Time-sharing and plumbing: what they have in common

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

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