UNIXSpezifikation

UNIXSpezifikation refers to the formal documentation that defines the behavior and interfaces of the UNIX operating system. These specifications are crucial for ensuring compatibility and portability of UNIX-like systems. The most influential and widely recognized specification is the POSIX (Portable Operating System Interface) standard, developed by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). POSIX aims to standardize the system interfaces, including shell commands, system calls, and utilities, so that software written on one POSIX-compliant system can run on another with minimal or no modification.

Historically, AT&T's System V Interface Definition (SVID) was a significant early attempt to standardize UNIX. Later, the X/Open Company, Ltd. developed the X/Open Portability Guide (XPG), which also contributed to the standardization efforts. POSIX evolved from these earlier efforts, drawing on their strengths and addressing their limitations. Different versions of POSIX, such as POSIX.1 (Core Services), POSIX.2 (Shell and Utilities), and POSIX Realtime, cover various aspects of the operating system.

Adherence to these specifications allows for a robust and interoperable UNIX ecosystem. While many operating systems are considered UNIX-like, such as Linux and macOS, they typically strive for POSIX compliance to maintain compatibility with a vast array of existing software and development tools. The UNIXSpezifikation, therefore, represents a foundational element for the stability and widespread adoption of UNIX and its derivatives in computing.