Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.csd.uwm.edu!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!agate!apple!well!nagle
From: nagle@well.UUCP (John Nagle)
Newsgroups: gnu.misc.discuss
Subject: Re: Manifesto question
Message-ID: <13211@well.UUCP>
Date: 18 Aug 89 20:56:28 GMT
References: 
Reply-To: nagle@well.UUCP (John Nagle)
Organization: Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link, Sausalito, CA
Lines: 14


      The notion that "system software" is "operating systems, editors,
and compilers" is dated, and belongs to the DEC-20 era.  Today, editors and 
compilers are definitely applications programs.  For the popular systems and
languages, a wide selection of programmer-oriented applications are
available.  

      System software is, today, primarily software that applications
interface with when in operation.  This includes operating systems,
command interpreters, network software, and window support.  There is
also application-dependent system software, such as database systems
intended for use by other programs.

					John Nagle