PB@SU-AI.ARPA (08/10/84)
From: Peter Blicher <PB@SU-AI.ARPA>
PB - And the Unix improvements:
-The maximum file size is required when the file is opened.
The maximum partition size is required when the partition is created.
-The file name is limited to six (or eight) letters, no extension, no
version number, no subdirectories.
The file name is limited to 14 letters, numbers, `-', `.', no extension, no
version number (except as part of the name).
-Different op system calls for I/O to the terminal, to files, to mag tape,
interprocess communication, to files across the network, interprocess
communication across the network.
Terminal characteristics handled via arcane incantations in obscure system file.
Mag tape characteristics handled via very arcane incantations in obscure system
file.
-No type-ahead buffers in the terminal driver. Any received characters
are dropped if there is no waiting read request. This prohibits the
implementation of a full screen editor.
No type-ahead buffers until shell gives a prompt (e.g. during login).
-Cannot get command line arguments within a user program.
Can only talk to system programs through arcane command lines.
-Error messages that are encryped numbers.
No error messages. Things that don't work just exit.
-No online help. MUST always have manuals within reach.
Infinite online help, if you happen to guess the right keyword. No other search
mechanism. MUST always have manuals within reach.
Now, I'm not saying that Eunuchs is perfectly terrible, I just don't want anyone
to think it's perfect.mwm@ea.UUCP (08/15/84)
#R:sri-arpa:-1227600:ea:7100017:000:923 ea!mwm Aug 14 20:58:00 1984 Just want to correct some comments about Unix: /***** ea:net.micro / sri-arpa!ARPA / 5:55 am Aug 11, 1984 */ > The file name is limited to 14 letters, numbers, `-', `.', no extension, no > version number (except as part of the name). No, the only characters you can't get into a file name on Unix are NULL (asii 0) and '/'. Anything (control chars, chars with the bucky bit on, and *spaces*) else is legal. On the most current research distribution available to the public (4.2BSD), file names are 255 (256) characters long. > Infinite online help, if you happen to guess the right keyword. No other search > mechanism. MUST always have manuals within reach. Once again, 4.2BSD fixes this. Man -k does a keyword search over the table of contents (sort of). /* ---------- */ I don't think Unix is perfect either - I think it is showing it's age badly. It's also the best OS I've run into that I could buy. <mike