Date: Sun, 15 Feb 1998 22:25:10 -0600 (CST) From: John Kenagy <jktheowl@bga.com> To: John Goerzen <jgoerzen@alexanderwohl.complete.org> Cc: Vincent Defert <vdefert@trace.fr>, freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: FreeBSD vs Linux Message-ID: <Pine.BSF.3.95q.980215213538.3412A-100000@barnowl.roost.net> In-Reply-To: <Pine.BSF.3.96.980214215408.224A-100000@alexanderwohl>
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I'm referring to the operating system and "single source". Packages are another issue. I'm a strictly amature user and do not have the time or inclination to worry about which library or kernel I'm running. For me, the ports collection is a workable and relatively painless way of obtaining the software I need. I'm also fairly conservative about updating or configuring - lots of preliminary work, lots. After some confusion about where to put things when I first started, I have _never_ had any trouble setting up my systems (486-133, 386SX, and a 75MHz Pentium - all with different graphics cards, configuration, etc. They are networked, run Apache, NFS, and X. FreeBSD is flexible, and for me and _my own sensibilities_ what I like. Your points are well taken and should be considered valuable in their own right as based on your sensibilities and opinions. You are right to imply that it is what you need as I imply that it is what makes sense for each person to decide for themselves. Try both OSs and use which one you like. Or use both. I have read enough mail on both sides to know that flaming goes on in both directions. Foolishness. What gets lost is the fact that most of us in the FreeBSD (or just *BSD) and Linux camps seek an alternative to Micro$oft's view of the world. Squabbling over which is "best" (a dubious judgment) gets nowhere and could not be more useful to Mr. Bill. I go on record as a FreeBSD user and supporter. I also support your choice to use both. Choice is what we, all of us, must be about. [off soapbox] John On Sat, 14 Feb 1998, John Goerzen wrote: > On Wed, 11 Feb 1998, John Kenagy wrote: > > > Three words, and a short (very) short explanation. > > > > ---> One single distribution. <--- > > > > > No kernel from one source, libraries from another, etc. > > I do not need surprises. > > To be fair, this is the proverbial double-edged sword. The purpose of the > Linux distribution is to integrate things nicely. And to be fair, Debian > in particular has things very well integrated and has a package system > quite superior to FreeBSD. OTOH, FreeBSD has a good edge on Slackware in > most everything :-) > > Furthermore, FreeBSD uses components from various sources -- Perl from > Larry Wall, gcc from the FSF, libc from BSD, etc. > > One mistake people often make is comparing "Linux" to something else. > This is rarely what people mean to do; a more accurate comparison would be > Debian vs. FreeBSD or RedHat vs. FreeBSD. The ONLY time when a "Linux vs > FreeBSD" comparison is valid is when discussing the kernel itself, and > even then it is not always valid. > > Please, let's focus on the facts, shall we? > > As somebody that has extensive experience with Debian GNU/Linux and a good > deal of experience with FreeBSD, here are my general thoughts: > > FreeBSD's advantages: > > * Good laptop support. Works on a wider variety of laptops than Linux. > > * A tighter defafult configuration, security-wise. > > * Console screen savers better than standard "black screen" > > * Nice /etc/rc.conf system. Debian cannot practically use such a thing > because of the large number of packages that can configure themselves > for use. > > * Good for anyone using a BSD-ish system like BSDi > > * Kernel releases are always stable > > * Kernel source under CVS > > * make world capability > > * More stable (meaning changes less frequently, and somewhat better > reliability) networking code > > * Live filesystem CD available > > * Managed by small development team. > > * A steady commercial backer. > > * Helpful user community. > > Debian advantages: > > * Many packages come with configuration tools > > * Many more bundled packages. The ENTIRE system is in package form, > not just the add-ons. The package manager is Debian's largest benefit > and something that really is unmatched by anything else. The package > system yields the following benefits: > + Easy upgrades, usually under 15 mins and not requiring any reboot > + Easy configuration of a set of machines identically > + Documentation is in a well-defined standard location > + A source package format superior to FreEBSD's, though notably lacking > make world. > > * Faster networking code > > * Support for more hardware. However, some of the very new drivers > are sometimes in beta stage. > > * More documentation. > > * Better cooperation with non-BSD OSs. > > * Tighter integration. Many of the packages I have found contain bugs. > For instance, dependencies on non-existant packages, files placed > in incorrect locations, looking in the wrong place for files, etc. > > * Public bug-tracking system for all packages. > > * Standardized and logical filesystem layout > > * Helpful and polite user community. <rant on> You wouldn't believe how > many FreeBSD users criticize me for using both FreeBSD and Linux. I > have been flamed by FreeBSD'ers because I use Linux as well... I have > never been flamed by a Linux user for using FreeBSD as well. <rant off> > > * Console mouse support that doesn't conflict with X. > > So... to sum it all up. Neither is better. It depends on your needs. If > you have dozens of machines to admin, and are short on admin resources, > then Debian is your obvious choice. If you want something that is > rock-solid and developed like a commercial OS, FreeBSD is the choice. If > you want a progressive system, often the first with new features, Debian > is better. If you want top-notch multitasking performance under stress, > FreeBSD is better. It all depends. Either system will perform quite well > in just about any circumstance. Often, the difference between the two is > minor. IMHO, the only exception to this is Debian's package management > system, which is far superior to FreeBSD's. However, there's nothing > keeping FreeBSD from using that system too... > > John > > > > To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message
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