When a web developer or designer uploads web site files to a web server, there’s a strong likelihood it’s running on an UNIX-style operating system. There’s an equally strong likelihood that, although developers and designers know all about how to upload their files through their favorite file transfer clients, the details of how it actually works are hidden from them.
While it’s possible to survive without this knowledge, many of you may have wondered what goes on up in that cloud where the UNIX gnomes carry out their work on your web creation. This desire to know how it all fits together probably occurred to you when things became unstuck, when you inadvertently placed your files in the wrong folder, resulting in dysfunctional CSS, or even a web site that didn’t function at all. And indeed, a bit of UNIX knowledge may have come in very handy at these times.
So, if you’d like to know what’s going on behind the scenes, and take a first step towards learning the nuts and bolts of a UNIX-style operating system, read on!
UNIX-style Operating Systems
So what does it mean for an operating system to be UNIX in style? How is it different from an operating system like Windows? Well, all UNIX-style operating systems are comprised of a group of similar tools that work together to produce a result, as opposed to a monolithic and stand-alone system such as Windows. UNIX’s groups of tools are also flexible enough to provide a number of ways to accomplish things. In fact, the common workaday toolbox is a useful metaphor here.
When you use a UNIX style operating system you have a useful box of tools at your disposal, and it’s well worth getting to know the basics of these tools. Furthermore, thanks to the similarities between all UNIX-style operating systems, once you know one tool you have a decent grounding for knowledge of them all.
While all UNIX-style systems have a standard set of tools, they can also contain specialized tools to meet certain objectives. The toolbox may come with every tool imaginable, or a limited set of tools to suit a very specific purpose.
The typical standard toolkit includes such things as the function to change directories, list files, move, copy, and delete files, control file permissions, see what programs are running, and so on. In their basic form, all these tools are very similar between different UNIX style operating systems. Think of the different types of toolboxes out there, from those treasured by tradespeople to those gathering dust in the sheds of home improvers. They’ll share common implements, such as screwdrivers, hammers, and wrenches. However, one may have an automated screwdriver, another may have different sizes of hammers, and still another may have strong grip wrenches.
The list of available UNIX-style systems is extensive, but here are links to the most common ones:
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