@pmk@lemmy.sdf.org
member since 23 Sep 2023 09:12
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- on Unix purists bullies another project in c/linuxmemes@lemmy.world · 6 Sep 2026
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on Unix purists bullies another project in c/linuxmemes@lemmy.world · 6 Sep 2026
I tend to think in terms of 1 function that is meaningful for composability. The point in having small tools is that they can be combined in new ways, not just small programs for its own sake. To me it makes sense if you think of Unix itself as both the IDE and the system carrying out the purpose of the machine. We’ve gradually moved away from this though.
In “The UNIX Programming Environment” from 1984, mail is described like this:
“Sending mail to someone is straightforward. Suppose it is to go to the person with the login name nico.
$ mail nico
Now type in the text of the letter
on as many lines as you like…
After the last line of the letter
type a control-d.
ctl-d
$”