Reply to: On

[utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!menlo70!sri-unix!cosell at BBN-UNIX]

From: Bernie Cosell <cosell at BBN-UNIX>
I agree that almost all of UNIX's problems can be traced back to the almost
neurotic compulsion to keep things `simple'.  There are two basic ways in which
simplicity nails the user: first, it requires EVERY applications programmer to
`roll his own' (command parsing, argument and default conventions, etc, etc),
and second it assumes that its user are capable of `rolling their own'.

The first property insures that applications programs will be maximally
different and difficult to use.  The second is the most unfortunate part (and
the very underpinnings of the misguided `suggestions' that have been appearing
here recently): the folk who CAN `roll their own' for the most part don't
see any problem!  They are (apparently) perfectly content to be condemned to
having an open manual perpetually by their side and still `lose' in bizarre
ways every now and then, not to mention remembering the dozens and dozens of
special cases and caveats that aren't even in the manual.  Thus, when
confronted with (well placed!) complaints about the irrationality and
irregularity of the WHOLE user environment, they are either not sympathetic or
miss the point entirely.

   /Bernie