Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2008 18:55:22 -0500 From: Mike Meyer <mwm-keyword-freebsdhackers2.e313df@mired.org> To: freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org Subject: Re: FreeBSD hacker 101 Message-ID: <20080124185522.23ca743f@bhuda.mired.org> In-Reply-To: <Pine.SOC.4.64.0801241524130.25709@libra.sfsu.edu> References: <84a208a0801232306k6a34134aqd549a1ba2160fe41@mail.gmail.com> <4798479B.9030406@delphij.net> <Pine.SOC.4.64.0801241524130.25709@libra.sfsu.edu>
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On Thu, 24 Jan 2008 15:25:16 -0800 (PST) KAYVEN RIESE <kayve@sfsu.edu> wrote: > Aren't the ports collection something that makes freeBSD stand out > very differently than linux? also, no rpm, and the pkg_add utility. > updating operating system with cvsup? buildworld? all these things > are different starkly, or are they not? GNU/Linux isn't tied to rpm's; there are other packaging systems in use by different distros, including at least one that is based on the BSD ports system. But you've touched on one crucial difference: A GNU/Linux distribution is lots of software from various authors that the creators of the distro have put together to make a system (to be fair, the creators of the distro may have contributed software as well, like rpm). So everything is in the package system, and the line between "critical system software" and "add on packages" is blurred, Meaning it's not clear what you can update independently without breaking the OS (well, not to me, anyway). A BSD distribution is a complete operating system in and of itself - the base system. It *includes* a package system for dealing with "add on packages." You can update the add on software independently without breaking the base system. You are expected to update the base system as a whole, and doing otherwise is unsupported. I'm not sure how relevant this is to what the OP was asking about, though. <miks > > On Thu, 24 Jan 2008, Xin LI wrote: > > > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > > Hash: SHA1 > > > > william wong wrote: > >> Hi, > >> > >> Are there any docments or pointers to get me started hacking around my > >> 6.3asap? Building toochains, submitting patches etc.... or i just > >> follow most > >> of the conventions in the Linux kernel development community? > > > > I think it's nothing "that" different. A typical way is that you find > > something you are not happy with, i.e. what you think FreeBSD is lacking > > of, do some proof of concept work, discuss it in the mailing list, > > refine your work, submit patch, become a committer :-) > > > > The only "difference" as far as I can tell is that FreeBSD tends to have > > stricter code style guidelines (the only exceptions are what we call > > "vendor code" which is maintained outside, this includes toolchains, > > device drivers that is supported by vendors, in order to make future > > upgrades easier). However, unlike some other bad code style guidelines, > > FreeBSD's coding style is very well documented (as in style(9)), and > > following the guideline will make your code easier to read (e.g. think > > about how to find the implementation with grep(1)? Yes, grep ^function.). > > > > We eager to see contributions from all aspects, but if you have no idea > > for your own, or is looking for something to give a shot, you can check > > out our projects idea page at http://www.freebsd.org/projects/ideas/ . > > > > Small contributions, like making more documentation about various > > sysctl's, etc. are more suitable for those who just started to learn > > about the code and can not invest a lot of whole bunch of time on > > FreeBSD (yet), are welcomed as well. > > > > Another good start is to query our PR database ( > > http://www.freebsd.org/cgi/query-pr-summary.cgi ) and see if there is > > something you have interest, but there is no fix, or there is a fix but > > stayed for a long time and push them. > > > > Cheers, > > - -- > > Xin LI <delphij@delphij.net> http://www.delphij.net/ > > FreeBSD - The Power to Serve! > > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- > > Version: GnuPG v2.0.4 (FreeBSD) > > > > iD8DBQFHmEebi+vbBBjt66ARArlQAJ4xMkuM6ZflCM25wcq7Q+efxedpAACdH4w6 > > jwc1NRdGUp/vrGf8mMpWTiM= > > =Z6lW > > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- > > _______________________________________________ > > freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org mailing list > > http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-hackers > > To unsubscribe, send any mail to "freebsd-hackers-unsubscribe@freebsd.org" > > > > *----------------------------------------------------------* > Kayven Riese, BSCS, MS (Physiology and Biophysics) > (415) 902 5513 cellular > http://kayve.net > Webmaster http://ChessYoga.org > *----------------------------------------------------------* > _______________________________________________ > freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org mailing list > http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-hackers > To unsubscribe, send any mail to "freebsd-hackers-unsubscribe@freebsd.org" -- Mike Meyer <mwm@mired.org> http://www.mired.org/consulting.html Independent Network/Unix/Perforce consultant, email for more information.
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