*BSD News Article 56753


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From: bl03@uwrf.edu (BENJAMIN A LINDSTROM)
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc,comp.unix.advocacy
Subject: Re: Linux vs FreeBSD
Followup-To: comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc,comp.unix.advocacy
Date: 6 Dec 1995 00:36:34 GMT
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John S. Dyson (dyson@inuxs.inh.att.com) wrote:
: In article <49smvs$8gd@josie.abo.fi>, Mats Andtbacka <mandtbac@abo.fi> wrote:
: >Robert Sanders, in <87rayn8ion.fsf@interbev.mindspring.com>:
: >>On 2 Dec 1995 10:52:32 GMT, nickkral@parker.EECS.Berkeley.EDU (Nick Kralevich) said:

: >Actually, if I wanted to nitpick, not _every_ Linux kernel change
: >should go to Linus; for example, the ext2fs is maintained by Remy
: >Card, so patches to it should be sent to him. But yes, you're
: >essentially right.
: >
: That means that he has full and exclusive control, perhaps like a benevolent
: king.  Sure hope that he stays that way.  Note that on FreeBSD, someone who
: would have developed such an important part of the OS, would more than
: likely have direct CVS commit access.
: 
Hmm..Where do you get "King" and "Exclusive" access from that statement?
Are you saying that if I fixed person A's XYZ driver that I could submit
the patch to FreeBSD and avoid person A??   If this is the case then I
can for-see many arguements and problems.  Remy Card maintians the EXT2FS
file system...You can submit patches to him..which in-turn get submitted
to Linus..If Remy looks at your patch and feels that you are on the right
track, but you missed a few things (Since he more then likely knows the
source code like the back of his hand.=).  He might rewrite to make sure it
works the way it should.

: >Out of interest, what happens if I develop something completely new
: >for FreeBSD, some driver never seen before; with Linux, I could just
: >proclaim myself its developer/maintainer, send it to Linus and hope
: >it gets into the kernel. Who approves new stuff into FreeBSD?
: >
: It is a complicated question, but rather than having to convince 1 out of 1
: person on Linux -- on FreeBSD you have to convice 1 out of 10 or so kernel
: people to champion your kernel change.   It is almost always reviewed, and
: usually it is accepted.  You see, FreeBSD is not meant to be 'owned' by anyone
: in particular, and the FreeBSD maintainers (including core team) are
: developers AND caretakers.  We do have much open discussion on the mailing
: lists when conflicts arise -- I think that one of the reasons that there
: have been comments about the adversity on *BSD, because we are so open. 
: 
Acutally.=)  Linus is moving Linux to a Module system..So unless the 
driver/addition is not fit to be an Add-on module,  then you have to
'convince' Linus to include it.  

: Bottom line, I think in this thread we have shown that FreeBSD is at least
: as open as Linux, and I essentially agree that it is folly to beg the
: question any farther.
: 
I agree it's pointless to argue more.=)