From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Return-Path: X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.2 (2018-09-13) on inbox.vuxu.org X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-0.7 required=5.0 tests=HEADER_FROM_DIFFERENT_DOMAINS, HTML_MESSAGE,MAILING_LIST_MULTI,RCVD_IN_DNSWL_NONE autolearn=ham autolearn_force=no version=3.4.2 Received: from minnie.tuhs.org (minnie.tuhs.org [45.79.103.53]) by inbox.vuxu.org (OpenSMTPD) with ESMTP id 8b63a317 for ; Wed, 5 Feb 2020 21:32:00 +0000 (UTC) Received: by minnie.tuhs.org (Postfix, from userid 112) id 5F2F79CC22; Thu, 6 Feb 2020 07:31:58 +1000 (AEST) Received: from minnie.tuhs.org (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by minnie.tuhs.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id AF97F9CC07; Thu, 6 Feb 2020 07:31:44 +1000 (AEST) Received: by minnie.tuhs.org (Postfix, from userid 112) id DE7009CC07; Thu, 6 Feb 2020 07:31:42 +1000 (AEST) X-Greylist: delayed 1671 seconds by postgrey-1.36 at minnie.tuhs.org; Thu, 06 Feb 2020 07:31:42 AEST Received: from mail104.syd.optusnet.com.au (mail104.syd.optusnet.com.au [211.29.132.246]) by minnie.tuhs.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 2D7189CB86 for ; Thu, 6 Feb 2020 07:31:42 +1000 (AEST) Received: from [192.168.0.7] (n110-33-250-27.sbr4.nsw.optusnet.com.au [110.33.250.27]) by mail104.syd.optusnet.com.au (Postfix) with ESMTPS id 78F2E820227 for ; Thu, 6 Feb 2020 08:03:50 +1100 (AEDT) From: Andrew Newman Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="Apple-Mail=_5E6D2D77-93F1-4037-B53B-B0BE0C09643C" Mime-Version: 1.0 (Mac OS X Mail 10.3 \(3273\)) Date: Thu, 6 Feb 2020 08:03:49 +1100 References: To: TUHS In-Reply-To: Message-Id: <4425E818-B9C3-4BFA-BD69-EA4A35D9772E@optusnet.com.au> X-Mailer: Apple Mail (2.3273) X-Optus-CM-Score: 0 X-Optus-CM-Analysis: v=2.3 cv=W5xGqiek c=1 sm=1 tr=0 a=GmSRLh0SE1uu1VNJru38iA==:117 a=GmSRLh0SE1uu1VNJru38iA==:17 a=jpOVt7BSZ2e4Z31A5e1TngXxSK0=:19 a=RSmzAf-M6YYA:10 a=I3ilDjJoAAAA:8 a=52iIAKjhLceB0zNiF2gA:9 a=DSIOjIA6NL6MpJMo:21 a=q1G0xu48sF-BDxqf:21 a=QEXdDO2ut3YA:10 a=8D6aua4zSwq25_C0W0cA:9 a=wiahUtH_2b6_7hXV:21 a=Sysi1_edUV1sxjFg:21 a=wOJBjUjkbUEMHwVq:21 a=_W_S_7VecoQA:10 a=jQW-N2LQ3HG87Ocds4NZ:22 Subject: Re: [TUHS] keyboards and command names X-BeenThere: tuhs@minnie.tuhs.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.26 Precedence: list List-Id: The Unix Heritage Society mailing list List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Errors-To: tuhs-bounces@minnie.tuhs.org Sender: "TUHS" --Apple-Mail=_5E6D2D77-93F1-4037-B53B-B0BE0C09643C Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 > On 6 Feb 2020, at 2:05 am, Rich Morin wrote: >=20 > I have always suspected that the brevity of the Unix command names was = strongly > influenced by the clunky keyboards on the teletypes that were being = used. Can > anyone confirm, deny, and/or comment on this? (other replies seen, nice to hear dmr=E2=80=99s confirmation) Somewhat related. My first =E2=80=9Creal=E2=80=9D job after university, = and introduction to UNIX et al, was using IBM machines running VM/370 and the CMS single-user OS = for user accounts. CMS used long command names but, like some other OSes of its = ilk, allowed you to define what it called =E2=80=9Cabbreviations" via a count of the = minimum number of unique, leading, characters from which it could determine the actual = command name. The CMS file copy program was =E2=80=9Ccopyfile=E2=80=9D but the = abbreviation length, at least at our =E2=80=9Cshop", was 2 and everyone used =E2=80=9Cco=E2=80=9D. = Similarly the editor =E2=80=9Cxedit=E2=80=9D was =E2=80=9Cx=E2=80=9D. I always found that amusing considering complaints about cryptic UNIX = names. (apologies if this appears twice, first attempt used the wrong From: = address). --Apple-Mail=_5E6D2D77-93F1-4037-B53B-B0BE0C09643C Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/html; charset=utf-8
On 6 Feb 2020, at 2:05 am, Rich Morin <rdm@cfcl.com> = wrote:

I have always suspected that the brevity of the Unix command = names was strongly
influenced by the clunky keyboards on = the teletypes that were being used.  Can
anyone = confirm, deny, and/or comment on this?

(other replies seen, nice to hear dmr=E2=80=99s = confirmation)

Somewhat related.  My first =E2=80=9Creal=E2=80=9D job = after university, and introduction to UNIX
et al, was using IBM machines running VM/370 and the = CMS single-user OS for user
accounts. =  CMS used long command names but, like some other OSes of its = ilk, allowed
you to define what it = called =E2=80=9Cabbreviations" via a count of the minimum number = of
unique, leading, = characters from which it could determine the actual command = name.
The CMS file copy program = was =E2=80=9Ccopyfile=E2=80=9D but the abbreviation length, at = least at
our =E2=80=9Cshop", was 2 and = everyone used =E2=80=9Cco=E2=80=9D.  Similarly = the editor =E2=80=9Cxedit=E2=80=9D was =E2=80=9Cx=E2=80=9D.
I always found that amusing considering complaints = about cryptic UNIX names.

(apologies if this appears twice, = first attempt used the wrong From: address).

= --Apple-Mail=_5E6D2D77-93F1-4037-B53B-B0BE0C09643C--