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Newsgroups: comp.unix.misc,comp.unix.bsd.misc,alt.folklore.computers Path: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au!newshost.carno.net.au!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!nntp.coast.net!news.sgi.com!news.mathworks.com!EU.net!usenet2.news.uk.psi.net!uknet!usenet1.news.uk.psi.net!uknet!psinntp!psinntp!ncrgw2.ncr.com!ncrhub6!daynews!ranger!news From: Mike Czaplinski <mike.czaplinski@washingtondc.ncr.com> Subject: Re: On the Naming of UNIX Things X-Nntp-Posting-Host: 192.127.151.22 Message-ID: <E0xHrt.Fr8@ranger.daytonoh.ncr.com> Sender: news@ranger.daytonoh.ncr.com (News Administrative Login) Organization: NCR Corporation References: <55vhpf$q3o@mail1.wg.waii.com> <E0tAts.BAr.0.queen@torfree.net> <56g0mm$gpf@web.nmti.com> Date: Fri, 15 Nov 1996 20:19:04 GMT Lines: 37 Xref: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au comp.unix.misc:26461 comp.unix.bsd.misc:1523 alt.folklore.computers:124665 peter@nmti.com (Peter da Silva) wrote: > > In article <E0tAts.BAr.0.queen@torfree.net>, > William J. Hayes <ab915@torfree.net> wrote: > > grep: > > "Generic Regular Expression Printer" > > No, no, you're wrong. It's from "Generic Repeated Pattern Evaluator", an old > IBM mainframe program that searched for text in 80 column card decks and > edited them into new decks. When it was ported to UNIX (using the "struct" > tool to convert the original Fortran to Ratfor, then to C) they couldn't > fit the whole functionality in so they only provided the "print" edit. > > So it was called "grpep", then shortened to "grep" after Bill Gates made > a hilarious typo in the Xenix-86 version at a trade show. The actual details > were hushed up, and they changed the command to make sure it never happened > again. > > The story was created that it was shortened because it was easier to type > "grep" than "grpep" on an IBM card punch, but this was an obvious cover-up, > since the "grpep" version was never used on an IBM. > > Ironically the full functionality of "grpe" was ported to micros for the > first time on OS/2 in an implementation written in REXX (named after a dog > that barked when his owner sat down at a computer). > -- > </peter> Hmm....good form.....earnest delivery... Judges? FWIW: I heard that some renegade programmer originally called it 'gripe', after he was denied some stock during MS's IPO...... Mike "And he had a hook on his foot...." Czaplinski mike.czaplinski@washingtondc.ncr.com