Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!ncar!dinl!noren From: noren@dinl.uucp (Charles Noren) Newsgroups: comp.cog-eng Subject: Re: Tools vs Appliances (Re: Noun-Verb vs Verb-Noun) Message-ID: <1668@dinl.mmc.UUCP> Date: 23 Jul 90 20:30:24 GMT References: <1990Jul16.214644.3009@ee.rochester.edu> Reply-To: noren@dinl.UUCP (Charles Noren) Organization: Martin Marietta I&CS, Denver CO. Lines: 26 In article flee@guardian.cs.psu.edu (Felix Lee) writes: >This is the difference between, say, Unix and VMS. Unix is a rack of >tools, while VMS is a room full of appliances. Many people who just >want to get things done are happier with full-feature appliances. In >contrast, the hacker mentality is one that thrives on tools; hackers >will build a doorbell if they need one and don't see one handy. I've used both UNIX and VMS. I see a different philosophy between the two operating systems, but rack of tools vs. full-feature appliances is one I fail to see. Would you call yacc in UNIX a tool, given its power? Maybe if the thought is expanded upon with examples the point would become clearer to me. In any case (not to debate the merits of one OS over another), I want an OS that has both tools and appliances. I'd hate to be stuck with having to use a refrigerator to pound a nail into a wall to hang a picture. Conversly, I don't want just saws and hammers when I want to keep my food cold. -- Chuck Noren NET: ncar!dinl!noren US-MAIL: Martin Marietta I&CS, MS XL8058, P.O. Box 1260, Denver, CO 80201-1260 Phone: (303) 971-7930