Date: Wed, 4 Nov 1998 21:41:06 +0000 From: Nik Clayton <nik@nothing-going-on.demon.co.uk> To: Jeremy Lea <reg@shale.csir.co.za>, "Jordan K. Hubbard" <jkh@time.cdrom.com>, advocacy@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: On advocating FreeBSD and the Halloween memo... Message-ID: <19981104214106.45111@nothing-going-on.org> In-Reply-To: <19981103234933.A19042@shale.csir.co.za>; from Jeremy Lea on Tue, Nov 03, 1998 at 11:49:33PM %2B0200 References: <709.910110116@time.cdrom.com> <19981103234933.A19042@shale.csir.co.za>
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On Tue, Nov 03, 1998 at 11:49:33PM +0200, Jeremy Lea wrote:
> Something that really concerns me is the Linux advocates myth,
> perpetuated by this memo, that FreeBSD is a closed development project.
This is message I've been meaning to send out, but I haven't finished
it, and other things have got in the way. Should anyone want to pick
this up and run with it, please feel free;
==========================================================================
I'm thinking of putting together a 'FreeBSD Myths' web page, either on my
own site or as part of the FreeBSD site, to dispell some of the myths
about FreeBSD, particularly in relation to other OS's. This is prompted
(partly) by yet another posting on SlashDot from someone proclaiming
that Linux follows the Bazaar development model, while FreeBSD is
strictly Cathedral. I think there are a number of these myths out there,
and a page or two countering them is probably a good thing.
Possibly this might be better served as a 'Myths' section in the FAQ, but
I haven't got that far yet.
So I'm after myths about FreeBSD. Like the following.
Myth: FreeBSD's development model is 'closed'. Only a select few can
contribute code. It's 'Cathedral' style, where Linux follows
the 'Bazaar' model.
Reality: FreeBSD's development model is probably *more* Bazaar than
Linux's.
* The current, bleeding edge, source code for FreeBSD is
available for anyone to download, 24 hours a day. There's
no need to wait for someone to roll a release every few
days. You can use this source code in conjunction with
an existing system to stay up to date.
* A snapshot is automatically generated every 24 hours. This
snapshot can be installed in the same way as you would install
every other released version of FreeBSD.
* The CVS tree, with *all* versions of *every* file in the
FreeBSD codebase is available for anyone to download, 24 hours
a day.
* Anyone can submit patches, bug reports, documentation, and so
on, either from their FreeBSD machine or using a CGI program
on the FreeBSD web site. Anyone can view the current list
of these reports (and details) on the web.
* Becomming a committer (someone who can make changes to the
source tree without needing to submit a patch) typically
happens after you've submitted several good patches or shown
a willingness to work on an area of the system that's been
neglected. Much like Linux.
* There's a core team of 12 (?) people who have overall
architectural control of where FreeBSD is heading. Just like
Linus has overall control of the Linux kernel.
Myth: You can't make your own distributions or derivative works of
FreeBSD.
Reality: Yes you can. You just need to say in the documentation and source
files where the code is derived from (see the BSD license for
more details).
For example, PicoBSD is a tailored distribition of FreeBSD that
fits on a floppy. Great for turning a diskless 386 into a
router or network print server. Or look at the Whistle Interjet
(<URL:http://www.whistle.com/>) which uses FreeBSD as the
underlying OS in their 'network appliance'. Whistle have
contributed many of their enhancements back to the FreeBSD
codebase.
Myth: FreeBSD makes a great server, but a poor desktop machine.
Reality: FreeBSD makes a great server. It also makes a great desktop. The
requirements for a server (responsiveness under load, stability,
effective use of system resources) are the same requirements for
a desktop machine.
Myth: The BSD codebase is old, outdated, and dieing.
Reality: <fill this in: things like softupdates, the VM system, and so on>
Myth: You can't do clustering (parallel computers) with FreeBSD.
Reality: <fill this in>
Myth: There's no commercial support for FreeBSD.
Reality: <fill this in>
Myth: Linux is better than FreeBSD.
Reality: Mu.
Myth: FreeBSD is better than Linux.
Reality: Mu.
--
C.R.F. Consulting -- we're run to make me richer. . .
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