🚀 go-pugleaf

dbasics@pacificnet.net (DBasics Software Company) wrote:

>dbasics@pacificnet.net (DBasics Software Company) wrote:


>>Craig David Horton
>>DBasics Software Company
>>http:\\pacificnet.net\~dbasics\users_group
>         ^^                     ^              ^


>Why does UNIX use forward slashes and DOS uses backslashes
>in their addressing?  I suppose it so us programmers can  

>(1)  keep gainfully employed because someone asks that question

>(2) When they created the operating systems, keeping up with the
>Jones's was not fashionable and being an individual was

>(3)  The guy who came up with the forward slash addressing in UNIX is
>a disgruntled DOS system developer that got fired without severance
>pay.

I kept all of the above because they are are relevant, but the last
bears a bit of discussion.  UNIX was probably first when it came to
using a slash for path names.  Rumour has it that DOS developers (read
YouKnowWho) were worried about copyright stuff if they used the same
slash as UNIX, therefore DOS uses the backslash, rather than the
forward slash which is in a much more user-friendly spot on the
average keyboard.  Then some genius decided to use the forward slash
as the default switch for DOS commands, such as dir /p, ensuring that
compatibility would be lost forever.

As an interesting aside, many libraries for C compilers would treat
the forward slash as a valid path separator until recently, if they
are not still doing so.


>Happy Holidays!

>Craig David Horton (wearing egg today)

And to you, try rum and egg-nog instead -- tastes better and washes
off faster.

Duncan