Date: Mon, 15 Dec 1997 15:02:40 -0500 (EST) From: "John S. Dyson" <toor@dyson.iquest.net> To: immunora@internet.siscotel.com (Pedro Fehlauer) Cc: freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: Linux vs. FreeBSD Message-ID: <199712152002.PAA01251@dyson.iquest.net> In-Reply-To: <3495BADD.43F4@internet.siscotel.com> from Pedro Fehlauer at "Dec 15, 97 03:18:53 pm"
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Pedro Fehlauer said: > I didn't find this question in the FAQ. So please tell me, which OS is better, Linux or FreeBSD ? > I have only little experience with Linux and I find it good. But I must upgrade, and I'm > evaluating to choose FreeBSD. Is it worth to make the change ? > Depends on if FreeBSD or Linux works better for you. It is really best to try both, if you THINK that the other might work better. There aren't that many benchmarks that really show a substantial difference, but there are differences under enough circumstances that you really should try, if you think that something is amiss, or you think that FreeBSD will work better. The differences at the user level aren't very substantial. In essense, the APIs are pretty much the same, with FreeBSD often being able to run Linux apps (but not often the other way around.) Both are nearly POSIX. >From a userland perspective, since both are nearly POSIX, almost all source code distributed programs compile for both. Also, many (but not every) commercial apps for Linux run quite nicely on FreeBSD. (I have Staroffice running on my machine.) Downsides of FreeBSD are a smaller user base, sometimes slower support for odd or non-mainstream hardware. Kernel sometimes has slightly higher latencies under light load conditions. FreeBSD is single sourced from a development standpoint, but not from a distribution standpoint. Upsides of FreeBSD are better load handling (needed for large server applications), freer redistribution terms (not a high priority for non-developer end users), more organized central distribution, and some people like the FreeBSD ports collection better than the various "ports" mechanisms available with the various Linux distributions. FreeBSD is better about managing the shared library issues, so that ISVs have fewer problems with users having to find the "right" shared libs. My position isn't unbiased, but the above are a result of feedback from users who have tried both. You will not likely find someone around you trying to push FreeBSD, and it is a decision of the user (you) to decide to buy a cdrom or download it. The reasons for switching from one to the other are fairly consistent, and as a user, you are the most competent to decide which is best for you. -- John dyson@freebsd.org jdyson@nc.com
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