[TUHS] SVR4 vs. Solaris 2

[Warner Losh via TUHS]

On Sun, Nov 16, 2025, 9:30 AM Alexander Schreiber via TUHS <tuhs at tuhs.org>
wrote:

> On Wed, Nov 12, 2025 at 08:52:54AM -0800, Lyndon Nerenberg (VE7TFX/VE6BBM)
> via TUHS wrote:
> > > Interestingly enough because Sun was charging for their new compilers
> > >suite many end users/customers installed the Gnu family.
> >
> > Sun's unbundling of the compilers drove thousands to install
> > gcc, single-handedly bootstrapping GNU into the mainstream.
>
> Finding myself on HP-UX 11 with the bundled cc just being a K&R one
> (because
> of course a proper compiler (called the ANSI C++ compiler by HP) did cost
> a pretty penny) I very quickly grabbed gcc as well. But that was in the
> early 2000s, so gcc was already _very_ firmly in the mainstream.
>

Gcc was in the main stream in the late 80s. It produced better code for
vax, mips and 68k machines than the stock DEC and SUN compilers, and
enabled both 386BSD and Linux rise in the early 1990s. Sun's unbundling
just added fuel to the fire when they started SUNWpro in 91. C++ didn't
start to be diminated by g++ until maybe 1995 or a bit later. Prior to that
the vendor sold compilers were better than g++... even the cfront ones.

Though that's my highly subjective views based on my trip through the 80s
and 90s.

Warner

Kind regards,
>            Alex.
> --
> "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and
>  looks like work."                                      -- Thomas A. Edison
>