UNIX Time-Sharing System: Preface

Copyright © 1978 American Telephone and Telegraph Company. Printed in U.S.A. UNIX Time-Sharing System: Preface By T. H. CROWLEY (Manuscript received April 18, 1 9 7 8 ) Since 1962, The Bell System Technical Journal has published over 90 articles on computer programming. Although that number is not insignificant, it is only about 6 percent of all the articles published in the B.S.T.J. during that period. Publications in the B.S.T.J, tend to reflect the amount of activity in many areas of technology at Bell Laboratories, but that has certainly not been true for computer programming work. Better indicators of the importance of programming for current Bell Laboratories work are the following: 25 percent of the technical staff spent more than 50 percent of their time on programming, or related work, in 1977. (//') 25 percent of the professional staff recruited in 1977 majored in computer science. (///) 40 percent of the employees entering the Bell Laboratories Graduate Study Program in 1977 are majoring in computer science. Programming activities under way at Bell Laboratories cover a very broad spectrum. They range from basic research on compiler1897 (/') generating techniques to the maintenance of Bell Laboratoriesdeveloped programs now in routine use at operating telephone companies. They include writing of real-time control programs for switching systems, development of time-shared text editing facilities, and design of massive data-base systems. They involve work on microprocessors, minicomputers, and maxicomputers.