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| tutorials:node4.html [2011/04/30 19:36] – [3.2.2 Another Opinion] georg | tutorials:node4.html [2011/04/30 20:53] (current) – [3.1 Short Answer] georg |
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| The short answer is <nowiki>"</nowiki>Unix is an operating system<nowiki>"</nowiki>. So is Gnu/Linux, which is often just called Linux. So are HP/UX, AIX, NeXT STEP (now called Apple Macintosh OS 10), & Microthought Winders (often called many uncomplimentary things). | The short answer is <nowiki>"</nowiki>Unix is an operating system<nowiki>"</nowiki>. So is Gnu/Linux, which is often just called Linux. So are HP/UX, AIX, NeXT STEP (now called Apple Macintosh OS 10), & Microthought Winders (often called many uncomplimentary things). |
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| If this short answer is enough for you, congratulations on knowing the value of keeping things simple. Now skip ahead to Chapter 4 ``Some Basic Commands''. | If this short answer is enough for you, congratulations on knowing the value of keeping things simple. Now skip ahead to Chapter 4 <nowiki>"</nowiki>Some Basic Commands<nowiki>"</nowiki>. |
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| ===== 3.2 Long Answer ===== | ===== 3.2 Long Answer ===== |
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| The long answer is ``It depends on who you ask''. | The long answer is <nowiki>"</nowiki>It depends on who you ask<nowiki>"</nowiki>. |
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| ==== 3.2.1 My Opinion ==== | ==== 3.2.1 My Opinion ==== |
| 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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