From owner-freebsd-questions Thu Oct 9 03:36:34 1997 Return-Path: Received: (from root@localhost) by hub.freebsd.org (8.8.7/8.8.7) id DAA22953 for questions-outgoing; Thu, 9 Oct 1997 03:36:34 -0700 (PDT) (envelope-from owner-freebsd-questions) Received: from freebie.lemis.com (gregl1.lnk.telstra.net [139.130.136.133]) by hub.freebsd.org (8.8.7/8.8.7) with ESMTP id DAA22947 for ; Thu, 9 Oct 1997 03:36:30 -0700 (PDT) (envelope-from grog@freebie.lemis.com) Received: (from grog@localhost) by freebie.lemis.com (8.8.7/8.8.5) id UAA03423; Thu, 9 Oct 1997 20:05:46 +0930 (CST) Message-ID: <19971009200545.24922@lemis.com> Date: Thu, 9 Oct 1997 20:05:45 +0930 From: Greg Lehey To: Robert Rusk Cc: freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: Linux vs freeBSD References: <343D1CA7.47F7@ugmail.eeng.dcu.ie> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii X-Mailer: Mutt 0.84e In-Reply-To: <343D1CA7.47F7@ugmail.eeng.dcu.ie>; from Robert Rusk on Thu, Oct 09, 1997 at 11:04:24AM -0700 Organisation: LEMIS, PO Box 460, Echunga SA 5153, Australia Phone: +61-8-8388-8250 Fax: +61-8-8388-8250 Mobile: +61-41-739-7062 WWW-Home-Page: http://www.lemis.com/~grog Fight-Spam-Now: http://www.cauce.org Sender: owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG X-Loop: FreeBSD.org Precedence: bulk On Thu, Oct 09, 1997 at 11:04:24AM -0700, Robert Rusk wrote: > I'm just wondering what advantages freeBSD has over Linux. > If you could enlighten me on this matter I would be most grateful That's a hot potato. A lot of people get fanatical about the question. Still, I've just had to write this up for the new edition of "The Complete FreeBSD", so here goes. I welcome any comments or corrections. Greg What about Linux? Linux is a clone of UNIX written by Linus Torvalds, a student in Helsinki, Finland. At the time, the BSD sources were not freely available, and so Linus wrote his own version of UNIX. Linux is a superb example of how a few dedicated, clever people can produce an operating system that is better than well-known commercial systems developed by a large number of trained software engineers. It is better even than a number of commercial UNIX systems. Obviously, I don't think Linux is as good as FreeBSD, or I wouldn't be writing this book, but the differences between FreeBSD and Linux are more a matter of philosophy rather than of concept. Here are a few contrasts: Table 1-1. Differences between FreeBSD and Linux 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 release 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. 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 fewer drivers are available for FreeBSD a driver for Linux. than for 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 program. The drivers can also be ported relatively simply. 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. In summary, Linux is also a very good operating system. For many, it's better than FreeBSD. It's a pity that so many people on both sides are prepared to flame each other.