Date: Tue, 29 Aug 1995 18:39:07 -0700 From: pete@kesa26.Kesa.COM (Pete Delaney) To: rgrimes@gndrsh.aac.dev.com Cc: freebsd-platforms@FreeBSD.org, pete@RockyMountain.rahul.net Subject: Re: FreeBSD CD-ROM 2.0.5 - Any SPARC Porting Underway? Message-ID: <9508300139.AA03506@kesa26.Kesa.COM>
next in thread | raw e-mail | index | archive | help
> > I briefly checked it out. It feels dissapointing to see the Free/Net > > BSD UNIX community splintered. > > Haveing been around these groups for 2 years (yes, go read the NetBSD 0.8 > release notes, I was a part of that effort) I do not see them as > ``splintered''. The fill different needs. NetBSD is much more of a > research type of operation. They do not care a whole lot about providing > finally polished releases of there code, though there is nothing serious > wrong with there releases, they don't see a need to spend major efforts > on installation tools, or end user niceness. Nor do they present anything > as complete as the FreeBSD ports collection. Looks like it's time to install NetBSD on one of my SparcStations one of these days. I'll check out the Release Notes. It's intesting to know that NetBSD is more of the research group and FreeBSD the release group. > FreeBSD on the other hand is interested in polished releases with maximal > end user comfort. > > A lot of FreeBSD's technological advancements have come from the research > vehicle of NetBSD where to code is developed and proven to be a workable > solution. But why haven't the various arch's been brought over to FreeBSD. > At many levels there is direct cooperation between NetBSD/FreeBSD developers > and perhaps it is time for someone to start putting forth a clearer picture > of just what has been going on if you take a close look at things. That would be nice. > IMHO, the 2 groups are _good_ things to have around. And expect FreeBSD > in the future to continue to graft things into its tree from the NetBSD > tree as they come to bear fruit. > > > > > > they have more platforms but we have a better install and cover PC > > > hardware better.. > > > > Sounds like the old X11R6 vs XFree disintegration. I see no reason why > > they should be different source trees. > > It is very hard to do ``research'' in a tree that is always been worked > on for ``production release'' status. We have a heard enough time now > trying to work in a branched cvs tree to for the purpose of allowing > developement continue forward while the release team works on spit shinning > the code for production release. Are both groups now using cvs? > > > > you chose which you want.. > > > > I saw AT&T break up UNIX into a lot of individual releases and thought > > it was stupid. Same for X on the PC and everything else. This doesn't > > smell any different. > > Haveing had my noise buried in it for as long as I have it smells quite > different. I wonder if you actually appreciated AT&T makeing a seperate release tape for sparc, i386, and other archs. As far as X, I find it nicer to have 1 CD set for both SPARC and Intel arch's. I do see the Xfree integration as being incomplete. > The future may bring to bear other fruit in the world of > Unix source code trees as well, NetBSD/FreeBSD/Linux are not going to > have this field for ever. One constant in this arena is that of change, > it always happens :-). Yea, I think it's healthy. Like DNA evolution. Perhaps merging source tree's is a bit like sex, it bears a new creature with new features, often better, hopefully healthier, sometimes a monster. Maybe it's time for a little evolution. > > Yea, AT & T caused a lot of Bell Labs derived source trees to be created, > by now they have sold it all off, and the trademark as well as real control > over ``Unix'' has been handed to what looks to be a decent organizaion, and > just maybe the 1178 spec will make things fly towards at least a unified > standard to base your code against. We will, IMHO, never in our live times > see a single unix source base. Actually I see a unified standard more like wanting a pure super race as some of the more racially pure/homogenious cultures were dreaming about a few decades ago. Clearly it's nice to have a variety of tools/creatures for different needs/nitches; like cars for different occasions. Now with Sun Microsystems focusing on the commercial market and allowing SunOS and XNeWS to rust in the graveyard I see an opportunity for a CD publishing outfit like Walnut Creek to produce a CD that can be used on other archectures other than just Intel that has most, if not all of the applications that are in FreeBSD. > > -- > Rod Grimes rgrimes@gndrsh.aac.dev.com > Accurate Automation Company Reliable computers for FreeBSD > -pete
Want to link to this message? Use this URL: <https://mail-archive.FreeBSD.org/cgi/mid.cgi?9508300139.AA03506>