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Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc,comp.unix.advocacy,comp.unix.misc Path: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au!newshost.anu.edu.au!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!nntp.coast.net!chi-news.cic.net!news.midplains.net!gw2.att.com!nntpa!not-for-mail From: dyson@inuxs.inh.att.com (John S. Dyson) Subject: Re: Linux vs FreeBSD Message-ID: <DJ6L7r.8BG@nntpa.cb.att.com> Sender: news@nntpa.cb.att.com (Netnews Administration) Nntp-Posting-Host: inuxs.inh.att.com Organization: AT&T References: <489kuu$rbo@pelican.cs.ucla.edu> <49rm0g$o8o@daffy.anetsrvcs.uwrf.edu> <DJ2IBL.71t@nntpa.cb.att.com> <4a2nvk$m7h@daffy.anetsrvcs.uwrf.edu> Date: Wed, 6 Dec 1995 20:07:02 GMT Lines: 57 Xref: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au comp.os.linux.advocacy:29405 comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc:9891 comp.unix.advocacy:11790 comp.unix.misc:19875 In article <4a2nvk$m7h@daffy.anetsrvcs.uwrf.edu>, BENJAMIN A LINDSTROM <bl03@uwrf.edu> wrote: > >I admit that Linux is NOT CVS open to the public...But it's open to anyone >who wants to do it...Yes, we might have have source code release every hour >(well..A few times.=), but even if Linus openned up his CVS to everyone and >let everyone read it...I doubt he recompiles his kernel more then 2 a week. ><shrug> > Again, it is Linus' decision, or is there a group of people making the decision? > >: The approach used in FreeBSD has allowed for very quick development even >: in the face of the Net/2 thing and the slow start from 386BSD. I think that >: FreeBSD is really doing pretty well... > >Is FreeBSD any faster in development then Linux? (Honest question) From >that I've been seeing on the Linux side is there is a major release every >year, but it almost doubles the drivers that are contained in the >year befores version. The only differents from what it sounds like for >'speed' of development is FreeBSD freezes more offen and tries to get more >stable kernels out...Where Linux currently gets a kernel that is 100% (or >near..We all know about the 1.0.9 problems.=) perfect before moving on to >the next phase. Well, even though FreeBSD was slowed down by about 1 year (basically catching up the 2.x series to what the 1.x series could do.) -- it appears that it is doing pretty well. We had your 1.0.9 problems embodied in our 2.0 problems. Those problems set us back quite a ways -- but that was due to the Net/2 problem and we are recovering mightily. FreeBSD has not concentrated on drivers as much as it perhaps should, but the current stuff (equiv to the 1.3.xx series) has R/W EXT2FS, a faster yet VM system, ibcs2, linux binary support (BSDI Netscape doesn't have Java yet -- but Linux's does, and it works nicely under *BSD :-).) Also, FreeBSD has been quicker in some cases to get stable drivers that Linux has had trouble with. It is just that FreeBSD has been slow to adopt the less common or lower performance device support -- but it is coming. There are many individuals working to resolve those issues. The FreeBSD group feels that there is a lot of opportunity for the Linux user to graduate to FreeBSD when their systems and needs grow, so we will be supplying better and better compatibility with Linux. The biggest thing right now is that FreeBSD is great at providing performance under high load with stability. And that the FreeBSD development is proceeding at an increasing pace. The most important thing that Linux has ahead of FreeBSD is user base -- and that (in a capitalistic society) can be the whole story. :-(. But of course Microsoft has an even bigger user base, so it has to be the best :-). Note that some of the above could be considered flame bait, but remember if there was no *BSD -- Linux might have been the only real game in town. So, it just so happens that users have a choice and the various groups fortunately compete. John dyson@freebsd.org