When pipes don’t make sense

While pipes are one of the things that make Unix such a powerful and versatile operating system, they don’t always make sense. Many people still fall into the “useless use of a pipe” habit while still others use pipes in situations in which pipes simply don’t function at all. Knowing when to pipe and when not to pipe remains a sign of Unix mastery. If you want to look Unix savvy, use pipes only when they provide a critical service and never when they’re superfluous or downright wrong.