DECUS 12 Bit Special Interest Group Newsletter, July 1976, Number 17

This newsletter from the DECUS 12 Bit Special Interest Group (SIG) in July 1976 covers various topics including SIG news, symposium reports, new program submissions, user issues, and a detailed correspondence on software update pricing.

SIG News: The group officially changed its designation to "12 Bit Special Interest Group" to encompass PDP-8 and PDP-12 hardware/software beyond just OS/8. A steering committee was appointed, and the SIG is seeking representation on the US Executive Board, noting its status as the oldest and largest SIG. DEC is requesting user papers on multiprocessing and transaction processing needs for the Fall US Symposium.

Symposium Reports: The Spring US Symposium saw 217 PDP-8 users, and the upcoming Las Vegas meeting will feature more extensive programs. The 1976 European DECUS Symposium in Munich will include a half-day 12 Bit SIG training seminar covering RTS-8 (multitasking, executive, communication, system generation), TECO, FORTRAN, and "BAL." A report from the Atlanta meeting highlighted progress in PDP-8 DECnet software and the official development of MACREL, deemed crucial for future software on the PDP-8. Discussions also covered OS/8 V3C release fixes, the 6-month software lag time due to reliability testing, and the increasing cost of "good" software. Documentation issues were prominent, with calls for revised OS/8 and RTS-8 manuals, suggesting a smaller "Pocket Guide" and a larger reference manual, with interest in machine-readable distribution for smaller documents.

Steering Committee Report: The committee's first meeting addressed maintaining representation on the DECUS Executive Board and improving communication with the large 8-family user base. They proposed themes for SIG sessions (e.g., real-time systems and communications for Las Vegas) and planned regional one-day meetings in several US cities as a more affordable alternative to semi-annual DECUS meetings.

User Concerns and Submissions: - Software Pricing: A significant portion of the newsletter is dedicated to a correspondence between Norman R. Dotti (National Loss Control Service Corp.) and DEC regarding steep increases in OS/8 software maintenance release prices. Dotti provided an economic analysis suggesting DEC's current prices ($150-$175 per product for OS/8, extension kit, FORTRAN IV) are vastly inflated, claiming they exceed actual duplication costs ($3.10 per tape) even with a 30% profit margin. He questioned whether development costs were being hidden in maintenance fees and emphasized the need for transparency and fair pricing for corrections. William H. Munson, DEC's Software Product Manager, responded by apologizing for the misinformation and lateness, explaining that evolving policies aimed to recover development and support costs while ensuring quality products. He clarified that first-year updates were priced at media cost, but subsequent updates could be purchased separately or through a subscription service with pricing based on content and development costs. - Conflicting Device Codes: A user reported issues with overlapping device codes (FPP 12 and AFØ4) and had to manually re-assemble diagnostics, leading to a suggestion that DEC provide source code for diagnostics. - OS/8 BUILD: Ian Templeton and Peter Holtham detailed issues with OS/8 BUILD when using a 2-page system handler and a long bootstrap on a PDP8-E with a Sykes 7100 Floppy Disk, outlining necessary modifications for proper operation. - Linctape Formatting: Jim VanZee provided a comprehensive memo clarifying OS/12 Linctape formatting, addressing inconsistencies in block sizes and directory recognition by PIP. He offered solutions involving program modifications (MARKOS, PIP) and suggested switching to DECSYSTEM-8 for better tape management, advocating for a robust copy utility for OS/12 users. - ETOS Commentary: Reverend Chase praised the ETOS (Editor/Text Processing System) as a practical multi-user solution for schools, allowing fine-tuned user privileges and system protection, and handling I/O complexities. - Various Submissions/Inquiries: Users submitted patches for OS/8 EDIT (CRT rub-out), modifications for remote OS/8 bootstrapping and paused output on KL8E. Inquiries were made about APL processors for the 8/e, an OS-12 handler for OPSCAN 17 optical mark reader, and PL/1 language development. New DECUS program submissions included BLK PIP (OS/8 file transfer utility), DB8E (interprocessor buffer handler), VC8E ('TV' handler for storage scope), LABL (TEXT handler update for paper tape ID), and PAGE8 (a two-pass macro-assembler for OS/8).