Weenix

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What Does Weenix Mean?

Weenix is a term derived from combining "Unix" and "weenie," a term that refers to those who use Unix by necessity, but would prefer simpler alternatives. Weenix points to what many critics see as the needless complexity of many Unix systems, which can lead Unix super users to believe they have mastery over the operating system. Some would argue that that mastery only involves tolerating Unix's many quirks, making those super users, or "wizards," weenies instead. As such, weenix may also refer to anyone who is engaged in effusive and uncritical praise of the Unix system.

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Techopedia Explains Weenix

This term's attempt to derogate Unix points to the debate on some controversial points about how operating systems should be set up. In general, the Unix interface provides a "harder" interface than many of the new operating systems developed by commercial companies that target a relatively unsophisticated end user. Unix uses a command-line environment and other features that are geared toward a savvier user. In addition, those who criticize Unix point to features like hard file deletion and case-sensitivity for commands as other "restrictions" that require human compliance and, in turn, a more knowledgeable user. To some users, however, these kinds of features are simply annoying. Programmers and others who favor more "authentic" environments may prefer Unix over the overtly visual-menu oriented OS choices like modern MS Windows.

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Margaret Rouse
Technology Specialist
Margaret Rouse
Technology Specialist

Margaret is an award-winning writer and educator known for her ability to explain complex technical topics to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles in the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret’s idea of ​​a fun day is to help IT and business professionals to learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.