Cyborg Footprints

Raymond describes an operating system, that is not only completely portable , but existing in the spirit of the cyborg. Unix allowed hackers the versatility to carry various software tools that would mesh with most any machine. They could pick and choose different parts of the hardware/software combination and piece together different applications in ways that were new and creative. Since the C language was not bound in manuals, the "keep it simple stupid" philosophy seemed to pave the way for innovation.


Even though their peers scoffed at them , Ken Thompson and Dennis Ritchie were obviously ahead of their time. They seemed to know that if their operating system was written in a simple language then programmers would not feel overwhelmed by it. Before this operating systems were complex and built almost into ten different layers. How could anyone possibly think outside of the box when the weight of an operating system 's language basically kept them trudging through mud.

So, along comes this system called Unix and it just didn't seem like an operating system. It certainly didn't come from the common ancestry of information technology where everything was rooted in complex codes. Not only were they confusing to users, but some programmers even struggled through them. Like the cyborg, Unix could not be explained by the life cycles and patterns that were already associated with IT. The system started defining itself and rooting its identity in simplicity and independence.

Unix did not sit under the Microsoft umbrella, but was cheered on like an underdog by hoards of users . Microsoft knows full well that Unix is a breath of fresh air. They understand the appeal and have set whatever traps they can to dissuade public opinion of the Unix/Linux system. With the recent release of Vista, most users are getting a Microsoft experience sure to leave a bad taste in their mouths. There are now campaigns to stop the spread of Vista. People are discovering new alternatives in software, and are pleasantly surprised by the fact that they are usually free.