FreeBSD, Linux Kernel Source Cross Reference

An anonymous reader writes "Robert Watson of the FreeBSD Core Team has put up a FreeBSD and Linux kernel source cross reference based on the LXR software used for the Linux kernel cross reference. The stated purpose is to make it easier for FreeBSD users and developers to explore and understand the FreeBSD code, as well as to compare the FreeBSD approaches with abstractions and implementation in the Linux kernel. This should help with portability, compatibility, and architectural cleanliness. Robert has posted to the FreeBSD mailing lists indicating he'll be pushing source code for other *BSD systems and Darwin in the near future as well. Sounds like this may be a really useful site for FreeBSD developers, but also for all open source kernel developers (Linux and others)."

Comments

Here's the deal

[ciaran_o_riordan]

> isn't this dangerous for BSD developers when looking at GPL software

BSDers can look, and learn (or laugh). They just can't copy the code.

> could arguably be derivative from Linux

Copyright covers work of an author, not ideas. So as long as they only borrow ideas, they'll be fine.

> I would think FSF would get their panties that much

That's not much of a sentence, is it :)
FSF own no FreeBSD-kernel code, and only own bits of Linux. I don't see any problems here.

> read quite a bit from Stallman who seems to have an axe to grind with the GPL linux

You're probably talking about proprietary binary-only modules being linked to Linux at runtime?
Nothing to do with a cross-reference.

> let alone the closable BSD's

[Free|Net|Open]BSD is Free Software, but the freedom isn't protected by copyleft, so anyone can make a modified version and not contribute their modifications back to the original developers. This situation encourages companies *not* to contribute their code, because if they keep it proprietary, they have an advantage over the original developers.

Ciaran O'Riordan