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Date:      Thu, 17 Aug 2000 10:35:33 -0400 (EDT)
From:      "Robert S. Sciuk" <rob@controlq.com>
Cc:        freebsd-sparc@FreeBSD.ORG, freebsd-arch@FreeBSD.ORG
Subject:   Re: your mail
Message-ID:  <Pine.BSF.4.21.0008171016050.45559-100000@schizo.controlq.com>
In-Reply-To: <20000816220840.H1056@freebie.demon.nl>

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On Wed, 16 Aug 2000, Wilko Bulte wrote:

> On Wed, Aug 16, 2000 at 12:57:24PM -0700, David DeTinne wrote:
> > Is the sparc port really dead?
> > 
> > I have tried the other BSD's and from an average users standpoint FreeBSD is the best
> > (my opinion)
> > 

To play devil's advocate, briefly ...

Perhaps we should examine just why FreeBSD is `best'.  As I understand it,
the limited architectures supported has maximized talent and effort into
making the intel platform work REALLY well, added stability, content,
performance and functionality.

If FreeBSD migrates to additional architectures, how much of its
`goodness' will translate directly to other platforms??  Moreover, how
much future effort and talent will be diverted into porting efforts rather
than single platform perfection??  One must always trade off optimal
platform performance for the sake of portability!

I'd love FreeBSD on Sparc, and PA-RISC for that matter -- just not at the
expense of the single best Intel based OS I've yet to encounter!!!  I am
happy with OpenBSD and NetBSD (thought neither one is on PA-RISC yet).

I look at the scalability efforts going on in the FreeBSD kernel as a case
in point, removing the GBL and threading and wonder just how much of that
will translate directly to other architectures??  Would this effort have
started at all if the talented individuals working on it were busy porting
to platform X??  No doubt at the end of this project, FreeBSD on Intel
should beat the living pants off of NT and Linux on the scability side of
the equation.

Just food for thought.

Cheers,
Rob.



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