Update 28 June 1994 by ccpaulh@monad.missouri.edu. Subject to change!
The cube servers have full NeXT operating system 3.2 ªExtendedº. The NextStations (aka "slabs", "pizza boxes"), with less disk space than the servers, each have a reduced, essential set of 3.2 files and applications. Note that without th e "Extended version" software, the slabs by themselves have few useful applications beyond WriteNow and Unix: no Mathematica, no C-compiler, no on-line documentation, no interesting sound or image files. However, by networking and mounting the server's files appropriately, each station has access to the full set of NeXT software and locally developed files.
The flavor of Unix used by NeXT is Mach. Mach is BSD 4.3 compatible. You can start a shell (csh) via the Terminal application (in /NextApps) or via the Work Space Manager (File Viewer) menu "Tools, New Shell", or via the Work Space Manager Command+U. Unix "man" pages can be accessed by the standard "man" command, but are more easily searched using the Librarian application. The currently authorized shells are sh, csh, and tsch. The default is csh.
The Stuart application in /LocalApps is an enhanced version of Terminal. Most NeXT applications are coded in Objective-C, but C++ and C are supported. See Unix Manual Pages in Librarian for documentation of NeXT programming libraries. /LocalLibrary /Questions contains references to informative books on Unix and frequently-asked questions about Unix and NeXT.
Lotus' Improv spreadsheet is available.
X-windows is available in both public domain and a very reasonably-priced, well-regarded commercial version. If you need X, use /Net/apphost/PublicApps/Xfe.app.
We have installed many public domain applications and data files, including TEX, f2c (Fortran-77-to-C converter), p2c (Pascal-to-C), Matlab, and Kermit. More such applications for the NeXT or for generic Unix systems are available via Internet.
In additition to the network configuration, two small applications have been developed to expedite matters for beginners. The Announcements program (in /LocalApps) is always displayed at login to issue brief system announcements. "Questions & Suggestions" uses NeXT email to forward requests to appropriate personnel. /usr/local/etc/ contains shell programs to assist in local system administration.
/NextApps/
-Applications provided by NeXT. Note: Unlike the other directories mentioned here, NextApps is duplicated on each client and not mounted from the server. Mathematica.app and other frequently used applications are installed into /NextApps.
/NextLibrary/
-Documentation & other stuff from NeXT.
/NextDeveloper/
-Useful "demo" applications and source code examples from NeXT. Note that /NextDeveloper/ -> /Net/apphost/NextDeveloper/
Besides the directories NeXT distributes, the following are locally-defined. They may contain 3rd-party, commercial, public domain, or locally-developed applications or data.
/LocalApps/
-Applications that use the NextStep graphical user interface AND that are automatically invoked by opening files with certain file extensions. All files and subdirectories of /LocalApps are scanned at login to determine which applications are associated with which filenames. Minimizing the number of files in these directories definitely decreases user logon time. Hence /PublicApps. Note that /LocalApps/ -> /Net/apphost/LocalApps/.
/PublicApps/
-Applications that use NextStep interface and that don't need to go into /LocalApps. Note that /PublicApps/ -> /usr/local/PublicApps.
/LocalLibrary/
-Documentation, Images, Sounds, misc. Note that /LocalLibrary/ -> /Net/apphost/LocalLibrary/
/usr/games/
-All game applications, whether they use NextStep or not. /PublicApps may contain soft links to the NextStep applications in /usr/games. If the need ever arises, access to non-critical "games" can be controlled. Note that /usr/games/ -> /Net/apphost/usr/games/
/usr/local/
-Local modifications and additions. Note that /usr/local/ -> /Net/apphost/usr/local/
/usr/local/bin/
-Unix programs like f2c that don't use NextStep user interface, obtained from public domain, or local development.
/usr/local/etc/
-Unix utilities for system administration. Most files in this directory are not accessible to most users.
/usr/local/mods/
-copies of mods to /etc and other NeXT default facilities.
/usr/local/man/
-Unix man pages.
/usr/local/src/
-Source programs.
/NextLibrary/TeX/
-TeX files.
Read-Write Directories Access is controlled by standard Unix Permissions.