Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 18:30:24 +1030 From: Greg Lehey <grog@lemis.com> To: Frank Pawlak <fpawlak@execpc.com>, Ken <kmoak@gte.net> Cc: freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: Information Message-ID: <19981123183024.N430@freebie.lemis.com> In-Reply-To: <19981123010326.A562@quark.feynman.com>; from Frank Pawlak on Mon, Nov 23, 1998 at 01:03:26AM -0600 References: <000901be16aa$94902a80$210a060a@home> <19981123010326.A562@quark.feynman.com>
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On Monday, 23 November 1998 at 1:03:26 -0600, Frank Pawlak wrote: > On Mon, Nov 23, 1998 at 12:29:10AM -0600, Ken wrote: >> I teach in the Computer Science department at Tarrant County Jr. College in >> Fort Worth, TX I am considering replacing our SCO Unix with using either >> FreeBSD or Linux for our introductory course in Unix. Any recommendations, >> advantages of FreeBSD over Linux, books etc. >> >> Any information would be appreciated > > While this may not be a comparison of Linux and FreeBSD, I can tell you > that the Computer Science Department at The University of > Wisconsin-Milwaukee is using FreeBSD and the book "The Complete FreeBSD" > by Greg Lehey for an operating systems course. What a horrible thought! Or am I misunderstanding the term ``operating systems course''? Can you give me more details? Since you quote The Book, here's a comparison between Linux and FreeBSD (this is also the famous table that various Microsoft mailers mangle beyond recognition; see http://www.lemis.com/email.html if you can't read it): FreeBSD is a direct descendent of the Linux is a clone and never contained any original UNIX, though it contains no AT&T code residual AT&T code. FreeBSD is a complete operating system, Linux is a kernel, personally maintained maintained by a central group of soft- by a Linus Torvalds. The non-kernel ware developers. There is only one programs supplied with Linux are part of distribution of FreeBSD. a distribution, of which there are sev- eral. FreeBSD aims to be a stable production Linux is still a ``bleeding edge'' de- environment. velopment environment, though many dis- tributions aim to make it more suitable for production use. As a result of the centralized develop- The ease of installation of Linux de- ment style, FreeBSD is straightforward pends on the ``distribution''. If you and easy to install. switch from one distribution of Linux to another, you'll have to learn a new set of installation tools. FreeBSD is still relatively unknown, Linux did not have any lawsuits to since its distribution was restricted contend with, so for a long time it was for a long time due to the AT&T law- the only free UNIX-type system avail- suits. able. As a result of the lack of knowledge of A growing amount of commercial software FreeBSD, not much commercial software is is becoming available for Linux. available for it. As a result of the smaller user base, Just about any new board will soon have FreeBSD is less likely to have drivers a driver for Linux. for brand-new boards than Linux. Because of the lack of commercial appli- Linux appears not to need to be able to cations and drivers, FreeBSD will run run FreeBSD programs or drivers. most Linux programs, whether commercial or not. It's also relatively simple to port Linux drivers to FreeBSD. FreeBSD has a large number of afficiona- Linux has a large number of afficionados dos who are prepared to flame anybody who are prepared to flame anybody who who dares suggest that it's not better dares suggest that it's not better than than Linux. FreeBSD. Greg -- See complete headers for address, home page and phone numbers finger grog@lemis.com for PGP public key To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message
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