Date: Sun, 13 Jun 2010 10:18:13 -0700 From: Chip Camden <sterling@camdensoftware.com> To: FreeBSD Questions <freebsd-questions@freebsd.org> Subject: [sterling@camdensoftware.com: Re: freebsd - for the win] Message-ID: <20100613171813.GD21373@libertas.local.camdensoftware.com>
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----- Forwarded message from Chip Camden <sterling@camdensoftware.com> ----- On Jun 12 2010 18:39, Chad Perrin wrote: > On Sat, Jun 12, 2010 at 01:12:55PM -0700, Chip Camden wrote: > > > > Call me fatalistic, but I think there is a direct relationship between > > FreeBSD's high quality and it's lack of popularity. If it catered to the > > common herd, its compromises would be many. > > I believe there is such a relationship, too. I think the obvious way to > interpret this recognition of the relationship is as a causal > relationship where lack of popularity is what (helps/makes) FreeBSD > maintain higher quality, but I think that's mostly the wrong way around. > > Rather, it is the focus on quality over quantity that keeps it > "unpopular" (relative to other OSes, anyway). I also believe that is the > correct decision, without reservation. There are things that could be > done to improve FreeBSD's suitability and attractiveness to a wider > audience without sacrificing that focus on quality at all -- that could, > in fact, improve that attractiveness while serving the focus in quality. > Such things tend to get neglected, though, and I think it is in part > because of a negative reaction to the idea that populism involves > sacrifices of quality. > > Popularity, per se, does not result in poorer quality. Populism, > however, does -- and both greater popularity *and* a desire for greater > popularity can create populism. Note that I'm using the term "populism" > in a pejorative, apolitical sense, and not in the sense of advocacy for > the rights of the people, et cetera. > > Anyway . . . for my OS of choice (FreeBSD at the moment), I'd much rather > err on the side of elitism and quality than on that of egalitarianism and > quantity. I just find the occasional statement (which I do *not* think > is what you were saying) that we should actively *avoid* popularity for > the sake of quality quite annoying. I just find the occasional statement > (which I do *not* think is what you were saying) that we should actively > *avoid* popularity for the sake of quality . . . well, I find it quite > annoying. > > -- > Chad Perrin [ original content licensed OWL: http://owl.apotheon.org ] I've become an advocate for FreeBSD -- I'd like to see many more people using it. But I have no illusions that it will ever reach the vast majority of computer users without being wrapped in a candy coating like OS/X. The real audience, I think, are the thousands of developers who could appreciate a system like FreeBSD but who have never been introduced to it. Sorry, meant to reply to the list. -- Sterling (Chip) Camden http://camdensoftware.com | http://chipstips.com | http://chipsquips.com ----- End forwarded message ----- -- Sterling (Chip) Camden http://camdensoftware.com | http://chipstips.com | http://chipsquips.com
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