Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!udel!mmdf
From: Bill Bogstad <wjb%cogsci.cog.jhu.edu@vm1.nodak.edu>
Newsgroups: comp.os.minix
Subject: Re: How do you use Minix? (SUMMARY)
Message-ID: <52378@nigel.ee.udel.edu>
Date: 1 May 91 22:20:47 GMT
Sender: mmdf@ee.udel.edu
Lines: 58


	About 3 weeks ago, I posted a message in an attempt to poll Minix
users and see in exactly what ways Minix is being used.  I haven't gotten
any new responses in over a week now, so I've decided it is time to post a
summary.  I received about a dozen responses listing various activities.
I've divided up the uses into 3 categories and have listed them below:

		Programming

	Learning about system programming
	Learning about operating systems
	Learning about Unix
	Upgrading to new versions
	Porting software
	Course work on operating systems
	"Hacking"

		Communications

	File transfer
	Remote terminal emulation
	Running a BBS
	Email/Usenet machine
	As a multiuser platform

		Other

	Support for class work at home
	Substitute for work environment at home
	Text processing/Pseudo-Typesetting
	Mutual fund database
	Adding support for braille terminal (from a recent posting)
	"Everything" (from a well known Minix personality)

	The two categories, programming and communication, seem to fall into
typical programmer activities particularily when crossed with the "hacker"
mentality.  All of these activities are directly related to programming or
provide support for such activities.

	The final category fits this stereotypical user less well.  I guess
the most surprising response that I received was the one about maintaining a
database on mutual funds (investments).  The whole reason for my original
posting was to see to what extent people were using Minix as a tool versus
using Minix to learn to use Minix or program.  Even in this last category
some of the uses mentioned may actually be in support of programming
activities.  I was somewhat surprised that nobody mentioned computer games.
"Hacking" and "gaming" in my mind at least always seemed to go together.
Although some games have been posted here in the past, it appears that they
haven't really effected the ways that people use Minix.

	At least at this time, it appears that Minix is still primarily used
for exactly the goals for which it was originally intended, i.e. to help
people learn about programming.  Whether this will or even should change in
the future I don't know.  I think it would be nice if Minix could support
other uses, but we'll have to wait and see.  I'll probably try this again a
year from now and see how things have changed.

					Bill Bogstad