Re: LINUX is obsolete Linux Inside
[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]

Re: LINUX is obsolete

 ast@cs.vu.nl (Andy Tanenbaum) writes:
 > Another option that seems to be totally forgotten here is buy UNIX or a
 > clone.  If you just want to USE the system, instead of hacking on its
 > internals, you don't need source code.  Coherent is only $99, and there
 > are various true UNIX systems with more features for more money.  For the
 > true hacker, not having source code is fatal, but for people who just
 > want a UNIX system, there are many alternatives (albeit not free).
 
 Andy, I have followed the development of Minix since the first messages
 were posted to this group and I am now running 1.5.10 with Bruce
 Evans's patches for the 386.
 
 I 'just' want a Unix on my PC and I am not interested in hacking on its
 internals, but I *do* want the source code!
 
 An important principle underlying the success and popularity of Unix is
 the philosophy of building on the work of others.
 
 This philosophy relies upon the availability of the source code in
 order that it can be examined, modified and re-used in new software.
 
 Many years ago, I was in the happy position of being an AT&T Seventh
 Edition Unix source licencee but, even then, I saw your decision to
 make the source of Minix available as liberation from the shackles of
 AT&T copyright!!
 
 I think you may sometimes forget that your 'hobby' has had a profound
 effect on the availability of 'personal' Unix (ie. affordable Unix) and
 that the 8086 PC I ran Minix 1.2 on actually cost me considerably more
 than my present 386/SX clone.
 
 Clearly, Minix _cannot_ be all things to all men, but I see the
 progress to 386 versions in much the same way that I see 68000 or other
 linear address space architectures: it is a good thing for people like
 me who use Minix and feel constrained by the segmented architecture of
 the PC version for applications.
 
 NOTHING you can say would convince me that I should use Coherent ...
 
 	Tony
 
 -- 
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Dr. A.J.Travis <ajt@uk.ac.sari.rri>  | Rowett Research Institute,
                                       | Greenburn Road, Bucksburn, Aberdeen,
                                       | AB2 9SB. UK. tel 0224-712751