Re: UNIX is/was an Operating System

From: Chuck Dillon (spam_at_nimblegen.com)
Date: 03/24/05 

Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 09:01:51 -0600

Ghazan Haider wrote:
> Which statement is more true:
>
> Unix is an OS

This is false. "UNIX(tm)" is a brand...
        http://www.unix.org/what_is_unix/the_brand.html
        http://www.unix.org/what_is_unix/single_unix_specification.html

An operating system is an implementation. A UNIX operating system is
an implementation that has been certified by The Open Group as a UNIX.

>
> or
>
> Unix was an OS

This is true.

-- ced

>
> ??
>
> Unix as defined by the opengroup exists in AIX and others, but theyre
> operating systems, not an operating system. Secondly, in some circles
> UNIX was the original OS from which others sprouted, and todays OSes
> are descendents of UNIX, rather UNIX-derived. So whether UNIX is a
> class of operating systems or a group of UNIX-descended operating
> systems, the statement that UNIX is AN operating system would be
> false, since its plural.
>
> It certainly was an operating system, but then copies of the original
> still exist, so if referring to the original only, UNIX is an
> operating system.
>
> I've a collection of workstations, and deal with HPUX, AIX, Solaris,
> Unixware as well as the non-UNIX: Linux, NetBSD etc. So when i visited
> the wikipedia article on UNIX, was surprised by "UNIX is an operating
> system".
>
> Just being pedantic on a boring day. Any thoughts? 

-- 
Chuck Dillon
Senior Software Engineer
NimbleGen Systems Inc.

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