Date: Fri, 9 Mar 2001 10:12:09 -0600 From: Andrew Hesford <ajh3@chmod.ath.cx> To: Hal Lynch <hal@cc.usu.edu> Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Is FreeBSD UNIX or UNIX-like? Message-ID: <20010309101209.C20852@cec.wustl.edu> In-Reply-To: <a04320401b6cea2cabfec@[129.123.1.184]>; from hal@cc.usu.edu on Fri, Mar 09, 2001 at 08:15:27AM -0700 References: <a04320401b6cea2cabfec@[129.123.1.184]>
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There are a few complicated issues here, but here's what I say: 4.4BSD was directly based on AT&T UNIX; they even shared code. However, after AT&T sued the UC Regents over licensed code being distributed in an open-source project, 4.4BSD-LITE was released, which had no original AT&T UNIX code left in it. Technically, it can be said that 4.4BSD-LITE was not UNIX, since it shared no code with the original UNIX. That would mean FreeBSD, OpenBSD and NetBSD are all based on a non-UNIX, so they cannot be considered to be UNIX. However, if you ask me, the fact that 4.4BSD is a UNIX means that derivative works, like 4.4BSD-LITE, are also unices. Hence FreeBSD, NetBSD and OpenBSD, which share code with 4.4BSD-LITE, are all Unices, the same way that my grandfather and I belong to the same family. 4.4BSD, being UNIX, brought more to the definition of UNIX than just the original AT&T code. I disagree with "if it doesn't say BSD it is NOT Unix!" Certainly Solaris is a UNIX, and it is based SVR4 (this was not always the case; it used to be a BSD derivative). And UnixWare is made by SCO, who own the original System V code. Now to make a promise to the FreeBSD community: if I ever get rich enough to toss away a few hundred thousand dollars per year, I will buy the rights to the UNIX trademark for FreeBSD (in addition to other contributions). Then people can say without doubt: "Yes, FreeBSD *is* UNIX." But we'll see if I get rich. On Fri, Mar 09, 2001 at 08:15:27AM -0700, Hal Lynch wrote: > At 11:42 AM -0800 3/8/01, Mikko Tyolajarvi wrote: > >FreeBSD (like the other *BSDs) are based on the 4.4BSD distribution > >from UCB, which is about as "BSD UNIX" as you can get. However, since > >"UNIX" is a trademark owned by The Open Group it is not allowed to be > >called "UNIX," nor are any of the other free Unices, mainly because > >certification involves spending $$$. > > IMHO if it doesn't say BSD it is NOT Unix! > > hal > > To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org > with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message -- Andrew Hesford ajh3@chmod.ath.cx To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message
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