Conference bulova::decw_jan-89_to_nov-90

    
    
    Here we go :
    
    There is a notes file for uisx      VWS::UISX
    
    The file can be obtained from       VWSENG::UISX$FT:UISX*
    
    Note 2091 in this conference will tell you all about it.
    Have fun.
    
    Regards 
    Mark

    
    A "hacker utility"????!   hardly that at all..  It is the combined
    effort of a few engineers that spent a lot of weeks of greater that 60
    hours of work to create a runtime library that will run *MOST* VWS 
    applications in a DECwindows environment.
    
    BTW:  the notes file is {VWSENG,ICBB}::UISX (not VWS::UISX)
    
    	and the *FIELD TEST*  (I.E. don't give it to a customer unless you
    	have the proper field test licenses and non-disclosure) kits are
    	at VWSENG::UISX$KITS:[FT2]  or [NETKIT] for an after FT2 kit.
    
    
    *use KP7 to add UISX to your notebook*
    
    John
    

I believe that many people would take offense to UISX being called a 
"HACKER UTILITY"!

UISX is a transition tool designed to make many customer's transitions from
VWS to DECWindows less painful.

I have used the field test version, and it works well.  The engineers who wrote
the package deserve better than to have their work labeled "hacker utility".

UISX is a "real" product, and (as far as I know) will be made available with 
the ssb release of VWS 4.3.  Most all UIS functionality will be supported, 
with the notable exceptions of DOPS, tablet support, and TEK emulation.

Jeff Otterson

    Hmmm.  Should I jump on the bandwagon? :-)
    
    Having written a small part of UISX and being the previous PL of the
    UIS migration effort -
    
    	o In some respects, UISX may be regarded by people as a 'hacked'
    	  VWS.  It will not provide quite a number of things that people
    	  expect from VWS - like fast terminal emulation, the simple user
    	  interface (including the CYCLE key) and DOP access to the color
    	  graphics.  It's biggest liability is that it will not be nearly
    	  as fast as native UIS.  It's also likely to have bugs and
    	  incompatabilities inherent in ANY version 1 product - especially
    	  one that is trying to implement functions that "aren't quite the
    	  same" or are very VMS specific (like ASTs).
    
    However -
    
    	o UISX is a V1 RTL, which is as fast as *any* (bar none) layered
    	  graphics library for X11.  I expect that over time the interface
    	  (like DOPs), performance and functionality will improve even
    	  more.
    
    	o UISX *is* UIS.  A large amount of the code was adapted directly
    	  from the UIS master pack.  A great deal of care has been put into
    	  trying to make the behavior as close to native VWS as is feasible
    	  given the major differences between UIS and X11.
    
    	o It's "free", that is, it's bundled with VWS, which is bundled
    	  with the VMS/VAX workstation.  Making a large amount of money
    	  on UISX license sales is *NOT* a goal.  Moving VWS customers to
    	  DECwindows (like the Firefox and SPX) *is* the goal.
    
    	o It's a fully supported corporate product.  This *clearly* makes
    	  UISX *NOT* a hack.
    
    	o It leverages a LOT of existing software.  It also provides the
    	  ability to continue to use software such as SIGHT, and the large
    	  databases of UIS meta-files.
    
    	o It expands the client-server capabilities of DECwindows to UIS.
    	  You can now run things on your VAX 9000 and display on your 3MAX
    	  using UISX.  In addition, using the virtual display concept you
    	  can draw to as many as 16 workstations, with any number of
    	  windows, regarless of Visual type - in a single drawing
    	  operation.
    
    If you want an example of a "hack" - the VWS Monochrome Server (that I
    wrote) is a "hack" :-)
    
    _Fred

    Just for the record.  I didn't call the product a "Hackers Utility". 
    That was a quote from a person at support.  However, at least he
    pointed me in the right direction.
    
    I'm tickled pink that a product such as UISX is being developed and a
    well earned "pat on the back" for dedicated Digital people who are
    willing to spend overtime hours to develop products that keep our
    customers happy.  In this case, it will save the govement megabucks.
    Needless to say, keeping my customer happy, keeps me happy!
                                                                        
    Mucho Gracias and keep up the good work.  :-)