---
author:
    email: mail@petermolnar.net
    image: https://petermolnar.net/favicon.jpg
    name: Peter Molnar
    url: https://petermolnar.net
copies:
- http://web.archive.org/web/20190624130322/https://petermolnar.net/the-unix-philosophy/
lang: en
published: '2015-06-29T11:38:15+00:00'
tags:
- unix
title: The Unix philosophy

---

1.  Small is beautiful.
2.  Make each program do one thing well.
3.  Build a prototype as soon as possible.
4.  Choose portability over efficiency.
5.  Store data in flat text files.
6.  Use software leverage to your advantage.
7.  Use shell scripts to increase leverage and portability.
8.  Avoid captive user interfaces.
9.  Make every program a filter. - Mike Gancarz[^1]

> Those who do not understand Unix are condemned to reinvent it, poorly.
>
> -   Henry Spencer[^2]

[^1]: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unix_philosophy>

[^2]: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Spencer>