NetBSD 8.0 Released (netbsd.org)

Slashdot reader fisted quotes NetBSD.org: The NetBSD Project is pleased to announce NetBSD 8.0, the sixteenth major release of the NetBSD operating system.

This release brings stability improvements, hundreds of bug fixes, and many new features. Some highlights of the NetBSD 8.0 release are:

— USB stack rework, USB3 support added.
— In-kernel audio mixer (audio_system(9)).
— Reproducible builds
— PaX MPROTECT (W^X) memory protection enforced by default
— PaX ASLR enabled by default
— Position independent executables by default
[...]

NetBSD is free. All of the code is under non-restrictive licenses, and may be used without paying royalties to anyone.

Comments

Great OS

[Anonymous Coward]

Nothing at all wrong with NetBSD. Runs on about everything. Been using it off and on since 1998. I prefer OpenBSD because it works better on laptops generally and has pf as a native program, but NetBSD is outstanding for embedded work and actually ran and runs some stuff for the space program. A phenomenal OS for small stuff.

Agreed

[ArchieBunker]

I ran it forever in the 1990s and into the late 2000s. Super stable and it's so nice having a bare OS adding in only the things you need.

A real commitment to multiplatform support

[BaronM]

I continue to be impressed by NetBSD's multiplatform support. Even as Linux has retreated from older architectures, NetBSD keeps support alive.

Re:A real commitment to multiplatform support

[EETech1]

I get the feeling that the legacy code in the BSDs was of a much higher quality, whereas the old Linux code was likely a steaming pile that no one really knew what it did, or wanted to touch.

Academic vs Hobby.

Can you imagine...

[Anonymous Coward]

...a Beowulf cluster of NetBSD 8.0s running?

Re:Those Were the Days

[Anonymous Coward]

I used FreeBSD until recently when they went full on libtard with their new social contract. NetBSD doesn't act that way and neither does OpenBSD. IT companies/organisations need to stay out of politics as much as possible, as it pollutes their mission. FreeBSD has seemingly jumped on the political bandwagon to their own detriment. NetBSD just quietly does what they do best and it shows.

"Reproducible builds"?

[ortholattice]

I was curious since I'd never heard of this problem before (or even had a clue of what the problem was about). I was led to this blog post, which is quite interesting. The issue is having the same source tree always build an identical cdrom. On the surface it sounds simple, but a surprising amount of work was needed to make it happen, all detailed in the blog post. I can't help but admire the obsessive perfectionism that won't leave the problem alone until it is completely resolved.

USB 3.0 support just now?

[kriston]

NetBSD just received USB 3.0 support just now?

I had to check that. FreeBSD has had it since 2011.

Re:Those Were the Days

[Anonymous Coward]

It doesn't happen overnight. Talent is removed from the contribution pool as eventually everybody makes a mistake and falls out of favour with the social justice crowd, and is ostracized. Others get sick of walking on eggshells all the time, worried they might offend somebody, and just say "fuck it", taking their skills elsewhere.

It's a culture of fear cloaked in good intentions. Comply or the howler monkeys start flinging shit.

Re:But can it run systemd?

[Rockoon]

NetBSD would never include systemd because its never necessary. It is not solving a problem that otherwise went unsolved. Meanwhile it creates problems that otherwise wouldnt exist.