The Real 64-bit OS

It seems unlikely for Unix to lead the 64-bit charge when AS/400 is already there. While OS/400 (the OS) is mentioned several times in "Unix Leads the 64-bit Charge," AS/400 (the hardware system product) is not, and neither one is put into any context. If OLTP, data warehousing, and content managemen t are interesting to BYTE's readership, then a full description should be of real interest.

While the Unixoids have been playing in the 64-bit space for a while, there are few real 64-bit applications to exploit it. C (and C++) implementations are not truly portable and require significant recoding to work correctly in a 64-bit address space, let alone fully exploit it. The largest volume of 64-bit software, by any measure (e.g., lines of code, fully enabled applications, and systems deployed), is written in RPG and COBOL and runs on the AS/400.

Steven J. Munroe
SJMUNROE@aol.com