Linux and the Unix Philosophy

are finally writing about the processes that have been going on inside

programmers’ heads for years. This kind of analysis can only lead to a

better understanding of what we do and a move towards improving what we

do.

A common axiom of refactoring is that it should take place in small, incre

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mental changes rather than large rewrites. Here the Unix philosophers and

the refactorers share a common ground. Unix developers have worked in a

small, incremental, iterative development style. However, like the difference

between the XP methodology and the Unix philosophy, the Unix approach

rests upon much common ground with the refactorers, yet departs from it ...