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Identifies Unix as the third wave of computer systems and one which is already on the horizon and rapidly approaching. Outlines the history of the development of Unix; the reasons why, to date, the Unix system has failed as an effective competitor in the marketplace; and what is being done to resolve its past limitations. Concludes that, following major moves which have taken place in the Unix world in the last two to three years and the resultant improvements in flexibility and standardization, Unix will become an important part of the technology and business world – perhaps today, certainly tomorrow.

UNIX is a word that is on everyone's lips, computer professionals and computer users alike. This is a personal view of the development of the UNIX operating system. The author has been working with UNIX as a computer professional since 1978. Since 1982 his work has been almost exclusively in Libraries and Information departments where he has seen the successful implementation of hundreds of library and information retrieval systems on computers with the UNIX operating system.

CIM (Computer Integrated Manufacturing) is usually viewed as a vast and complex undertaking which only the General Motors of this world can afford. This article puts forward a simple CIM strategy based on a building block approach using UNIX (the industry standard hardware independent computer operating system). This approach ensures companies start with systems they can afford and also manage. Risks are decreased, small companies too can now build their own CIM strategies. UNIX's great strength is portability and flexibility: companies can start with basic MRP systems and build upon those, integrating at will the more specific elements of CIM as they are needed. The suitability of UNIX for this “mix and match” approach is examined. No longer is there any need to be locked in to one hardware or software supplier. Competitive edge too is improved as the manufacturer can respond quickly to the fluctuating nature of the consumer market. As new products are required, new computer control systems can easily be integrated with the core system.

Presents an in‐depth view of some aspects of UNIX, especially those relating to communicating on the Internet. Details some of UNIX′s history, from its invention onwards and illustrates three scenarios whereby librarians may encounter UNIX.

Speculation as to the impact of UNIX systems is rife throughout the industry. Interest in the final outcome is not confined to the major manufacturers. Software developers are experiencing significant demand from users anxious to reap the benefits of true applications portability. The benefits of UNIX are felt on a very broad front. It is not only developers who will make significant savings: users, no longer constrained by proprietary restrictions, will have a far greater choice of both hardware and software products. However, UNIX is not a perfect operating system. Its limitations are generally well known, and the long‐standing debate on which standards will finally be adopted seems no nearer resolution. But it is only a matter of time before the age of true applications portability finally dawns.

Assesses the role of UNIX in the future of information and internetworking. Argues that librarians should be familiar with UNIX as so many information systems run on it, and especially because it lend itself so well to the client/server model of networking, which researchers insist is one of the few ways to ensure speedy storage and retrieval in systems that have very large databases.

As the computing world in general gets more excited about Open Systems and UNIX, so these developments are reflected in the library housekeeping systems marketplace, a trend which was identified in VINE 76 (The turnkey systems marketplace: ten years on). There are now quite a number of systems on the market either running exclusively under UNIX or in addition to versions available for other operating systems. Table 1 provides a summary of such systems currently available in the UK, giving some suggested hardware platforms and alternative operating systems on which they run.

Software tools are programs which perform simple functions and have simple interfaces. They can be easily put together to make complete systems; and their use for library automation represents a middle path between ‘off the shelf’ packaged software and software which is entirely coded in a programming language. After discussing software tools in connection with the UNIX operating system, this paper describes an experimental system for periodicals control. An analysis of the software is presented which indicates the benefits that stem from using software tools, and some figures on machine timing are given.

The October 1990 issue of Vine contained articles on the development of the UNIX operating system and the marketplace for integrated library systems capable of running under UNIX. This paper describes one user's experience of migrating its library management system to a UNIX platform, and integrating it into a campus‐wide network.

The goal of a good computer interface is to provide a natural language help facility that allows new users to learn about the computer, its operating system in particular, and the important packages that are available for his use. The UNIX Consultant (UC) is an intelligent natural language interface designed to allow naive users to communicate with the UNIX operating system (of A.T. and T. Bell Laboratories) in ordinary English in as painless a way as possible. UC allows the user to engage in natural language dialogues with the operating system. He can query UC about how to do things in UNIX, ask about common names, formats, receive on‐line definitions of UNIX and get help debugging problems using UNIX commands.