Unix consists of a multitude of tiny commands that each generally accomplish only one task, but accomplish it well. This is a deliberate choice to make the operating system as lightweight as possible. The commands can be combined using stream control (see below) in any number of ways to perform more sophisticated compound tasks. An experienced user has tremendous freedom for manipulating data under Unix, something that is sorely lacking in more ``user-friendly'' operating systems like Windows. With a bit of practice you'll wonder how you could ever live without it.