9fans archive / 2000 / 11 / 25 /    prev next

From: "Boyd Roberts" <boyd@pla...>
Subject: Re: [9fans] usage of CPU server
Date: Thu, 2 Nov 2000 02:24:35 +0100

the korn shell is an unmitigated disaster.

i remember korn standing up after the first
paper at a usenix to ask a question.  his
real agenda was to promote a new release
of that abortion.

FYI: i put up the first version, back in '83/'84
     at basser.  after reading the doc once i
     swore i'd never use it.  i use it now,
     'cos i need history.  in a (once) (near)
     perfect world i used byron's rc.

now, the 8th Edition shell, now that was a shell.

as rob once wrote 'programming the inputs'.

'whatis' over 'type' -- no comparison.

typing of shell variables?  give me a break.
a PRNG in the shell -- don't make me puke.

steve bourne had the right idea.  the problem
was the quoting was a nightmare (one i understand)
and it had no real grammar.  tom duff nailed the
grammer down with yacc and fixed the quoting -- a
brilliant piece of insight.

korn reminds me of wnj.  he wrote a 'shell' too.