The Daemon, the GNU and the Penguin
By Peter H. Salus
Some Errata
One of the "problems" of writing is that your
readership can be quite notable. I have
received clarifying comments from two of the
major "participants."
With regard to Chapter 2 (UNIX), Dennis Ritchie has
pointed out the following (as well as a few minor points):
- "'AT&T Bell Labs' is correct, I guess, but BL didn't
really start using that name until divestiture, and AT&T
wanted the prominent branding. Of course we were a part of
AT&T (via WECo), so it's not wrong."
- "Doug wasn't heavily involved in Multics at the time, and he
was always pursuing other things as well (including, course,
being Ken's boss)."
- "I don't think 'UNICS' was ever committed to paper...
A couple of years ago I checked again with Brian and Peter N,
and Brian admits to Unix, Peter denies it. Like you I thought
that it must have been Peter because of the punsterish tendencies,
and may have written that, but it seems not to be true.
I suppose leaving the air of mystery has some virtue, though."
- "Bob [Morris] retired several years ago from NCSC."
I also received two pieces of mail from Richard Stallman,
one pointing out that: "It was only in senior year
[in high school] that I was using a computer."
Moreover, I wrote "He [RMS] has frequently said that 'Software
wants to be free'."
Richard writes: "I don't believe I ever said those
particular words. ... What I say is that software should
be free; that is to say, its users should have freedom."
I have received other comments and addenda from several
notables (e.g. Rob Kolstad and Mike O'Dell). All will
be incorporated into the next full version.
I am really gratified that the most eminent workers in
the field have been reading my work and have taken the
time to write to me.
PHS
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