Like DOS and windows, there’s another operating system called UNIX. It arrived earlier
then the other two, and stayed back like enough to give us the internet. UNIX is a giant operating
system and is way ahead of them in sheer power. It has practically everything an operating
system should have, and several features which other operating systems never had. Its richness
and elegance go beyond the commands and tolls that constitute it, while simplicity permeates the
entire system. It runs on practically every hardware and provided motivation to the open source
movement.
However, UNIX also makes many demands of the user. In requires a different type of
commitment to understand the subject, even when the user is an experienced computer
professional. It introduces certain concepts not known to the computing community before, and
user numerous symbols whose meaning is anything but clear. It achieves unusual tasks with a
few keystrokes, but it takes time to devices a sequence of them for a specific task. Often, it
doesn’t tell you whether you are right or wrong, and doesn’t warn you of the consequences of
your actions. That is probably the reason why many people still prefer to stay away from UNIX.
A single user can also run multiple tasks at the same time as UNIX is a multitasking
system. It is usual for a user to edit a file, print another one on printer, send email to a friend and
browse the Word Wide Web - all without leaving any of the application. This kernel is designed
to handle a user’s multiple needs.
c) The UNIX Toolkit
By one definition, UNIX represents the kernel, but the kernel by itself doesn’t do much
that can benefit the user. To properly exploit the power of UNIX, you need to use the host of
applications that are shipped with every UNIX system. These applications are quite varied in
scope. There are general – purpose tools, text manipulation utilities (called filters), compilers and
interpreters, networked applications and system administration tools.
d) Pattern Matching
UNIX features very sophisticated pattern matching features. UNIX features elaborate
pattern matching schemes that use several characters from the Meta character set. The matching
isn’t confined to filenames only. Some of the most advanced and useful tools also use a special
expression called a regular expression that is framed with characters from the set.
e) Programming Facility
The UNIX shell is also a programming language; it was designed for a programmer, not a
casual end user. It has all the necessary ingredients, like control structures, loops and variables,
that establish it as a powerful programming language in its own right.
f) Documentation
UNIX documentation is no longer the sore point it once was. Even though it is sometimes
uneven at most times the treatment is quite. The principal online help facility available is the
man command, which remains the most important reference for commands and their
configuration files. Thanks to O’Reilly & Associates, one can safely say that there’s no feature
of UNIX on which a separate textbook is not available.
Apart from the online documentation, there’s a vast ocean of UNIX resources available
on the internet. There are several newsgroups on UNIX where you can fire your queries in case
you are stuck with a problem – be it a problem related to shell programming or a network
configuration issue. The FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) a document that addresses common
problems is also widely available on the Net. Then there are numerous articles published in
magazines and journals and lecture notes available by universities on their Web sites. UNIX is
easily tamed Operating System.
then the other two, and stayed back like enough to give us the internet. UNIX is a giant operating
system and is way ahead of them in sheer power. It has practically everything an operating
system should have, and several features which other operating systems never had. Its richness
and elegance go beyond the commands and tolls that constitute it, while simplicity permeates the
entire system. It runs on practically every hardware and provided motivation to the open source
movement.
However, UNIX also makes many demands of the user. In requires a different type of
commitment to understand the subject, even when the user is an experienced computer
professional. It introduces certain concepts not known to the computing community before, and
user numerous symbols whose meaning is anything but clear. It achieves unusual tasks with a
few keystrokes, but it takes time to devices a sequence of them for a specific task. Often, it
doesn’t tell you whether you are right or wrong, and doesn’t warn you of the consequences of
your actions. That is probably the reason why many people still prefer to stay away from UNIX.
Features of UNIX
UNIX is an operating system, so it is has all the features an operating system is expected
to have. However UNIX also looks at a few things differently and possesses features unique to it.
The following section gives a clear idea of the major features of this operating system.
a) UNIX: A Multi user System
From the fundamental point of view, UNIX is a multiprogramming system; it permits
multiple programs to run. This can happen in two ways
to have. However UNIX also looks at a few things differently and possesses features unique to it.
The following section gives a clear idea of the major features of this operating system.
a) UNIX: A Multi user System
From the fundamental point of view, UNIX is a multiprogramming system; it permits
multiple programs to run. This can happen in two ways
- Multiple users can run separate jobs
- A single user can also run multiple jobs.
A single user can also run multiple tasks at the same time as UNIX is a multitasking
system. It is usual for a user to edit a file, print another one on printer, send email to a friend and
browse the Word Wide Web - all without leaving any of the application. This kernel is designed
to handle a user’s multiple needs.
c) The UNIX Toolkit
By one definition, UNIX represents the kernel, but the kernel by itself doesn’t do much
that can benefit the user. To properly exploit the power of UNIX, you need to use the host of
applications that are shipped with every UNIX system. These applications are quite varied in
scope. There are general – purpose tools, text manipulation utilities (called filters), compilers and
interpreters, networked applications and system administration tools.
d) Pattern Matching
UNIX features very sophisticated pattern matching features. UNIX features elaborate
pattern matching schemes that use several characters from the Meta character set. The matching
isn’t confined to filenames only. Some of the most advanced and useful tools also use a special
expression called a regular expression that is framed with characters from the set.
e) Programming Facility
The UNIX shell is also a programming language; it was designed for a programmer, not a
casual end user. It has all the necessary ingredients, like control structures, loops and variables,
that establish it as a powerful programming language in its own right.
f) Documentation
UNIX documentation is no longer the sore point it once was. Even though it is sometimes
uneven at most times the treatment is quite. The principal online help facility available is the
man command, which remains the most important reference for commands and their
configuration files. Thanks to O’Reilly & Associates, one can safely say that there’s no feature
of UNIX on which a separate textbook is not available.
Apart from the online documentation, there’s a vast ocean of UNIX resources available
on the internet. There are several newsgroups on UNIX where you can fire your queries in case
you are stuck with a problem – be it a problem related to shell programming or a network
configuration issue. The FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) a document that addresses common
problems is also widely available on the Net. Then there are numerous articles published in
magazines and journals and lecture notes available by universities on their Web sites. UNIX is
easily tamed Operating System.
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