Please answer the following questions after completing the assigned reading on the history of UNIX and Richard Gabriel’s writing about “Worse is Better.” Submit your responses on Gradescope under the Reading Journal: UNIX assignment.
To earn full credit for this assignment you will need to provide responses that address each of the questions, show a high-level of engagement with the assigned reading, and make connections between course content, the reading, and your own opinions or experiences. Your responses will also be graded on the quality of your writing; write in complete sentences, check for issue with spelling or grammar, and organize your writing to ensure your responses clearly convey your thoughts and observations. You may not use AI tools to write any of the responses below, but if you want to use them to refine or revise the writing after you have written a response that is acceptable.
The assigned readings reference the far-reaching impacts of UNIX and C. Briefly describe one impact of UNIX and/or C that does not come up in the reading or in any classes you’ve taken. You are welcome to use Wikipedia and other references to find examples if you like.
Describe a time when you used either the “New Jersey approach” or the “MIT approach”. Were any of Gabriel’s observations relevant to this experience? Explain how your experience matches or contradicts Gabriel’s claims about these two approaches to building software.
UNIX is one of the primary examples of Richard Gabriel’s “New Jersey approach.” While he gives some examples in his short essay, there are many instances of this approach evident in the design of UNIX. Point to one aspect of UNIX that you believe illustrates the New Jersey approach, but do not use an example directly from the reading. Justify your choice.
Which approach—either MIT or New Jersey—do you believe is better? Why? Give clear examples to support your case.