Accelerate your OpenVMS development with VMS/XDE

A unique OpenVMS development environment that runs natively on GNU/Linux.

Try for Free

New from VMS Software

Why VMS/XDE?

  • Native OpenVMS development environment (not emulated; runs directly on Linux)
  • Seamless file sharing with the Linux host, no VM or OpenVMS connection required
  • Use your preferred Linux tools for VMS development (source control, IDE, etc.)
  • Set up CI/CD workflows
  • Ligtning-fast setup: extract the package and start developing
Hand typing on pc

How It Works

  • Download and install the package
  • Run
  • Check out your sources and start developing!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need this?

If you have experience developing on Linux but not OpenVMS, this solution gives you seamless integration between modern tools, IDEs, processes, and workflows with OpenVMS compilers, scripts, and utilities. This improves productivity and speeds up your work. You can also use technologies that typically take longer to implement in OpenVMS, such as CI/CD.

What are the hardware and software requirements?
You will need any flavor of Linux for x84_64 released since 2024, running on any hardware supported for that OS version.
How is VMS/XDE licensed?

The beta version includes a set of compilers and layered products licensed for the duration of the beta. For the commercial version, the same licenses apply as in a standard OpenVMS development environment (e.g., Base Operating Environment and compilers).

Do I need OpenVMS licenses to run VMS/XDE?
Yes, you do. This beta version already has licenses installed, valid until the end of the beta period, so you do not need to copy your licenses, you can just start developing.
What happens after the trial ends?
The beta runs until January 31, 2026. After that, you’ll need to install a new version of VMS/XDE to continue using it. Your files on the Linux host will remain intact.
Can I run production applications on VMS/XDE?
No. VMS/XDE is intended for development and testing only. It should not be used in production. VMS/XDE includes a limited set of layered products and does not offer the same features, reliability or security as a full OpenVMS system.
How many users can use VMS/XDE at the same time?
VMS/XDE is designed to be used by one developer. If you need it for multiple developers in your organization, each of them will need to extract their own package.
Can I put VMS/XDE into a Docker container?
Yes, you can.
Can I set up CI/CD workflows in VMS/XDE?
Yes, you can.
Isn't this just another emulator?

No. An emulator mimics both the hardware and the software environment of a system, whereas VMS/XDE is a compatibility layer that translates OpenVMS system calls to Linux system calls. It is much faster than emulation, since code runs natively, but it is limited to software built for OpenVMS on x86 and cannot be used to run Alpha or Integrity applications.

Is it supported?
We plan to officially support VMS/XDE after we release a production version. During the beta, please share your experiences and bug reports in the dedicated subforum, and we will try our best to reply in a timely manner and consider all requests for improvement.
How much will VMS/XDE cost?

Please contact VSI Sales to get a quote.