4 ms·
the file is inconsequential. it could be any other universal abstraction, e.g. HTTP POST. it's just something that every program running on a computer knows ho
by baq 3y ago
the file is inconsequential. it could be any other universal abstraction, e.g. HTTP POST.
it's just something that every program running on a computer knows how to do, so why bother with special APIs you have to link against if you can just write to a file? (note you can still develop those layers if you wish, but you can also write a device driver in sh if you wish, because why not?)
- thfuran 3y ago>the file is inconsequential. it could be any other universal abstraction Bad abstractions are notoriously problematic, and no abstraction is fit for every purpose.
- PrimeMcFly 3y agoWhat are some ways the file abstraction has been problematic for Unix?
- kybernetikos 3y agoSo everything-is-a-file is a bit like REST - restrict the verbs, and move the complexity that causes into the addressing scheme and the clients.