From owner-freebsd-advocacy Fri May 1 10:04:34 1998 Return-Path: Received: (from majordom@localhost) by hub.freebsd.org (8.8.8/8.8.8) id KAA12570 for freebsd-advocacy-outgoing; Fri, 1 May 1998 10:04:34 -0700 (PDT) (envelope-from owner-freebsd-advocacy@FreeBSD.ORG) Received: from pollux.loco.net (lucy.bedford.net [206.99.145.54]) by hub.freebsd.org (8.8.8/8.8.8) with ESMTP id KAA12521; Fri, 1 May 1998 10:04:14 -0700 (PDT) (envelope-from listread@bedford.net) Received: (from listread@localhost) by pollux.loco.net (8.8.8/8.8.8) id MAA27382; Fri, 1 May 1998 12:58:59 -0400 (EDT) (envelope-from listread) Message-Id: <199805011658.MAA27382@pollux.loco.net> Subject: Re: FreeBSD versus LINUX In-Reply-To: <354b8c8c.300570838@mail.cetlink.net> from John Kelly at "May 1, 98 09:28:13 am" To: jak@cetlink.net (John Kelly) Date: Fri, 1 May 1998 12:58:59 -0400 (EDT) Cc: fpawlak@execpc.com, freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG, FreeBSD-advocacy@FreeBSD.ORG From: CyberPeasant Reply-To: djv@bedford.net X-no-archive: yes X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4ME+ PL38 (25)] MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Sender: owner-freebsd-advocacy@FreeBSD.ORG Precedence: bulk X-Loop: FreeBSD.ORG > On Thu, 30 Apr 1998 22:30:41 -0500 (CDT), Frank Pawlak > wrote: > > >In answering the question as I did, I was trying to provide some > >information to persons that were switching from Linux to FreeBSD and > >asking for information on the differences between them, and quite > >frankly were given bullshit for an answer. > > I don't think so. Take of poll of all ISP's running either of the > two, and I think you'll find that the vast majority prefer FreeBSD > instead of Linux. My statement stands. "Amateurs like Linux, but > professionals prefer FreeBSD." > I think it should be added, there's nothing wrong about being an amateur. The two groups have different needs. After a career starting with punch cards and paper tape, I'm really happy about being an amateur again. The variety of Unix flavors available for a song is a real delight! However, after a foray into Linux, I find myself more comfortable in BSD. The differences are slight (gcc is gcc, X is X, BIND is BIND, etc etc). But it is true, a professional programmer or admin is /used/ to a certain environment, and that environment tends to resemble BSD. Mostly it is my impression that the 3 BSD's offer solid kernels, and more complete utilities, with fewer glitches. (NFS, rsh, rlogin, etc come to mind here), and a greater impression of being a "unified whole" instead of a patchwork. Linux lacks or has bugs in some system calls. (mmap(), fcntl(), vfork(),...maybe my info here is obsolete). Linux has growing pains, but maybe BSD is senile...BSD source traces back to the ancient papyri and tablets. Some Linux ports are, frankly, sloppy. (timed, rsh). Some of Linux networking code has design problems. (visible in the wretched performance of Linux as an NFS server or client -- maybe this has changed, though.). BSD is also easier to configure, but that is my opinion about what is easy. Linux offers a lot of flash, and really tracks new hardware,bugs,exploits faster... but with this speed of development come speedbumps. Linux = Ferrari, BSD=Mercedes-Benz, (OpenBSD comes with bulletproof tinted glass, FreeBSD with the high performance diesel engine, NetBSD with the ability to run on any road you come across), NT='72 Yugo that's having trouble passing safety inspection (no brakes, lights or wipers, and burns a lot of oil), W95=tricycle with bent front wheel and one pedal. I really think it comes down to analogies like this, until a specific feature is singled out for discussion. I have a vague impression that Linux spends a lot of time "in the shop" -- lots of tweaking. The BSD machines just sit here, and run. Disks are cheap enough and boot loaders clever enough, that it is reasonable to suggest to a prospective adapter of Unix, to install nearly identical Linux and BSD systems, and judge for himself in the actual application areas he needs. (this, gentlefolk, is /luxury/.) One thing not mentioned (I think) in favor of the newbie chosing a BSD, is that textbooks going back a long time use examples from BSD. Dave -- <----. mailto/pgpfinger: djv@bedford.net <----|=================================== <----' Crathva fxrjre To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-advocacy" in the body of the message