From: axi0349@ultb.isc.rit.edu (A.X. Ivasyuk)
Subject: Re: IS UNIX DEAD?
Originator: axi0349@ultb
Organization: Rochester Institute of Technology
Distribution: isc
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 03:35:32 GMT


It seems that this discussion has gotten a bit off track lately.

I think that mbarkah@slate.mines.colorado.edu (Ade Barkah) stated correctly
that both sides have confused the operating system for the shell.  One
point that papresco@undergrad.math.waterloo.edu (Paul Prescod) made is
that the users see the operating system for the shell.  It's true that
programmers see *nix a lot differently than the users.

So lets go through what *nix is and isn't:

- Is an operating system which provides pre-emptive multitasking,
    memory management, process and access protection, interprocess 
    communication, networking support, and device support.

- Provides a consistent interface to devices, networks, and processes
    for both programmers and users.  This includes the /dev directory,
    although users don't really have to know what's in it.  This also
    includes the socket library, although programmers don't have to know
    how the underlying protocol is being used to transmit messages, and
    over what hardware.

Of course, this is not everything (heck, whole books have been written 
on the subject), but you get the basic idea.  The *nix kernel provides 
the basic services and presents a consistent interface to them.  This 
means that other software doesn't have to talk directly to the hardware, 
and in fact doesn't have to know what type of hardware is there.

To the neophyte or the DOS/Windows/OS/2 user, *nix:

- Is a command line.  Is case sensitive.  Has a *lot* of commands that have 
    a *lot* of command line options.  Many of these commands have no 
    functional equivalents in DOS or OS/2.

- Is a GUI (often X-based).  Has a graphical interface which is potentially
    completely customizable, but which often starts out looking and feeling
    a lot different than Windows or OS/2.

  (With X-based GUIs, you have a wide selection of file managers (you want
   icons, we got icons!), window managers, and what-have-you.  You want
   lean?  Try twm.  You want "friendly"?  Try olvm or mwm.)

Basically, a user coming from DOS/Windows or OS/2 sees a completely foreign
operating system.  Sure there are a few similar commands here and there,
but otherwise it looks and acts a lot differently.

It wouldn't be that difficult to write a *nix shell and a set of commands 
to appease DOS users, Apple II users, CP/M users, VMS users, VM/MVS users, 
etc. (Why someone would want to torture people like that is beyond me).  
The point is that the underlying operating system would remain the same.

Right now, OS/2 probably comes the closest in providing the kinds of
features that *nix provides, while running some of the DOS and Windows
programs out there.

Windows NT will also probably develop *nix-like traits.  I even hear that
there will be a POSIX layer for it.

But the basic question is: is *nix dead?  Not by a long shot.  Powerful
PC hardware has become quite affordable, and there are at least two free
*nix-compatible operating systems out there: Linux and 386BSD.  Many
people are starting to convert to these systems now that they have the
opportunity to experience some real power.

The gist of things is that it doesn't take much common sense to realize 
that when making the transition to a different operating system, one 
will have to adapt to the ways of the new operating system and/or learn 
how to adapt the operating system to one's preferences and needs.
People who refuse to learn new concepts (or read the documentation, for
that matter) will be left behind.  After all, is it really so difficult
to remember to type 'ls' instead of 'dir'?

-Anatoly Ivasyuk
 IBM co-op
 Linux fan

ObLinuxPlug: Linux is a free *nix-compatible OS.  Try it out!  anon. ftp
to tsx-11.mit.edu in pub/linux.  Take a look at the docs in the ./doc
directory.  Or try out the SLS package in ./packages/SLS .

I'll email the latest Linux info sheet to anyone who requests it.
email me at axi0349@ultb.rit.edu with subject "REQUEST LINUX INFO-SHEET"
-- 
  Anatoly Ivasyuk @ Computer Science House @ Rochester Institute of Technology
   anatoly@nick.csh.rit.edu || axi0349@ultb.rit.edu || axi0349@ritvax.rit.edu

                  You say you haven't heard of CSH?  You will...
Newsgroups: comp.unix.questions