UNIX: Difference between revisions
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== Two kinds == |
== Two kinds == |
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Today, there are two kinds of operating systems that are like UNIX. |
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The first group is all those that share some kernel code with the original from Bell Labs at AT&T. This includes the commercial UNIX types: [[Solaris]] or [[AIX]]. |
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| ⚫ | There are also free systems based on the [[Linux]] [[Kernel (computer science)|kernel]]. These do not |
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| ⚫ | The second group includes free operating systems that usually have [[Berkeley Software Distribution|BSD]] in their name, like [[FreeBSD]], [[OpenBSD]], and [[NetBSD]]. These are based on free BSD. [[Mac OS X]] is also based on BSD.<ref>{{cite web|title=what are the flavors of Unix|url=http://www.unix.org/what_is_unix/flavors_of_unix.html|publisher=Unix.org|accessdate=1 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Unix flavors (dated)|url=http://unixgeeks.org/security/newbie/unix/flavors.html|publisher=UnixGeeks.org|accessdate=1 May 2016}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | There are also free systems based on the [[Linux]] [[Kernel (computer science)|kernel]]. These do not share any code with the original UNIX. BSD systems share very little code with the original Unix because much of the code has been rewritten over many years. Many people use the terms ''Unix and Unix-like systems'' to be clear. |
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| ⚫ | Most applications can run on any modern Unix or Unix-like system.<ref>{{cite web|title=Differentiating UNIX and Linux (see application availability section)|url=http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/aix/library/au-unix-difflinux.html|publisher=IBM|accessdate=1 May 2016}}</ref> KDE and GNOME were developed for Linux and later changed to run on commercial types of Unix. |
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== Other websites == |
== Other websites == |
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Revision as of 08:41, 21 April 2018
 | The English used in this article or section may not be easy for everybody to understand. (February 2012) |
UNIX, often spelled "Unix" when the product trademark is not important, is a multi-user multi-processing operating system. It was developed beginning in 1969 at Bell Labs. It was created by Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Douglas McIlroy, and others, using the assembly language. In 1972, the Unix code was migrated to the then newly invented C programming language. The Unix operating system is a multiuser and multiprocessing system - this lets it run several applications at one time, and support a large number of users at the same time. It also is network oriented; which means that it is able to operate well in a network of computers. Security is also emphasized in Unix, because many people can have access to it, both by using it directly or over a network.
Many ideas found in Unix were new. Other operating systems copied them. Today, there are many operating systems that have some of the ideas of Unix in them. For this reason, some people talk about a "Unix philosophy" of doing things. One of these systems with many of the Unix ideas in it, is called Linux. Linux does not use code from UNIX, it only shares some of the ideas and the names of commands. Therefore, Linux is not a UNIX operating system. Instead it is called "Unix-like".
There can be many different users in a Unix and Unix-like operating system. Most of them have a personal area where they can put things. This is called a user account.
The main method of using a Unix system is with the command line interface. Users run commands and programs by typing text characters (the "command lines"). This takes time to learn, but it is a very powerful and flexible way of working, because it allows things to be combined and done automatically, and it is still used by most Unix users and administrators. These commands are run in a shell, which can change slightly between one system and another.
A graphical user interface (GUI) is the other method. The GUI usually used by Unix systems is the X Window System. The X Window System is only a shell of a graphical interface. It is made of many protocols. The X Window System itself does not provide a way for the user to move and resize windows. This is handled by a window manager or desktop manager.
Some of the popular desktop environments and window managers are:
Like most other graphical user interfaces, they use windows, dialog boxes, support the use of a computer mouse and are designed to be easy to use.
There are many thousands of programs available for the X Window System. Programs like word processors and spreadsheets are available including free and open-source software.
Two kinds
Today, there are two kinds of operating systems that are like UNIX.
The first group is all those that share some kernel code with the original from Bell Labs at AT&T. This includes the commercial UNIX types: Solaris or AIX.
The second group includes free operating systems that usually have BSD in their name, like FreeBSD, OpenBSD, and NetBSD. These are based on free BSD. Mac OS X is also based on BSD.[1][2]
There are also free systems based on the Linux kernel. These do not share any code with the original UNIX. BSD systems share very little code with the original Unix because much of the code has been rewritten over many years. Many people use the terms Unix and Unix-like systems to be clear.
Most applications can run on any modern Unix or Unix-like system.[3] KDE and GNOME were developed for Linux and later changed to run on commercial types of Unix.
Other websites
- Manual Pages for FreeBSD - pages saying exactly what each command does
References
- ↑ "what are the flavors of Unix". Unix.org. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- ↑ "Unix flavors (dated)". UnixGeeks.org. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- ↑ "Differentiating UNIX and Linux (see application availability section)". IBM. Retrieved 1 May 2016.