From: ioi@pixmap.seas.upenn.edu (Ioi Kim Lam)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.questions
Subject: WHAT IS UNIX? (was IS UNIX DEAD?)
Summary: <looooooooong>
Date: 18 Nov 92 22:22:58 GMT
Organization: University of Pennsylvania


Lots of discussions have been going on about the topic whether Unix is
dead. From my (biased) observation, many people have been missing the
point. Before you posting more irrelevant materials, can you guys think
twice - " What is Unix? What am I defending / attacking? ".

I don't know  what Unix is, but I can give a list what Unix is not.


Unix is not VI, EMACS or C-SHELL
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
	These stuffs are only the *applications* of Unix. They distinguish
Unix (somewhat notoriously) from other OS's. Yet they were designed and
implemented before my grandad was born. They do have their merits. I just
don't think by arguing about their merits can help the future of Unix.
What really makes Unix special is its capability in multi-tasking,
security, portability, distributed processing .... and the list goes on
and on. But please, exclude VI. 
	(To please the VI fans - VI is something about personal taste, and
I suppose all of you love French wine, too. Please post your support of VI
to soc.culture.????. I would love to read them) 


Unix is not a toy for the computer scientists
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
	The reason of the development of computing originated from
outsides of the field. Now that we have such a splendid OS like Unix, why
should we restricted its use to the universities and the computer
literates? Why shouldn't a casual user be able to use it? In a few years
everyone will be running a 1000 MIPS PC in their home. They need the power
of Unix. And God (aka Computer Scientists), let these poor soles have it. 


Unix does not have to appear as a complicated system
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
	Yes, Unix *is* a complicated system, but it doesn't have to appear
so. Not every user has to handle this complexity. One system needs only
ONE sysadmin. As long as I can get my Ferarri fixed by someone, I am
absolutely eligible of owning and driving it. 


Unix is not a static object
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
	Why can't Unix evolve? By stressing how wonderful Unix is now can
only limit one's vision about the future of computing. OK, I repeat, Unix
is wonderful, but it still has some problems. Find them out and fix them.
Most of the supporters of the old features of Unix are, surprisingly, very
young computer scientists. It is interesting to see many young men/women
in a young industry talk like their grandparents. Where have they lost
their vision and creativity?


Unix is not immortal
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
	Now there comes the tough part. Unix is not dead, I assure you,
but it will be. Man is not immortal, nor is his creations. No matter how
brilliantly designed and how adaptive Unix was, its foundations will
become its limitations. In a rapidly changing world new products will come
out and replace the existing ones. The replacement of Unix is a sign of
progression. I love my old friend Unix but I would be very happy to see it
die. They day that Unix finally steps down will be an milestone in the
history of the computer, just as was the day when Unix was born. 

                       ioi the binary man
Newsgroups: comp.unix.questions