"The UNIX Legend: History and Memories (The Birth and Development of UNIX, Behind the Scenes at Bell Labs!)" Reading Notes#
Author: Brian W. Kernighan
Reading Time: 3 hours
These are the notes and excerpts I recorded while reading "The UNIX Legend: History and Memories (The Birth and Development of UNIX, Behind the Scenes at Bell Labs!)" on WeChat Reading.
Preface#
"Memories often wear a rosy halo, bringing joy. Memories linger on beautiful and lasting things, and also on the pleasures gained from efforts to improve human life." — Dennis Ritchie
"Memories often wear a rosy halo, bringing joy. Memories linger on beautiful and lasting things, and also on the pleasures gained from efforts to improve human life." — Dennis Ritchie
1.1 Physical Science Research at Bell Labs#
The world today is completely different; most people only plan for the next few months, spending their efforts predicting the financial situation for the next quarter.
The world today is completely different; most people only plan for the next few months, spending their efforts predicting the financial situation for the next quarter.
1.4 Office Space#
"We give them a dictionary and a set of grammar rules, saying: 'Kid, you are already a great programmer.'"
Calculation is for understanding, not just for getting results.
The world changes, but I remain steadfast.
"We give them a dictionary and a set of grammar rules, saying: 'Kid, you are already a great programmer.'"
Calculation is for understanding, not just for getting results.
The world changes, but I remain steadfast.
2.1 A Bit of Technical Background#
Instructions and data are stored in the same main memory, which is usually called RAM, or "random access memory." When a series of instructions are loaded into RAM, the computer executes different tasks based on the content of those instructions.
The operating system is the program that controls the computer, allocating resources to the programs that are running. It manages the main memory, allocating it to running programs as needed. On desktop or laptop computers, the operating system allows you to run a browser, word processor, music player, and perhaps our area calculation app simultaneously, switching between them as needed.
Instructions and data are stored in the same main memory, which is usually called RAM, or "random access memory." When a series of instructions are loaded into RAM, the computer executes different tasks based on the content of those instructions.
The operating system is the program that controls the computer, allocating resources to the programs that are running. It manages the main memory, allocating it to running programs as needed. On desktop or laptop computers, the operating system allows you to run a browser, word processor, music player, and perhaps our area calculation app simultaneously, switching between them as needed.
2.5 A Brief Biography of Ken Thompson#
"I am very happy, completely unambitious, and a workaholic without goals."
"I am very happy, completely unambitious, and a workaholic without goals."
Chapter 3 First Edition (1971)#
The management principle here is to hire smart people, help them fit into the environment, point out the general direction of needs, and give them plenty of freedom. It’s not about giving them whatever salary they want. There are investments to be made and some to be avoided. Even if you misjudge something good, if it’s strong enough, it will still stand out.
The management principle here is to hire smart people, help them fit into the environment, point out the general direction of needs, and give them plenty of freedom. It’s not about giving them whatever salary they want. There are investments to be made and some to be avoided. Even if you misjudge something good, if it’s strong enough, it will still stand out.
3.5 A Brief Biography of Dennis Ritchie#
Dennis was absolutely kind, considerate, down-to-earth, and generous, and of course, a total geek. He had a wonderfully quirky sense of humor and a keen insight into the absurdities of life, but there was no cynicism or bitterness in his worldview.
Dennis was absolutely kind, considerate, down-to-earth, and generous, and of course, a total geek. He had a wonderfully quirky sense of humor and a keen insight into the absurdities of life, but there was no cynicism or bitterness in his worldview.
4.9 A Brief Biography of Doug McIlroy#
He could understand everything I did from just a few words. He basically taught me how to write. I think he is one of the best technical writers I know. He has a gift for language and is good at expressing things concisely, which is remarkable.
He could understand everything I did from just a few words. He basically taught me how to write. I think he is one of the best technical writers I know. He has a gift for language and is good at expressing things concisely, which is remarkable.
5.6 Other Contributions#
If we want to establish ourselves in this field, we must learn to act quickly.
Although the technologies from various parties are more complex, dictionary attacks are still effective. We hope that today’s users are more aware of the dangers of weak passwords, but from the list of frequently used passwords recently, they do not seem to be aware.
If we want to establish ourselves in this field, we must learn to act quickly.
Although the technologies from various parties are more complex, dictionary attacks are still effective. We hope that today’s users are more aware of the dangers of weak passwords, but from the list of frequently used passwords recently, they do not seem to be aware.
6.2 University Authorization#
When students seek career advice from me, I often quote this story — wisdom is not determined by age.
When students seek career advice from me, I often quote this story — wisdom is not determined by age.
Chapter 8 Derivatives#
Everything begins with simplicity, evolves into extraordinary beauty, and continues to evolve.
Everything begins with simplicity, evolves into extraordinary beauty, and continues to evolve.
8.2 The Unix Wars#
After the jewels from the crown went missing, AT&T finally thought of locking the barn door, but it was too late.
After the jewels from the crown went missing, AT&T finally thought of locking the barn door, but it was too late.
9.1 Technical Aspects#
People sometimes use lines of code to evaluate software productivity. In the world of Unix, productivity is often measured by how many special cases or lines of code have been deleted.
The brilliance of Unix lies in its choice of sufficiently universal abstract concepts that can have a huge impact without incurring too great a performance cost.
Treating programs as tools and combining them is a hallmark of Unix.
People sometimes use lines of code to evaluate software productivity. In the world of Unix, productivity is often measured by how many special cases or lines of code have been deleted.
The brilliance of Unix lies in its choice of sufficiently universal abstract concepts that can have a huge impact without incurring too great a performance cost.
Treating programs as tools and combining them is a hallmark of Unix.
9.3 Recognition#
The success of the Unix system stems from its high-quality selection of key concepts and elegant implementation. The Unix system model has led a generation of software designers to rethink programming. The genius of the Unix system lies in its framework, which allows programmers to rely on each other.
The success of the Unix system stems from its high-quality selection of key concepts and elegant implementation. The Unix system model has led a generation of software designers to rethink programming. The genius of the Unix system lies in its framework, which allows programmers to rely on each other.
9.4 Can History Repeat Itself#
I remain optimistic, because great ideas always come from individuals.
Freedom of choice is extremely important for research scientists, as research is an exploration of the unknown, with no roadmap to tell you how to proceed. Every discovery influences the direction of future research, and no one can predict or plan for discoveries. Therefore, the research managers at Bell Labs provided researchers with as much freedom as possible, within the framework of the institution's mission. Researchers were selected for their creativity, and the company encouraged them to fully utilize those abilities.
We want to maintain not only a good programming environment but also a system that fosters team formation. Experience tells us that the essence of public computing... is not just entering programs on a terminal with a keyboard rather than a punch card, but also encouraging close communication.
I remain optimistic, because great ideas always come from individuals.
Freedom of choice is extremely important for research scientists, as research is an exploration of the unknown, with no roadmap to tell you how to proceed. Every discovery influences the direction of future research, and no one can predict or plan for discoveries. Therefore, the research managers at Bell Labs provided researchers with as much freedom as possible, within the framework of the institution's mission. Researchers were selected for their creativity, and the company encouraged them to fully utilize those abilities.
We want to maintain not only a good programming environment but also a system that fosters team formation. Experience tells us that the essence of public computing... is not just entering programs on a terminal with a keyboard rather than a punch card, but also encouraging close communication.
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