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From: trb@ima.ISC.COM (Andrew Tannenbaum)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.wizards
Subject: Re: Request for human interface design anecdotes
Message-ID: <762@ima.ISC.COM>
Date: Wed, 25-Nov-87 15:31:34 EST
Article-I.D.: ima.762
Posted: Wed Nov 25 15:31:34 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 29-Nov-87 02:16:18 EST
References: <1721@spar.SPAR.SLB.COM> <1621@megatest.UUCP> <101@ateng.UUCP> <1402@cuuxb.ATT.COM> <407@minya.UUCP> <390@xyzzy.UUCP>
Reply-To: trb@ima.UUCP (Andrew Tannenbaum)
Organization: Interactive Systems, Boston, MA
Lines: 23

In article <390@xyzzy.UUCP> meissner@xyzzy.UUCP (Michael Meissner) writes:
> I dunno, but with the System V.[23] bourne shell, you can't even do that
> because "type" is builtin (it tells where on your path a command is, or
> if it's a shell function).  My other "favorite" poor design choice is
> "dump" in the System V.3 sgs (software generation system, ie, C compiler)
> which dumps out the object file into readable form, not what the operator
> does at night.  Sigh.....

These naming arguments are silly.  Why is "type" better than "cat?"
To a novice, is "type:"

	the act of entering data through a keyboard?
	a synonym for "kind?"
	a synonym for "typeface?"
	
Ask a group of folks who never used computers what "type" means, and none
will describe what the "cat" command does.  They might call what "cat"
does "printing" but not "typing."

"Print" is no better than "type."  "Cat" is no worse.  Is "dump" what the
operator does at night?  I know "cats" that "dump" day and night,
usually after meals.  "Poor design choice?"  Fooey.

	Andrew Tannenbaum   Interactive   Boston, MA   +1 617 247 1155