About this episode

The episode explores the challenges and humor of running UNIX on microcomputers, featuring three small versions of UNIX.

UNIX is beloved by many. It's the classic minicomputer operating system. It's big, it's powerful, it's multitasking, and it has some very specific memory requirements. So what happens when you try and get UNIX to run on a microcomputer? Hilarity ensues. Today we are looking at 3 small versions of UNIX: OMNIX, LSX, and CROMIX. And, I'll tell you, one of these is closer to vaporware than the others.

People in this episode

Host: Sean Haas

Topics covered

• UNIX
• operating systems
• microcomputers
• minicomputers
• technology history

Keywords

• UNIX
• OMNIX
• LSX
• CROMIX
• microcomputer
• operating system
• technology

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: UNIX

Products: OMNIX, LSX, CROMIX

More episodes of Advent of Computing

• Episode 181 - RAYDAC · May 3, 2026 · 1h 12m
• Episode 180 - You Wouldn't Magnetize a Tape! · April 19, 2026 · 1h 6m
• Episode 179 - Programming Block by Block · April 4, 2026 · 1h 2m
• Episode 178 - The Programma 101 · March 22, 2026 · 1h 3m
• Dan Temkin - Forty-Four Esolangs · March 8, 2026 · 52 min
• Episode 177 - Getting Real with RSX · February 22, 2026 · 58 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Advent of Computing podcast page.