• @the_crotch@sh.itjust.works
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    43 months ago

    Unix was designed for mainframes, qdos/msdos was designed to be a cpm knockoff the local nerd could use to play commander keen and do his taxes. It’s actually impressive how much modern/business functionality they were able to cram into that.

    • DefederateLemmyMl
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      63 months ago

      Unix was designed for mainframes

      Unix was never for mainframes. It was for 16-bit minicomputers that sat below mainframes, but yes they were more advanced than the first personal computers.

      It’s actually impressive how much modern/business functionality they were able to cram into that.

      Absolutely, but you have to admit that it’s a less solid foundation to build a modern operating system on.

      In the 80s, there were several Unices for PC too btw: AT&T, SCO, even Microsoft’s own Xenix. Most of them were prohibitively expensive though.