To: None <>
From: Bruce J.A. Nourish <>
List: tech-pkg
Date: 03/09/2004 23:18:49
On Tue, Mar 09, 2004 at 08:44:45PM -0800, Jeremy C. Reed wrote:
> Who uses Linux here?

Used to :-) Note that it's almost never possible to make universal
statements about "Linux systems." So when I say (or imply) "all", 
I really mean "virtually all, but if you look in a sufficiently
wierd or obscure distro, you could probably find a counterexample."
By "wierd or obscure," I'm talking about either antique or
non-traditional/non-UNIX-like distros.

Also, note that most distros allow installations with no development
tools at all. I'm assuming that the user has installed some sort
of typical "development" package set.

> Do all Linux systems include a "yacc" called yacc?

Yes, it's usually a wrapper for "bison -y". (Assuming they have

> Do all Linux systems include a "lex" called "lex"?

Ditto with "flex -l".

> Do all Linux systems come with "patch" by default?

Almost always. If it's there, it'll be GNU.

> Do all Linux systems come with GNU "make" by default?


> Do all Linux systems come with a GNU "awk" by default?

Yes. Many use it in the boot scripts somewhere(!).
Bruce J.A. Nourish <>
SDF Public Access UNIX System -