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| tutorials:node4.html [2011/04/30 19:36] – [3.2.2 Another Opinion] georg | tutorials:node4.html [2011/04/30 19:37] – [3.2.2 Another Opinion] georg |
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| In my opinion, unix is a description of the function of an operating system. I even say that unix is an Application Programmer's Interface (API). Any operating system which implements the unix API is a unix; it's an implementation of unix. Gnu/Linux is a unix.3.1 Gnu/Linux is often called Linux, but strictly speaking, Linux is a unix kernel, but not a whole unix operating system. There are many other implementations of unix. I can name original BSD, OpenBSD, FreeBSD, NetBSD, HP/UX, AIX, Minix, Apple Macintosh OS 10, NeXT STEP, QNX, & Lynx. There are probably others. | In my opinion, unix is a description of the function of an operating system. I even say that unix is an Application Programmer's Interface (API). Any operating system which implements the unix API is a unix; it's an implementation of unix. Gnu/Linux is a unix.3.1 Gnu/Linux is often called Linux, but strictly speaking, Linux is a unix kernel, but not a whole unix operating system. There are many other implementations of unix. I can name original BSD, OpenBSD, FreeBSD, NetBSD, HP/UX, AIX, Minix, Apple Macintosh OS 10, NeXT STEP, QNX, & Lynx. There are probably others. |
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| Now for some legal bullshit. ``UNIX'' is a trademark of The Open Group. From what I can infer from their web site about their opinions of what unix is, they would agree with me that it's a description of the function of a family of operating systems, but they would also add ``that we have certified to be UNIX''. So legally, it's not a UNIX unless The Open Group certifies it as a UNIX. So a lot of those operating systems I listed as unices are not UNIXes. It's a thoroughly sad case of legalities getting in the way of simplicity & sanity. | Now for some legal bullshit. <nowiki>"</nowiki>UNIX<nowiki>"</nowiki> is a trademark of The Open Group. From what I can infer from their web site about their opinions of what unix is, they would agree with me that it's a description of the function of a family of operating systems, but they would also add <nowiki>"</nowiki>that we have certified to be UNIX<nowiki>"</nowiki>. So legally, it's not a UNIX unless The Open Group certifies it as a UNIX. So a lot of those operating systems I listed as unices are not UNIXes. It's a thoroughly sad case of legalities getting in the way of simplicity & sanity. |
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| Anyway, I say that if an operating system behaves like unix, then it's a unix, though not necessarily a UNIX$^{(tm)}$. | Anyway, I say that if an operating system behaves like unix, then it's a unix, though not necessarily a UNIX$^{(tm)}$. |
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| So somewhat out of contempt for our legal system's petty concerns for terminology, I say it's all <nowiki>"</nowiki>unix<nowiki>"</nowiki>. There you have it, in more detail & controversy than anyone with a sense of perspective would ever want. | So somewhat out of contempt for our legal system's petty concerns for terminology, I say it's all <nowiki>"</nowiki>unix<nowiki>"</nowiki>. There you have it, in more detail & controversy than anyone with a sense of perspective would ever want. |
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