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Newsgroups: comp.os.386bsd.questions Path: sserve!newshost.anu.edu.au!munnari.oz.au!news.Hawaii.Edu!ames!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!wupost!csus.edu!netcom.com!gil From: gil@netcom.com (Gilbert Nardo) Subject: Re: Which is better ? Message-ID: <gilC7rFAD.80w@netcom.com> Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest) References: <3528@bigfoot.first.gmd.de> Date: Fri, 28 May 1993 23:15:48 GMT Lines: 54 First, I believe all of the unix-like open source code development efforts are excellent because they foster innovation and better use of current technology. Having said that, I would like to clarify some of the (misinformed) gripes that were leveled at SYS V-like systems, specifically at Linux. ats@bsd386.first.gmd.de (Andreas Schulz) writes: > In article <1u0u1h$jt6@umcc.umcc.umich.edu> lcd@umcc.umcc.umich.edu (Leon Dent) writes: > Why i want a BSD lookalike system over a system V lookalike system: > 1) I want long filenames, no fourteen character limit. Linux comes with file systems such as xiafs and ext2fs, which can handle filenames > 14 chars. > 2) I want symlinks, if i have space problems on one partition, i use > a symlink and put it into another partition. No please install > the whole system new, if you didn't know your space requirements > first. Linux has symlinks. > 3) I want the filename completion in the C shell. If i type some > characters in a name and than press escape, it should beep:-). There are several shells (ported to Linux) that have added useful extentions to both the standard C and Bourne shells. For example, bash (Bourne Again SHell) allows entering and editing history lines via emacs or vi key sequences (in addition to the bang ! char). > 4) I want functional network code, i had not seen a crash > from the network code. And i use the network heavily on this > machine. Linux is still catching up here. 0.99pl10 added more net-2 stuff. It still needs to be fully tested. > 5) And yes, the familiarity with the other BSD systems is nice, > i can compile more things from the NET on the 386bsd box than > on the new SOLARIS2.1 system on the SUN. GNU/X ports to Linux are relatively easier than other OS's (since the development effort uses these very same tools to build the system). > I have learned UNIX from Version 7, over System III and System V > Releases 1.0, 2.0, 2.1, 3.0 and SUNOS 3.3 ... 5.1. At one time > i had ported kernel parts and utilities on System V, and it > was nice to get the first SUN's and have a BSD system. If you > learned it, you miss it. > I don't know, how LINUX is, but i heard it is more the System > V direction, than the BSD direction, and thats the reason, > i had not tried it yet. I could not and would not try to sway you away from BSD, but at least I hope the information above lessens the fear for you about Linux. -- Gil Nardo | gil@netcom.com Migrant Computing Services | (415)664-1032 (voice) 1032 Irving Street, #435 |----------------- San Francisco, 94122 | Save the Universe: Stop Entropy Now!