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From: rbj@uunet.UU.NET (Root Boy Jim)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.questions
Subject: Re: AT&T "nth Edition" vs. "Release n"
Message-ID: <124819@uunet.UU.NET>
Date: 6 Mar 91 20:54:11 GMT
References: <6798@idunno.Princeton.EDU>
Organization: UUNET Communications Services, Falls Church, VA
Lines: 26

In article <6798@idunno.Princeton.EDU> subbarao@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (Kartik Subbarao) writes:
>I've seen people that use System V and the like refer to their Unix as
>"tenth edition" or "ninth edition", or whatever. I've always seen things as
>"System V release n", or whatever. Anyone know the difference between these
>different naming schemes ?

There are actually three designations: Versions, Editions, and
System/Releases. The proper names of the first six Unixen were
"The #th Edition". Colloquially, people called them "Version #".
The Version Sixth Edition split off several variations, one of which
became Version Seven (the Seventh Edition) and sired BSD. From
several others, System III was born, and later named System V.
Tacked onto this name were Release numbers and yes, Versions.
So you will see things line SVr3v2.

The Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Editions seldom left Bell Labs
and are also referred to as "Research UNIX". Another system
(not UNIX) they are playing with is called "Plan 9". Every so
often, a feature, such as STREAMS, finds its way into System V.

In some ways, Research UNIX is closer to BSD than to System V.

I may have mangled a few details, but this is basicly it.
-- 
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