Time-sharing and plumbing: what they have in common
- Step 1. Time-sharing — evolved into — Unix. It grew out of Multics.
- Step 2. Unix — uses — Command line. The shell.
- Step 3. Command line — evolved from — Typewriter. The teletype was a printing terminal.
- Step 4. Typewriter — works like — Movable type. Each typebar carries a piece of movable type pressed against the paper.
- Step 5. Movable type — is made of — Clay. Bi Sheng’s type was made of fired clay.
- Step 6. Clay — is material for — Plumbing. Minoan plumbing used ceramic pipes.