UNIX Hear it!

UNIX Hacker Definition
A widely used computer operating system software. UNIX has a standardized and well-publicized set of rules and interfaces governing the interaction of humans and computer programs. For this reason, it is considered to be an “open” operating system rather than a proprietary system such as Microsoft’s Windows (for which the rule-and-interface details are not easily obtainable).

See Also: Open Source; Operating System Software.

Schell, B.H. and Martin, C. Contemporary World Issues Series: Cybercrime: A Reference Handbook. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2004.
UNIX Telecom Definition
A powerful multi-tasking, multi-user computer operating system (OS). UNIX was developed at AT&T Bell Telephone Laboratories during the years 1969 to 1973 by Ken Thompson and Dennis Ritchie for minicomputer application. As UNIX is written in the highly portable C programming language, it is used on a wide variety of computers, from mainframes to PDAs. A number of UNIX variations have been developed, some of which are available as freeware, and are known as Linux. See also Bell Labs, freeware, Linux, mainframe computer, minicomputer, OS, PDA, and portability.