Off-Topic > Off-Topic - Tiny Tux's Corner

Knoppix - systemD free again!

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PDP-8:
The good thing is that although we've moved the deck-chairs around, it is still a case of doing one thing and doing it well for the most part.

That's what I was raised with when it came to computing.  It's a cultural thing I guess to "Think Unix" rather than "Think VMS or Pr1me or SystemD" or anything else.

To take it to the ultimate, when I compile busybox for myself, I leave out head and tail, and use simple awk shell replacements as a tribute to Brian Kernighan in my own way.  Leverage existing tools.  And never use cat -v.  :)

I guess that makes me a total freak....

Will I do something similar in later years in tribute to the ways of SystemD?  Not likely.

PDP-8:
Oops - sorry to only mention Brian Kernighan in relation to my admiration of awk.  Alfred Aho and Peter Weinberger are also remembered every time I do a head / tail or other little-language type of operation with it.

jazzbiker:
Hi, PDP-8!

Don't You know, was awk the very first language with associative arrays?

PDP-8:
I don't really know, although some research says Snobol.

How about this recent interview with Brian Kernighan with his buddy Prof Brailsford at the University of Nottingham about associative arrays:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTZJLJ3Gm6Q

The enthusiasm and down to earth relatability in 2017 is incredible.  If I was younger, I'd be in his classes in a heartbeat.

So can you imagine this same enthusiasm cruising the unix-room and halls of ATT back in the 70's?  I got a feeling he was probably responsible for talking a lot of people into using unix there.  Making them think it was *their* idea. :)

jazzbiker:
Hi, PDP-8!

Really, Snobol4. In the year of 1970 it must make programmers feel maybe like shut with the blockbuster :)
And thanks for the link to Kernigan interview! Great to see great man talking on the great things :)
Three details attracted my attention: he write with the left hand, prices are in pounds and the paper he wrote on - last time I saw such paper many, many years ago :)
Too many smilies, I know, but its sincere.

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