Linux and the Unix Philosophy

6.2 Tenet 9: Make every program a filter

6.2.1 Every program written since the dawn of computing

is a filter

Every program—no matter how simple or complex—accepts data in some

form as its input and produces data in some form as its output. How the pro

-

gram filters the data presented to it depends on the algorithms contained

therein.

Most people accept that programs such as text formatters and translators

can be considered filters, but they have difficulty realizing that the same holds

true for other programs not ordinarily regarded as filters. Take real-time data

collection systems, for example. Typical ones sample analog-to-digital con

-

verters at