3 ms·

That has precedent going way back, at least 34 years: https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/2342/why-is-there-a-when-there-is-mention-of-unix-throughout-the

That has precedent going way back, at least 34 years: https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/2342/why-is-there-a-when-there-is-mention-of-unix-throughout-the-internet https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/2342/why-is-there-a... Doesn't explain why exactly the asterisk was put in that particular position. Maybe someone felt like it was odd to lead the word with an asterisk. :shrug:

wiml 5y ago
The asterisk is there to avoid writing the word out in full, like "G*d" or "f*ck". There was a time when Unix[1][2] was a trademarked name and if you used it you had to attribute it. If you wanted to refer to the general family of Unix/POSIX/SysV/BSD/etc systems, you might be tempted to write "Unix"[1][2], but to avoid the presumably-Sauron[3]-like eye of the trademark holders, you'd bowdlerize it a little. [1] Unix is a registered trademark of AT&T Bell Labs. [2] Unix is a registered trademark of The Open Group. [3] Sauron is a registered trademark of Tolkien Enterprises