Meaning: The quote refers to the release of two significant operating systems, Plan 9 and Inferno, and is attributed to Dennis Ritchie, a renowned computer scientist known for his involvement in the development of the C programming language and the Unix operating system. The release of both Plan 9 and Inferno, two operating systems developed at Bell Labs, marked important milestones in the evolution of computer science and software development.

Plan 9, initially released in June, is an operating system that was developed as a successor to Unix by the same team that created Unix. It was designed to address some of the limitations and challenges faced by Unix, with a focus on distributed computing and network transparency. Plan 9 introduced innovative concepts such as a unified namespace, where all resources are represented as files, and the use of a distributed file system, allowing resources to be accessed seamlessly across a network.

Inferno, on the other hand, is a distributed operating system that was developed as a follow-up to Plan 9. It was designed to be a compact and efficient operating system for networked devices and was particularly well-suited for embedded systems and mobile devices. Inferno introduced a unique approach to distributed computing, with a virtual machine called Dis, which allowed applications to run on different hardware platforms without modification.

The announcement of the new release of the Inferno system by Vita Nuova, a company founded by some of the original developers of Plan 9 and Inferno, signified ongoing support and development for this innovative operating system. The release of both Plan 9 and Inferno demonstrated the continued exploration of new ideas and concepts in operating system design, reflecting the commitment to pushing the boundaries of what was possible in computing.

Dennis Ritchie's acknowledgment of these releases underscores their significance in the world of computer science and software development. As a scientist and pioneer in the field, Ritchie's recognition of these developments serves as a validation of the groundbreaking work that went into creating these operating systems. His words also draw attention to the collaborative nature of innovation in computer science, as both Plan 9 and Inferno were the result of collaborative efforts by talented individuals working together to advance the state of the art in operating system design.

In conclusion, the release of Plan 9 and Inferno represented important milestones in the evolution of operating systems and distributed computing. These systems introduced innovative concepts and approaches that continue to influence the development of modern computing platforms. Dennis Ritchie's acknowledgment of these releases highlights their significance and the ongoing pursuit of new ideas and technologies in the field of computer science.