> I have allocated half of the presentation lecture for this semester to > "Why does this matter at all". Among other things, > I´ll be comparing gnu cat.c with plan 9 cat.c, so they get the picture. > > Any other suggestion?
comparing documentation can be instructive - e.g. all the unix socket calls vs. plan 9's dial(2) - maybe get them to write a network dialler from first principles using both interfaces. it might be a problem trying to illustrate just why complex software can be so maddening - i think that insight only really comes with the experience of trying to maintain and transform one's own (and others') software, along with the realisation of just how much time is spent maintaining software vs. the time writing it in the first place.
