[comp.unix.ultrix] OSF/1-based Ultrix binary compatible with current version?

morse@quark.mpr.ca (Daryl Morse) (06/03/91)

Will the OSF/1-based version of Ultrix *be* fully binary compatible
with the current version?  What about SCO's new ODT operating system
for the ACE platform?  Will it *fully* be binary compatible with
existing Ultrix applications?

I have heard both yes and no answered to the first question and would
a straight answer from someone who knows for sure.

One more reason I ask is that in an article describing DEC's OSF/1
Advanced Development Kit, it was stated that close to 90% of
applications tested in the porting centres ran with little or no
modification. What about the other 10%? Does that only imply that
vanilla OSF/1 is not fully binary compatible with Ultrix?

Please reply by email (unless, of course, you think the reply is of
general interest). I will send summary of response via email.

Thanks.

--
Daryl Morse                     | Voice : (604) 293-5476
MPR Teltech Ltd. 		| Fax   : (604) 293-5787
8999 Nelson Way, Burnaby, BC    | E-Mail: morse@quark.mpr.ca
Canada, V5A 4B5                 |         quark.mpr.ca!morse@uunet.uu.net

ajc@thendara.pa.dec.com (AJ Casamento) (06/04/91)

	Daryl Morse writes:

	>> Will the OSF/1-based version of Ultrix *be* fully binary
	>> compatible with the current version?

    One of the things you need to be careful of, in terms of thinking about
    software vendors who are looking at distributing binaries only, is that
    as new functionality becomes available in OSF code (say like the use of
    shared libraries) releases, will you *really* want to ignore it? Just
    for the sake of stating that it's all binary compatible?

    I know that this seems like nit picking to you; but, it's the kind of
    thing that the legal department looks at prior to clearing anything
    that goes out of the company. If I run accross anything inclusive that
    has been cleared for external posting I'll put it where you can get at it.

				Thanx,
				  AJ


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