Date: Wed, 02 Jun 1999 08:35:12 -0600 From: Wes Peters <wes@softweyr.com> To: Darryl Okahata <darrylo@sr.hp.com> Cc: freebsd-hackers@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: Kernel config script Message-ID: <37554120.6F6FF409@softweyr.com> References: <199906021301.GAA22439@mina.sr.hp.com>
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Darryl Okahata wrote:
>
> Wes Peters <wes@softweyr.com> wrote:
>
> > If you mean "lack of competition would make UNIX more homogenous and
> > more viable to every Tom, Dick, and Jane that comes down the pike,"
> > I will agree with that. I just disagree that this is success. UNIX
> > was never meant to be a word processor loader, and complete overkill
> > for such an application.
>
> I'm curious: in your opinion, what is the purpose of Unix?
>
> Personally, I'd much rather use a single OS for everything --
> including word processing. I don't -- today -- but that's where I'd
> like to be.
For most of the things you do on a daily basis, the OS should be
unobservable. Do you care what OS you're using when you change
your thermostat, program your VCR, or set your sprinkler timers?
When you start your dishwasher, or microwave a burrito for lunch?
No? Then why do you care what operating system you use to start
a word processor, or a web browser for that matter? These are
very utilitarian tasks that are usually stuck onto general purpose
computers, but certainly don't need to be.
The logical place for UNIX, IMHO, is in the ever-smaller "server"
machine that will sit in your house (and eventually your car, boat,
or anything else of sufficient size to need one) and coordinate
everything that is going on. The parts that people interact with
should be very task-specific, like a remote control for your TV/VCR,
For the most part don't require as many operating system features as
UNIX provides, which means you're wasting space. That is not to say
that the OS required in these devices couldn't (or shouldn't) be a
stripped-down version of UNIX, and very UNIX-like from the API, but
most of the user interface devices will not, for instance, need to
run a line printer spooler or a mail server. (What they really need
is a good logging mechanism to send "events" back to that central
server.)
I'm willing to accept that "word processor" was probably not the best
example to use; my original snipe was directed at a FreeBSD friend at
Apple, who once produced as close to an ideal word processing platform
as anyone.
--
"Where am I, and what am I doing in this handbasket?"
Wes Peters Softweyr LLC
http://www.softweyr.com/~softweyr wes@softweyr.com
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