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CSC322 C Programming and UNIX - Department of Computer ...

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Counterpoint<br />

<strong>UNIX</strong> was developed on small machines <strong>and</strong> became popular on the “killer<br />

micros”. <strong>UNIX</strong> dialects now run on everything from a PDA to CRAY supercomputers<br />

<strong>UNIX</strong> is based on simple <strong>and</strong> elegant principles (but has added a some cruft over<br />

the years)<br />

<strong>UNIX</strong> is not particularly hard to use (compared to the power it gives to the<br />

user), but has a reasonably steep learning curve. It’s not a “show-me” operating<br />

system, but a “tell me” operating system,<br />

<strong>UNIX</strong> has been created in a research environment, <strong>and</strong> much <strong>of</strong> it has been<br />

developed in informal settings by hackers. Much <strong>of</strong> the impetus for <strong>UNIX</strong> comes<br />

from free versions (Linux, Net-, Open-, FreeBSD), although many companies<br />

contribute to it’s development<br />

Many <strong>UNIX</strong> kernels are monolithic, but the <strong>UNIX</strong> system is extremly modular.<br />

Stephan Schulz 8

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