"I was surprised about vi going in, though, I didn't know it was in System V"
About this Quote
The quote "I was shocked about vi going in, though, I didn't understand it was in System V" by Bill Joy shows a minute of realization and perhaps moderate awe relating to the inclusion of the 'vi' editor in System V, a version of the UNIX os. To comprehend the context fully, it's essential to explore a couple of key locations: Bill Joy's background, the significance of 'vi,' and the impact of System V.
Bill Joy is a prominent figure in computer technology and one of the co-founders of Sun Microsystems. He was also critical in the development of the Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD) variation of UNIX, that included the 'vi' full-screen editor that he originally wrote. 'Vi' is renowned for being an effective and effective text editor, especially noteworthy for its modal operation, which varies substantially from other full-screen editor of its time. It ended up being an important tool for programmers and system administrators due to its speed, adaptability, and accessibility on practically every UNIX system.
System V is one of the two significant variations of UNIX, the other being BSD. It was established by AT&T and became the basis for many commercial UNIX systems throughout the 1980s and 1990s. The addition of 'vi' in System V suggests broader approval and combination of what was initially a BSD tool into the business UNIX world. This would have been substantial since it represented a convergence of 2 major hairs of UNIX advancement-- System V with its business focus and BSD with its scholastic roots.
Bill Joy's surprise might come from not knowing in advance that his creation had crossed over into the more commercially-oriented and commonly distributed System V, showing 'vi's' prevalent adoption and the regard it gathered throughout various UNIX communities. It highlights how effective and popular tools frequently transcend their initial environments and get universal acceptance throughout various systems, marking their importance in calculating history.
