POSIX
Definition
POSIX (Portable Operating System Interface) is a family of standards specified by the IEEE Computer Society for maintaining compatibility between operating systems. It defines the application programming interface (API), along with command line shells and utility interfaces, for software compatibility with variants of Unix and other operating systems.
Why It Matters
POSIX allows developers to write programs that can be easily ported between different Unix-like operating systems (like Linux, macOS, and BSD) without having to be completely rewritten. It creates a common ground for system behavior.
Contextual Example
A C program that only uses POSIX-compliant system calls and libraries can be compiled and run on both a Linux server and a MacBook without changing the source code.
Common Misunderstandings
- POSIX is a standard, not an implementation.
- While Windows is not fully POSIX-compliant, it provides some compatibility layers.