[Info-vax] OT: obscure PDP11 OSes (even more dinosaury)

[Bill Gunshannon]

In article <mddoakdua61.fsf at panix5.panix.com>,
	Rich Alderson <news at alderson.users.panix.com> writes:
> bill at server3.cs.uofs.edu (Bill Gunshannon) writes:
> 
>> On another side note, Unix was developed on the PDP-11.  I wonder how
>> much the architecture of the PDP-11 influenced the Unix Paradigm of
>> multiple connected programs to do a job as opposed to one monolithic
>> program?
> 
> Did pipes not come along until the PDP-11 implementation?  

It's not the pipe, per se, but the idea of a program doing one task
and using multiple programs to do the entire job.  Pipes made it
easier and more efficient, but the simplicity of the programs is
the basis of The Software Tools paradigm. 

>                                                            I thought they were
> on the PDP-7 (which is where Unix was developed; it was developed *further* on
> the PDP-11, but most of what we know as Unix had its start on the 18-bit box).

I donl't think they got really serious until they were promised that first
PDP-11.  But I am sure the PDP-7 had even less capabilites than the -11.
Just compare the size of the original Unix cpio and the current GNU version.
Also, look at the difference in how one uses the GNU one compared to the
original.  Look at what is built-in on the GNU version compared to the
need for additional commands on real Unix.  Talk about bloatware.
 
bill

-- 
Bill Gunshannon          |  de-moc-ra-cy (di mok' ra see) n.  Three wolves
billg999 at cs.scranton.edu |  and a sheep voting on what's for dinner.
University of Scranton   |
Scranton, Pennsylvania   |         #include <std.disclaimer.h>