[Author Prev][Author Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]
[Author Index (this month)][Thread Index (this month)][Top of Archive]

Re: Synonym for binary file?

Subject: Re: Synonym for binary file?
From: Bruce Byfield <bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Tue, 04 Mar 2003 21:06:24 -0800


Bill Swallow wrote:

How so?


::: -----Original Message-----
::: Technically, you're correct. However, in common usage, ::: "binary" and "executable" are used more or less interchangeably.

Look at the directory structure of any UNIX or UNIX-like system. You'll find a /bin directory for executables for the operating system, and an /sbin directory for commands that only the root user can run. Large programs will have their own /bin directory. Small programs may share a common /bin directory, such as /usr/bin.

In all these cases, "bin" stands for "binary, of course.

This usage goes way back - so far as I know, to the earliest days of UNIX. That's why I suggested that the fact that "binary" and "executable" are imperfectly synonymous is only a technicality. The usage is extremely well-established

--
Bruce Byfield bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com 604.421.7177
http://members.axion.net/~bbyfield


"It's a brittle charm, but the lady's had enough,
Still she wrote her number on your paper cuff,
It's hard to know when to start and when to stop,
Her pillow tallk is nothing more than talking shop."
- Elvis Costello, "The Deportee Club"



^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Order RoboHelp Office X3 by March 14 and receive a $100 mail-in rebate,
plus FREE WebHelp Merge Module and FREE iMarkup Software, for a
total giveaway value of $439! Order today at http://www.ehelp.com/techwr-l

Help celebrate TECHWR-L's 10th Anniversary starting this month!
Check out the contests at http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/special/contests/
Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday TECHWR-L....

---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as:
archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.


References:
RE: Synonym for binary file?: From: Bill Swallow

Previous by Author: Re: Gender neutral - any new developments in your neck of the woods?
Next by Author: Re: Synonym for binary file?
Previous by Thread: RE: Synonym for binary file?
Next by Thread: RE: Synonym for binary file?

[Top of Archive] | [Author Index (this month)] | [Thread Index (this month)]

What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:

Sponsored Ads