The Elements of Style: Unix as Literature (1998)

theody.net

26 points·marttt··4 comments

There has been a noticeable decline in the writing style of articles over the years. Reading well-written ones like this is always refreshing but also an unfortunate reminder that society's literary prowess is not what it once was.

> reminder that society's literary prowess is not what it once was

What a chuckle. Just because a medium is unfamiliar to you doesn't mean it lacks prowess. I doubt the early 2000s will be remembered as a dark period in the history of literature or media in general. Check your tone because you'll never sound smart with this attitude in retrospect.

This had some great comments on the Unix Heritage mailing list, with a nice spinoff to discussing optimal line length: https://inbox.vuxu.org/tuhs/3c54b19d-e604-68eb-2b4b-0b65e9cf...

Continued on Computer Old Farts: https://inbox.vuxu.org/coff/20201111083156.GA57519@server.ru...

What a great article! "..I've never met Dennis Ritchie, Brian Kernighan, or Ken Thompson, ..., knowing something of the shape of their thoughts..." Reminded me of the anti-Foreword, Dennis Ritchie wrote for "The UNIXHATERS Handbook"

"Here is my metaphor: your book .. Like excrement, it contains enough undigested nuggets of nutrition to sustain life for some. But it is not a tasty pie: it reeks too much of contempt and of envy. Bon appetit!"

I find that incredibly witty

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