Every computer needs an operating system to manage its memory, control its I/O devices, implement its file system and provide an interface to its users. Many operating systems exist, such as MS-DOS, OS/2, and UNIX. This manual describes yet another operating system called MINIX. Although MINIX is entirely new, it was inspired by UNIX, and has many features in common with UNIX. For this reason it is fining that we begin this introduction with a brief history of UNIX, and its ancestors. This will be followed by an equally brief history of MINIX. Finally, the chapter concludes with a summary of the rest of the manual.
Description:
Every computer needs an operating system to manage its memory, control its I/O devices, implement its file system and provide an interface to its users. Many operating systems exist, such as MS-DOS, OS/2, and UNIX. This manual describes yet another operating system called MINIX. Although MINIX is entirely new, it was inspired by UNIX, and has many features in common with UNIX. For this reason it is fining that we begin this introduction with a brief history of UNIX, and its ancestors. This will be followed by an equally brief history of MINIX. Finally, the chapter concludes with a summary of the rest of the manual.