> The old standard for Linux used to be the a.out format; this has since been superceded [sic] by ELF (Executable and Linkable Format), but the end result is th

> The old standard for Linux used to be the a.out format; this has since been superceded [sic] by ELF (Executable and Linkable Format), but the end result is the same: You're not actually running machine language. This is not correct. The difference between the examples is not whether the computer runs machine language, it's how the code is wrapped for delivery. The above hyperbolic claim will mislead people unfamiliar with computer programming and add to an unwarranted atmosphere of mystery. > In MS-DOS, you can type a command like "cd.." to move up a level, and it will work fine. In Linux, it will not; you need to type "cd ..". The different [sic] is the space in between. No, grammar issues aside, the difference is that Linux rejects special cases that shouldn't exist. Command-line commands should be consistent and the parser should reject operator errors in a robust and repeatable way. Were this not true, a command-line parser would take: # rm-rf/* And execute it, instead of replying, "You really want to do that, pilgrim?" The above example, were it to exist, would mix commands and arguments in a way that would make black-hat hackers' lives very easy.