*BSD News Article 88053


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From: "Kueh, Anthony" <kueh@students.uiuc.edu>
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.misc,comp.os.linux.networking,comp.os.linux.setup,comp.unix.bsd.bsdi.misc,comp.unix.bsd.misc
Subject: Re: Linux vs BSD
Date: Sat, 1 Feb 1997 04:12:13 -0600
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
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On Sat, 25 Jan 1997, Kevin P. Neal wrote:

> And Linux isn't fragmented?

Not nearly as fragmented as the various BSD's. All Linux distributions 
contain the same free code. (Redhat and Caldera are exceptions, where 
they do include some licensed code, but you're still able to install a 
totally GNU system.) The only differences are which GNU programs are 
included, and where the system configuration files are located (the most 
distinctive is the /etc/rc.d hierarchy.)

> How many Linux distributions are there? 

I think about 4 major ones. But if you look at the four, they could still 
be considered "siblings". Where as if you compared FreeBSD, BSDI, 
and OpenBSD, they have more differences, especially on a philosophical 
view point. For example, BSDI is created to more on the level of other 
major Unixes (to provide a reliable and stable network server). Where as 
FreeBSD is to provide a desktop workstation type OS.

I'm sure Linux also has some general philosophy behind it, but the thing 
with both BSD and Linux is that how well the system works really depends 
on the administrator, not the software.

> When somebody has a Linux problem, and the first question asked of
> them is "which distribution", then you have a fragmented system.

Actually, they're first asked, "What is the problem?"

Just for all those BSD advocates out there.. if BSD is so much more 
superior than Linux, how come someone bothered to make Linux binaries 
executable on FreeBSD?

-Tony

+------------------------------------------------------------+
 Anthony Kueh              Department of Computer Sciences
 kueh@uiuc.edu             Univ. of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign

 Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test 
 a man's character, give him power.       -- Abraham Lincoln
+------------------------------------------------------------+