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=0.2 required=5.0 tests=DKIM_SIGNED,DKIM_VALID, DKIM_VALID_AU,HEADER_FROM_DIFFERENT_DOMAINS,HTML_FONT_LOW_CONTRAST, HTML_IMAGE_ONLY_24,HTML_MESSAGE,MAILING_LIST_MULTI,RCVD_IN_DNSWL_NONE autolearn=no 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 6309e4a0 for ; Mon, 3 Dec 2018 16:44:05 +0000 (UTC) Received: by minnie.tuhs.org (Postfix, from userid 112) id E348DA207E; Tue, 4 Dec 2018 02:44:04 +1000 (AEST) Received: from minnie.tuhs.org (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by minnie.tuhs.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 120B3A1CE4; Tue, 4 Dec 2018 02:43:45 +1000 (AEST) Received: by minnie.tuhs.org (Postfix, from userid 112) id 232FFA1CE4; Tue, 4 Dec 2018 02:42:54 +1000 (AEST) Received: from mail-wr1-f42.google.com (mail-wr1-f42.google.com [209.85.221.42]) by minnie.tuhs.org (Postfix) with ESMTPS id 6273C94A37 for ; Tue, 4 Dec 2018 02:42:48 +1000 (AEST) Received: by mail-wr1-f42.google.com with SMTP id x10so12898286wrs.8 for ; Mon, 03 Dec 2018 08:42:48 -0800 (PST) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=ccc.com; s=google; h=mime-version:references:in-reply-to:from:date:message-id:subject:to :cc; bh=DFmA4pM4jsxzdvHOYwntG3S9j+Noez4m8D9hT0aDRbk=; b=d71Rls5rNnGHxErA84TLM+1LJSeIlqEgo1/JZdjSUWoHPQonWGMX+FygNxhiNDy60O gjKT81uxR6Yd73V+WpdeRFmU/n9pVwhTfWzgAByXjVJcxpKkmi8s063yNrGrS3vKLfhG oBvf50DZhJasqLtkRBlTLgINZlvAG2qOqkqZY= X-Google-DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=1e100.net; s=20161025; h=x-gm-message-state:mime-version:references:in-reply-to:from:date :message-id:subject:to:cc; bh=DFmA4pM4jsxzdvHOYwntG3S9j+Noez4m8D9hT0aDRbk=; b=awsALhwdOa2/x+EGuXwSjlZIKM+KEdq5nn2+H83P7spjFHgcmfWPxhj7KyBRqPSzSs wypU8KsdreyN6pGQuOpnJPj9+v9L8f4gMvOkP5VzHE3zmI8CQwb0KwoAeaIrYnOdgkF8 Y+kK75qZd8TiW5nKnTbDLrwvxWoL1ZUM3KOzC/Ow3gX7Bfkt1we/mPAI6LYRyi2xncVn 9LsJ1FjhNr+SPL84m2Zmfv/UOL4rAHbNpptbQu471mso+RPwclN0Me+JUgHP/Ifnb+a+ lRfDUO2S0SfWVovDHz62Gy+E+HjteDrwgmKTiOFqRi+5aPQ9ZSbX7Gfs3EU43k2Wqziz jT+w== X-Gm-Message-State: AA+aEWZZ9A8jBXADinhnWxoPkxoMhKXPg0mtsCV86/6YOB7jl1+kaCAT OYzD+XHYYBXv5qTmmM+Qk4ROZTcIYm15yho8Ial4HnY7cqs= X-Google-Smtp-Source: AFSGD/ViwyhQCTBLqE4nZotENaZteSyk/rwoIRPLv12CBuOQ3199tDx0rLkvZzgf3qRduTX44Yp9ExX2FT3cnGjFsAM= X-Received: by 2002:a5d:42ce:: with SMTP id t14mr15123112wrr.51.1543855366914; Mon, 03 Dec 2018 08:42:46 -0800 (PST) MIME-Version: 1.0 References: <201812031630.wB3GUmIj022190@tahoe.cs.Dartmouth.EDU> In-Reply-To: <201812031630.wB3GUmIj022190@tahoe.cs.Dartmouth.EDU> From: Clem Cole Date: Mon, 3 Dec 2018 11:42:20 -0500 Message-ID: To: Doug McIlroy Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="000000000000bae082057c20d638" Subject: Re: [TUHS] The (un)importance of roff X-BeenThere: tuhs@minnie.tuhs.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.20 Precedence: list List-Id: The Unix Heritage Society mailing list List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Cc: The Eunuchs Hysterical Society Errors-To: tuhs-bounces@minnie.tuhs.org Sender: "TUHS" --000000000000bae082057c20d638 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable On Mon, Dec 3, 2018 at 11:31 AM Doug McIlroy wrote: > it was speculated that without roff there might be no Unix. > Old hands will be familiar with the story. > Doug - thank you for retelling the story. As you say, older hand knew it. FWIW: It's one of my examples of when I try to explain my observation UNIX became self-sustaining because "Simple Economics always beats Sophisticated Design" The key point is that UNIX obtained >>users<< (customers) because it inexpensively did what people needed to do when they had not other way ->> "simple economics." But it had to be based on solid foundations. Just being "cheap" is not good enough. It has be "useful." UNIX found 'users' that needed what it brought them. Clem =E1=90=A7 --000000000000bae082057c20d638 Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable


On Mon, Dec 3, 2018 at 11:31 AM Doug Mc= Ilroy <doug@cs.dartmouth.edu> wrote:
it was speculated that without roff there might be no Unix.
Old hands will be familiar with the story.

Doug - th= ank you for retelling the story.=C2=A0 =C2=A0As you say, older hand knew it= .=C2=A0 FWIW:=C2=A0 =C2=A0It's one of my examples of when I try to expl= ain my observation UNIX became self-sustaining because "S= imple Economics always beats Sophisticated Design"=C2=A0
=

The key point is that UNIX obtained >= >users<< (customers) because it inexpensively did what people need= ed to do when they had not other way ->> "simple economics."= ;=C2=A0 But it had to be based on solid foundations.=C2=A0 Just being "= ;cheap" is not good enough.=C2=A0 It has be "useful."=C2=A0 = UNIX found 'users' that needed what it brought them.

Clem
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