Conference hydra::axp-developer

3257.0. "Unidata, Inc." by HYDRA::AXPDEVELOPER (Alpha Developer support) Mon Mar 03 1997 14:49

    Company Name :  Unidata, Inc.
    Contact Name :  Elizabeth Schmitt
    Phone        :  303 312.3119
    Fax          :  
    Email        :  [email protected]
    Date/Time in :   3-MAR-1997 14:48:41
    Entered by   :  Mark Schafer
    SPE center   :  MRO

    Category     :  vms
    OS Version   :  v7.1
    System H/W   :  


    Brief Description of Problem:
    -----------------------------

From:	SMTP%"[email protected]"  3-MAR-1997 12:03:16.10
To:	'Developer Assistance' <[email protected]>
CC:	
Subj:	Binary Compatibility for VMS

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From: "Elizabeth Schmitt (HQ)" <[email protected]>
To: 'Developer Assistance' <[email protected]>
Subject: Binary Compatibility for VMS
Date: Mon, 03 Mar 97 09:57:00 PST
Message-Id: <[email protected]>
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I am trying to find out if VMS 6.2 and 7.1 are binary compatible. I can't 
find anything on the Web page that addresses this specifically and our 
technical contact at DEC isn't available. Can someone help?

Thank You!

Elizabeth Schmitt
Product Information Manager
Unidata, Inc.
303 312.3119
In case you need some sort of code number:
Customer Code/Tech Support: 620215
Disc. Agr: 3231647
PIN: 101496



From:	HYDRA::AXPDEVELOPER "[email protected]"  3-MAR-1997 14:45:57.81
To:	SMTP%"[email protected]"
CC:	AXPDEVELOPER
Subj:	RE: Binary Compatibility for VMS

Elizabeth,

The Software Product Description (SPD) for OpenVMS states that "OpenVMS
supports the execution of user-mode images created on earlier versions of
OpenVMS. Typically, recompiling and relinking are not required."

I recommend that ISVs test their application software on each version of 
OpenVMS.  Privileged-code applications and device drivers do not get the same
guarantee and often require recompiling and relinking.

You should obtain and read the "New Features" manual and the "Release Notes"
manual that are provided in each OpenVMS release. There are several items that
programmers should take note.  I'll explain only a couple of significant ones,
new 64-bit features and the new DECwindows X11 display server. 

The new 64-bit features in V7.0 and V7.1 take advantage of the Alpha processor,
but the application-virtual address space defaults to a 32-bit implementation
for compatability and migration purposes.  Thus, you should not have any
compatibility issues if you do not use the new 64-bit features. 

The DECwindows X11 display server has been upgraded from X11R5 to X11R6.
The new server may affect you if you have DECwindows Motif applications.

Finally, you should be aware of the manual "Guide to Creating OpenVMS
Modular Procedures", section 6.1, "Making Your Procedures Upwardly Compatible".
The guide explains the programming techniques that the OpenVMS group uses
to ensure their compatibility guearantee.

Thank you,

Mark Schafer