ Medical School phil@wubios.WUstl.edu - Internet phil@wubios.wustl - bitnet (314) 362-3617 c90562jm@wuvmd - alternate bitnet