Newsgroups: comp.lang.c
Path: utzoo!henry
From: henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer)
Subject: Re: Svid a standard?
Message-ID: <1988Apr16.221100.15391@utzoo.uucp>
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology
References: <623@fig.bbn.com>
Date: Sat, 16 Apr 88 22:11:00 GMT

> The only thing that makes the SVID a standard is the unmitigated gall
> of AT&T in calling it such...

No, the thing that makes the SVID a standard is the vast clout AT&T wields
in the Unix world.  Whether it *should* wield such clout is another issue;
the fact is, it *does*.  A great many vendors (and users!) are influenced
heavily by the SVID, despite its single-vendor status, and it is a major
influence on standards work (e.g. POSIX) as well.  Whether we like it or
not, the SVID *is* a (de facto) real standard.

This situation has precedent, by the way.  Every time you mount a magtape,
remember that its "standard" format was decided by IBM.
-- 
"Noalias must go.  This is           |  Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology
non-negotiable."  --DMR              | {ihnp4,decvax,uunet!mnetor}!utzoo!henry