Re: [TUHS] Mach for i386 / Mt Xinu or other

If I may, I think there was an additional thing at play: Linux was essentially Unix. Linux "won" because people wanted low-cost or free (as in gratis) Unix with source that could run on modest commodity hardware, and Unix wasn't available at a price point that was reasonable for most individuals (certainly not with source). The people working on successor systems weren't trying to reinvent Unix: they were working on new systems that weren't Unix, but that's not what people wanted: Unix was good enough and people were familiar and comfortable with it and that's what they wanted. So Linux comes along and it's basically a "simplest possible solution" Unix, freely available, runs on a PC, comes with source, and wasn't mired in a lawsuit brought by a major US company. It was the right thing in the right place at the right time. I think there's a network effect that blinds a lot of folks to this reality. Most of the folks on this list had access to Unix source and, with no disrespect intended, it's easy to lose sight of what a big deal that was. But unless you were in a position to already have access to it, it was remarkably difficult to come by. Linux filled a gap that a lot of people were looking to have filled. - Dan C.