4 ms·

The etymology of Unix programs: very interesting! The writers of this page also have a sense of humor: > bc > originally a front-end for dc ("desk-calculator")

The etymology of Unix programs: very interesting! The writers of this page also have a sense of humor: > bc > originally a front-end for dc ("desk-calculator"); modern GNU bc is instead a backwards-compatible byte-code interpreter for dc, but what it stands for is still "basic calculator"

anyfoo 12y ago
While a lot of the names have humorous origins, I don't see the humor in this particular entry at all? Can you explain?
- sukilot 12y ago
  Backwards Compatible Byte Code
- qu4z-2 12y ago
  I was amused that they introduce it as a "[b]ackwards-[c]ompatible [b]yte-[c]ode interpreter". Not sure whether that's what the GP meant.
  - anyfoo 12y ago
    Ouch, didn't notice. Thanks.