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FreeBSD 5.2-RELEASE Review
MRE writes "Well it's been out for a week an a half, but here's the first review of FreeBSD 5.2-RELEASE. Or if you want to download the new release and try it for yourself, it's only one ISO image away."
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I was just going to reinstall FreeBSD tonight after work. Perfect timing for a review of the new release.
Dead OS, indeed.
NB: YMMV. IANAL. Take the above with a grain of salt.
ROFLMAO it's now to the point where the FreeBSD camp makes fun of the stupid comments made elsewhere. FreeBSD is not dying, and anyone in Slashdot who says it is is probably just making fun of those who've said that.
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What exactly is FreeBSD releasing?
The situation is pretty complex. The body is an assemblage of assorted nutrient media substrata (meat, blood, fat, brain and other weirder tissues) that are favored by one or another means of decomposition and microorganisms. The questions are:
1) Which means of decomposition will occur?
2) How soon do the agents of decomposition get to the substrate?
3) How fast will they work?
4) What will be their effects?
Some background: The most common pathways to decomposition include biochemical agents (microbes) and biomechanical agents (insects, predators). Under normal conditions, you need one or more of these to take place. The body is made up of tissues, which are in turn made up of cells. The cells need food, water, and oxygen to stay alive. When these stop, the cell dies (goes into necrosis, euphemistically speaking). Necrotic cells ordinarily retain their integrity for some time, until something breaches the cell membrane or until dehydration causes collapse. Biochemical agents (bacteria) usually do not get to the contents of a necrotic cell until it has been breached.
So, to conclude, we can expect the following release from FreeBSD. Firstly, the front of the body will swell, the tongue may protrude and fluid from the lungs oozes out of the mouth and nostrils. This unpleasant sight is added to by a terrible smell as gases such as carbon dioxide, sulfur compounds, hydrogen sulphide, methane, mercaptans, cadaverine and putrescine are released.
Hope this helps.
[ed. note: in the following text, former FreeBSD developer Mike Smith gives his reasons for abandoning FreeBSD]
When I stood for election to the FreeBSD core team nearly two years ago, many of you will recall that it was after a long series of debates during which I maintained that too much organisation, too many rules and too much formality would be a bad thing for the project.
Today, as I read the latest discussions on the future of the FreeBSD project, I see the same problem; a few new faces and many of the old going over the same tired arguments and suggesting variations on the same worthless schemes. Frankly I'm sick of it.
FreeBSD used to be fun. It used to be about doing things the right way. It used to be something that you could sink your teeth into when the mundane chores of programming for a living got you down. It was something cool and exciting; a way to spend your spare time on an endeavour you loved that was at the same time wholesome and worthwhile.
It's not anymore. It's about bylaws and committees and reports and milestones, telling others what to do and doing what you're told. It's about who can rant the longest or shout the loudest or mislead the most people into a bloc in order to legitimise doing what they think is best. Individuals notwithstanding, the project as a whole has lost track of where it's going, and has instead become obsessed with process and mechanics.
So I'm leaving core. I don't want to feel like I should be "doing something" about a project that has lost interest in having something done for it. I don't have the energy to fight what has clearly become a losing battle; I have a life to live and a job to keep, and I won't achieve any of the goals I personally consider worthwhile if I remain obligated to care for the project.
Discussion
I'm sure that I've offended some people already; I'm sure that by the time I'm done here, I'll have offended more. If you feel a need to play to the crowd in your replies rather than make a sincere effort to address the problems I'm discussing here, please do us the courtesy of playing your politics openly.
From a technical perspective, the project faces a set of challenges that significantly outstrips our ability to deliver. Some of the resources that we need to address these challenges are tied up in the fruitless metadiscussions that have raged since we made the mistake of electing officers. Others have left in disgust, or been driven out by the culture of abuse and distraction that has grown up since then. More may well remain available to recruitment, but while the project is busy infighting our chances for successful outreach are sorely diminished.
There's no simple solution to this. For the project to move forward, one or the other of the warring philosophies must win out; either the project returns to its laid-back roots and gets on with the work, or it transforms into a super-organised engineering project and executes a brilliant plan to deliver what, ultimately, we all know we want.
Whatever path is chosen, whatever balance is struck, the choosing and the striking are the important parts. The current indecision and endless conflict are incompatible with any sort of progress.
Trying to dissect the above is far beyond the scope of any parting shot, no matter how distended. All I can really ask of you all is to let go of the minutiae for a moment and take a look at the big picture. What is the ultimate goal here? How can we get there with as little overhead as possible? How would you like to be treated by your fellow travellers?
Shouts
To the Slashdot "BSD is dying" crowd - big deal. Death is part of the cycle; take a look at your soft, pallid bodies and consider that right this very moment, parts of you are dying. See? It's not so bad.
To the bulk of the FreeBSD committerbase and the developer community at large - keep your eyes on the real goals. I
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