Date: Fri, 10 Oct 1997 18:52:27 +0930 From: Greg Lehey <grog@lemis.com> To: FreeBSD Chat <chat@FreeBSD.ORG> Cc: dkelly@hiwaay.net Subject: Re: Re: Linux vs freeBSD Message-ID: <19971010185227.17440@lemis.com>
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(forwarded to -chat)
The background of this discussion is a comparison between FreeBSD and
Linux that I wrote for "The Complete FreeBSD". Here goes; there's
more from David Kelly after it.
FreeBSD and 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
distribution 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.
As a result of the centralized develop- The ease of installation of Linux de-
ment style, FreeBSD is straightforward pends on the ``distribution''. If you
and easy to install. switch from one distribution of Linux to
another, you'll have to learn a new set
of installation tools.
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
FreeBSD is less likely to have drivers a driver for Linux.
for brand-new boards than 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 programs, whether commercial
or not. It's also relatively simple to
port Linux drivers to FreeBSD.
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. There are signs that both sides are learning to appreciate
each other, and a number of people are now running both systems.
So much to that; I welcome comments or corrections. Now to David's
message.
Greg
>>> Drivers: Drivers are available for most standard hardware, right?
>>
>> OK. How about:
>>
>> As a result of the smaller user base, FreeBSD is less likely to have
>> drivers for brand-new boards than Linux.
>
> Do we have any examples laying around of FreeBSD wanting for drivers
> that exist in Linux? Or are we simply repeating what's always been said?
>
> An example would be ATAPI CDROM's and FreeBSD. In the past FreeBSD's
> ATAPI support was slack. The reason I gathered was that nobody who was
> capable of the task wanted to do it.
>
> Today, I don't know what the status is of the wd driver. But I'd guess
> that its not being carressed into DMA, UltraDMA, mode 4.... the way a
> Linux driver would be. As with ATAPI, its just not as interesting to
> FreeBSD developers as SCSI.
>
> Speaking of interesting, tape handling has become a hot topic at work.
> Am having fun reading Seagate's DAT SCSI manual. Meanwhile have ported
> FreeBSD's tcopy to SGI. Time to start some enhancements. I'd like to
> see FreeBSD's mt reply more like SGI's. And I may do it soon.
>
> In the driver discussion, some mention of the sharing of drivers
> between FreeBSD and Linux is needed.
>
>>> (Annelise Anderson, I think)
>>>
>>> Also the kind a variety of support--the nature of the community--
>>> involved in Linux vs. FreeBSD is different....
>>
>> I suppose that's true, but it's difficult to quantify from my
>> perspective. Do you have any suggestions?
>
> Thought this and that above the [snip] were related. I subscribe to
> some lists which are dominated by Linux users. Linux distributions
> are quite different from each other. Have noticed vendors such as
> Netscape specify exactly which Linux distribution and kernel their
> product is compatible with.
>
> Authors of software distributed in source have to deal with users who
> can't compile on XXXX's distribution because... you name it. Location
> and version of ncurses comes to mind. Yeah, I know, there is supposed
> to be a Linux File System standard specifying where these files are
> to be put.
>
> I don't think its too far fetched to observere that its almost as
> difficult to step between Linux's as between any other Unix.
>
> I can't pinpoint it, but I was doing a lot of SGI Irix when I was
> attempting to do useful things with Linux in 1994. Then in 1995
> I switched to FreeBSD and was much more comfortable. The difference
> in init bugged me for a little while but I flit between Irix and
> FreeBSD without blinking. Now I've got to deal with Solaris 2.5.1
> and I'm back in a quagmire where nothing is where I expect it.
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