PNU, as in PNU is Not Unix, is a challenge project and a learning exercise to reimplement UNIX command-line tools in Python, forming a kind of "pytnix" portable user-land utilities collection.

It's meant to be pronounced "Pneu" (tyre in French), a "pun" which seems appropriate as it's clearly another reinvention of the wheel, longtime after the GNU project :-)

• Originally intended as a learning exercise in Python/Unix for my son, but open to anyone.
• Passing on some Unix culture & lore to a generation of new hackers (in the original and noble meaning of the word).
• Having some handy portable Unix tools, for example for Windows (though there are plenty of other solutions for that).
• Ultimately to have most of the relevant standard utilities included in POSIX.1, many utilities sitting under /bin and /usr/bin in a modern BSD/GNU Linux system, some usual non-standard utilities, as well as some utilities of our own.

• The project is ongoing. You can install what's available from our package with the following console command:

pip install PNU

or you can install PNU plus a selection of additional third-parties tools with this command:

pip install pytnix

• This page is both for the challenge description and for referencing unix tools rewrites made by contributors.
• To contribute you can simply create:
  • your own Github repositories and link them to the project by using the pnu-project topic
  • your own PyPi packages and link them to the project by using the pnu-project keyword (but please don't use the "pnu-" package prefix for your own entries)

• As a player:
  • Decide on a Unix command to reimplement in Python 3.x (see list below for suggestions or our Master / targets list for full details).
  • Read the tutorials
  • Read the guidelines for contribution (among other documentation manuals)
  • Come discuss it with us on the forums
• As an organizer:
  • Read the guidelines for organization

The following, (A)D&D inspired, level structure is proposed for gamification. We suggest level bosses in order to complete a level (but no Demogorgon here, we are not in Stranger Things :-)) and associated 🏆 trophies for fun :-)

We're also thinking about offering Habitica's quests for further gamification.

The following classification of commands is still in progress.

Handling return codes, printing to the terminal:

• true, false
• yes
• echo => suggested level boss. Trophy: 🍼 (hint: option can be hardcoded)

Basic string handling:

• basename, dirname => without options for a start
• caesar, rot13

Basic math or data structures, school level:

• factor, primes => suggested level boss. Trophy: 🎒

Basic filters, command line & environment processing, file operations:

• basename => with full options
• cat => POSIX version only for a start
• head
• expand, unexpand
• fold
• wc => suggested level boss. Trophy: 🚽

Basic text processing utilities, multiple files or many options:

• cat => with full options
• nl
• cmp
• comm
• uniq => suggested level boss. Trophy: 1️⃣

Basic utilities using more complex parsing:

• expr => just a warmer
• printf
• getopts
• cut => suggested level boss. Trophy: ✂️

System utilities (implying minimum Unix system knowledge). Regular expressions, text parsing. CSV, JSON, XML, HTML data handling.

Basic system utilities.

Basic system utilities, possibly recursive ones:

Full screen text applications, windowed applications, office documents manipulation, image manipulation, web scraping, network applications, automation.

Interactive full screen applications:

• vi

Advanced system utilities, data compression:

• compress, uncompress
• zcat

Languages (interpreters, compilers), database management systems, network protocols:

• awk

• sh => Suggested level boss. Trophy: 🐚

It's a long way to the top if you wanna get your entry in the "Deities & Demigods" of hackers, but here are some examples to inspire you from the Unix & open source pantheon (note: having a beard is not mandatory)

However, all of this is beyond the scope of the project and probably not a good idea to implement in Python :-)

Full operating system kernels & device drivers:

• Your own Minix/386BSD/Linux like operating system with PNU userland utilities :-)

Making your own hardware platform and all the software to run it.

• Although not Unix related, 🧙‍♂️ The Woz springs to mind here and his excellent autobiography, iWoz, is highly recommended for a good glimpse into a true hacker's mind.