The Unix-Haters Handbook (1994) [pdf]

#1

Post by arpa » Fri, Mar 03, 2017, 9:56 AM UTC

The Unix-Haters Handbook (1994) [pdf]
web.mit.edu

Re: The Unix-Haters Handbook (1994) [pdf]

#2

Post by valarauca1 » Fri, Mar 03, 2017, 10:48 AM UTC

This is a good read. Especially if you use Linux/BSD/OSX on a fairly regular basis.

While it is mostly long usenet rants about the _failure_ of Unix. There is some grains of truth buried in 80's-esque proto-shit-posting.

Re: The Unix-Haters Handbook (1994) [pdf]

#3

Post by hbex5 » Fri, Mar 03, 2017, 11:16 AM UTC

If I ever need to feel good about myself as a software developer, I only ever need to read this book's chapter about the X window system.

Re: The Unix-Haters Handbook (1994) [pdf]

#4

Post by _pmf_ » Fri, Mar 03, 2017, 11:18 AM UTC

The question is: what would the ideal non-POSIX API look like?

Re: The Unix-Haters Handbook (1994) [pdf]

#5

Post by _bz2r » Fri, Mar 03, 2017, 11:18 AM UTC

can anyone give a first-hand historical perspective on this, regarding what was going on and how this was seen in 1994?

Re: The Unix-Haters Handbook (1994) [pdf]

#6

Post by xyzzy123 » Fri, Mar 03, 2017, 11:18 AM UTC

hbex5 wrote: post #3

If I ever need to feel good about myself as a software developer, I only ever need to read this book's chapter about the X window system.

Yeah but try and figure out how you'd do better... efficient.ly. Over the network...

Re: The Unix-Haters Handbook (1994) [pdf]

#7

Post by omginternets » Fri, Mar 03, 2017, 11:19 AM UTC

While entertaining, I'm left with the following question: if not UNIX, then what?

Are there any successful non-UNIX-y OSes that are worth checking out?

I may embarrass myself here, but I was under the impression that BSD, Plan 9, Solaris and HP-UX were all UNIX-y ...

Re: The Unix-Haters Handbook (1994) [pdf]

#8

Post by 0x264 » Fri, Mar 03, 2017, 11:21 AM UTC

This book is one of my top three books on how to become a good software dev :)

Re: The Unix-Haters Handbook (1994) [pdf]

#9

Post by _pmf_ » Fri, Mar 03, 2017, 11:22 AM UTC

xyzzy123 wrote: post #6

hbex5 wrote: post #3

If I ever need to feel good about myself as a software developer, I only ever need to read this book's chapter about the X window system.

Yeah but try and figure out how you'd do better... efficient.ly. Over the network...

Yes; the chapter actually made me admire the design.

Re: The Unix-Haters Handbook (1994) [pdf]

#10

Post by CJefferson » Fri, Mar 03, 2017, 11:24 AM UTC

omginternets wrote: post #7

While entertaining, I'm left with the following question: if not UNIX, then what? Are there any successful non-UNIX-y OSes that are worth checking out? I may embarrass myself here, but I was under the impression that BSD, Plan 9, Solaris and HP-UX were all UNIX-y ...

I think the important thing to accept is just because something is the best option we have, doesn't mean it couldn't be significantly improved -- I feel each of bash, vim and Emacs fall into this category, in their own way.