UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

This is probably a really stupid question:

Why doesnt windows binaries run in *nix?

Is it the filesystem? or what?

//Maestin

It's not a stupid question, just a slightly humorous one.

Let me give a few answers to this question. I am not an expert on this topic, but I have decent understanding of it.

First, UNIX was created way before Gates ever thought about creating/buying/stealing the Windows OS. ( somewhat sarcastic here!). Gates was trying to establish a market for his concept of a PC for everyone, capturing marketshare for HIS product, and UNIX was not exactly user friendly back in the 80's.

Second, the Microsoft OS is closed source, meaning that you probably have to get permission to develop software for Microsoft OSs. Also, all proprietary UNIX flavors have the same conditions.

Third, Unix and Microsoft are extremely different animals. Microsoft until recently is basedon the MSDOS structure. UNIX is based/written on the C programming language. Two very different languages. Like comparing Apples and Elephants...


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The short answer is that Gates wouldn't give away his garbage without a licensing agreement. Also, I am not sure that the Windows binaries would even run on a UNIX based system.
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Although, now we are getting closer. OS X is based on Darwin which is UNIX. Windows 2000 is also using a kernel which has some UNIX parts to it.


Maybe someone else can give a more detailed answer here.

They arent compiled and interpreted the same way.

Also, NT based OSes (NT, 2000, XP) have some UNIX compatability/POSIX compliant guts in them, but are mostly based off of old VMS code that MS licenced from DEC. Thats where the stability and good handling of virtual memory comes from.

Didn't they get DOS from another DEC OS too? Hmmmm......



Side note, ever heard of Xenix? MS was in the UNIX OS game a long, long time ago, contrary to popular belief. I think IBM eventually snatched up Xenix from them though.

Thank you for not being ignorant, DSM.

The systems are different... That's like wondering why programs written for the old Mac OS don't run on Windows (or VMS, or MCP, or wondering why Windows can't interpret WFL). It's just different...

Trust me, it's no conspiracy, just competition - although MS has offered products for other operating systems, like Office for Mac, and IE for a few selected Unix variants.

And yes, Xenix was one of the big failures MS carried. I don't know what happened to it, but I would be interested in getting my hands on it, to run on a few old 286 boxes...