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Is FreeBSD really 'The Other Linux'
Why2K writes "This article provides some interesting comments on the differences between FreeBSD and Linux, and the reasons why Linux is more popular. " Its sorta an outsider fluff piece, but its a nice summary. Talks broadly about the technical differences in the code,
the sociologies, and of course, the fact that BSD has a cooler mascot ;)
It's funny up to a point. Seeing FreeBSD bigots flame away, saying how much superior their kernel, development system, method of distribution, networking, (insert issue here) is than Linux' implementation of the same feature, or Linux bigots saying how FreeBSD is dead, that it can't, won't, hasn't, will never go anywhere, that it doesn't support hardware, (insert isssue here) - It sort of grinds on you.
Why people feel the need to make their system the best is obvious. Why, in the process, they have to put down, flame, or actively disrupt other systems and their development is beyond me, though. I'm sure FreeBSD is great. I'm sure BeOS is fast and it scales pretty well. What people fail to realise is that every single person on earth thinks differently. That's why there's such diversity.
I've come across this sort of mentality before - in children. For children, it's hard to comprehend that there are a lot of other possiblities other than the one that they can come up with between their two ears. They'll become devoted to a rock band, or a television show, or perhaps something a little more extreme, and suddenly everything else in the world isn't an option anymore, and anyone who chooses it is not only misguided, but stupid - and they must be put on the right path, or they'll surely perish.
FreeBSD is developed in a different manner than Linux, and BeOS is developed in yet another way. Each has their own goals and methods. Each is better at some things than other systems are. You know the saying "Jack of all trades, master of none." - It applies.
The simple fact is that systems have been chugging along quite nicely, doing what they're doing, and lots of people like it they way it is. Sure, you might be disappointed in the rapid changes of Linux' kernel - but a lot of people like it that way. You might be mad that BSD doesn't christen new versions often enough for you, but a whole whack of people don't even want the option of updating often.
If everyone could try, not to understand, but just to live and let live, I'm sure that flames would go down, the signal to noise ratio would go up, and fewer rants like this would have to be written. (I may just have to write something substantial next time)
The picture used to represent the FBSD daemon is clearly the Christian interpretation of demons, not from the Greco-Roman Daimon. The Christian demon is described as a spirit with no body which has a nasty habit of posessing other people's bodies. They aren't even top dog in Christian mythology, they are inferior to archangels.
The Greek daimon was not exactly something I'd want as a mascot anyway. A daimon is a supernatural being of the lowest order, inferior to other supernatural beings. It sits at a level between the gods and man.
There are earlier definitions of demons being called daimones or "divine powers". Later however daimones began to refer more towards the spirits of the dead (Roman) and to the above daimon. They also refer to spirits which each person is assigned to watch over.
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The world is neither black nor white nor good nor evil, only many shades of CowboyNeal.
Once linux has mainstreamed and everybody is using it, geeks won't feel so special anymore. I think alot of people jumped ship off of Microsoft simply because they wanted to differentiate themselves from everybody else. At the time, linux was the obvious choice. Now that linux has mainstreamed, geeks need a new toy that appeals to just geeks.
The answer, it would seem, comes in the form of a small stuffed devil with a pitchfork.
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While they went to great lengths to say that one of the differences was how code was added to the base, they didn't really say why that matters that much.
:)
Before, when I did a lot of custom drivers for Linux, I was continually annoyed with kernel interfaces changing, and code that was 'current' a week ago, suddenly becoming legacy.
With FreeBSD, I've had amazing longevity with my code. Not because they're slow to change, but because, in my opinion, (flame proof clothes ready) it was designed 'right' the first time.
The works of people like Kirk McKusick and David Greenman are quite possibly some of the best designs I've ever seen. Even if you don't plan on using FreeBSD, I think all developers should at least take a look at how it works, and I promise you'll learn a thing or two.
I also hold 'good design' as the reasons for why I've had systems with 400+ day uptimes, that were sometimes under nearly constant attack and/or intrusion attempts.
Finally, the BSD license. My 'day job' is designing an embedded product, which is using FreeBSD for it's OS. Why? The license. Many companies are hesitant, or even contractually prohibited, from giving out changes made to the system, which the GPL rather insists on. The BSD license is very open, which I think may become more important in the near future.
Go download a boot floppy, or buy a CD from Walnut Creek or even Cheap Bytes and give it a try. Even if you don't end up keeping it, if you're a hacker, you'll learn something.
Anyone thinking FreeBSD (in particular) doesn't "release" often enough... well, just doesn't get it. FreeBSD's releases are just points at which it goes into cds.
If you want to know at which pace FreeBSD progresses, send a message to majordomo@freebsd.org subscribing to cvs-all.
(8-DCS)
Actually, they won't see it in it's original setting. The =original= mythological daemons were messengers, which is where the UNIX in-joke originates from. So the UNIX insiders actually know the original setting. The outsiders generally know the Christianised version, which is a good few thousand years more recent.
It's a small world and it smells funny; I'd buy another if it wasn't for the money; Take back what I paid (SoM)
For MS, the mascot would have to be a dollar sign, or of a large boot stomping on a computer (with apologies to George Orwell). Unless, of course, MS would like to remind us of "Bob" =)
and, off-topic though it is (well, it concerns which mascot is "cooler"): anybody remember Thin Lizzy's "The Boys are Back in Town?"
So, in summation, the situation with which mascot is "cooler" is inevitably muddled =)
"Oh, I hope he doesn't give us halyatchkies," said Heinrich.