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

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.