DOS Follies (Was: Docstrings...)

[Edward A. Falk]

In article <mailman.248.1267652136.23598.python-list at python.org>,
D'Arcy J.M. Cain <darcy at druid.net> wrote:
>On Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:44:08 +0100
>mk <mrkafk at gmail.com> wrote:
>> It reminds me of why Windows uses backslashes for path separation 
>> instead of slashes: what I've *heard*, and do not know if it's true, 
>> it's because Gates fancied using / for options switch instead of -, and 
>> to hell with established practice.
>
>That was because CP/M used slashes for options and DOS copied that.  By
>the time hierarchy was added it was too late to change.

And CP/M got it from the various PDP-11 operating systems.  I *think*
that Tops-10 had it as well.  In fact, I think using / to delimit
commandline options goes back to the PDP-8.

-- 
	-Ed Falk, falk at despams.r.us.com
	http://thespamdiaries.blogspot.com/