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Path: sserve!manuel!munnari.oz.au!mips!mips!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!uwm.edu!ogicse!plains!tinguely@plains.NoDak.edu From: tinguely@plains.NoDak.edu (Mark Tinguely) Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd Subject: Re: Funding 4.4BSD Development Message-ID: <18729@plains.NoDak.edu> Date: 27 Jun 92 01:06:53 GMT References: <79@ampr.ab.ca> <1992Jun25.193518.3202@spcvxb.spc.edu> Sender: Unknown@plains.NoDak.edu Organization: North Dakota State University Lines: 32 Nntp-Posting-Host: plains.nodak.edu Let us all admit there is a want for support code -- be it from DEC, SunSoft, BSDI, etc. There is a need for BSDI-like support. As a personal thought, I wish it did not come at such a high price (a wedge between 386bsd and bsd386 forces). Previous BSD releases have not been free. The charge was nominal, but there was a charge. I think we paid $1000.00 for BSD 4.2 a long time ago; maybe a $400 (?) for the upgrade to 4.3. There was a small charge if we elected to go to Tahoe, and Reno. BUT IT WAS WORTH THE NOMINAL CHARGE! The important thing, is BSD was fixed base that we learned kernel and system techniques. I provided working utilities (that vendors were slow or unwilling to fix). It gave us source to customize our environment. I gave us the common ground to experiment. Some of the experiments worked, some did not. In the process, BSD gave Unix the features we see in "commercial" Unix. BSD MADE what Unix is today (even look at System V R4). Yes, the CSRG is made up of very talented individuals, and also there is many minds from across the country that contributed to BSD software. I think we need to finish BSD 4.4 by either purchasing the software or set a private fund. We also need to keep BSD software active. We need a common environment to do our research and our learning. Commercial software is too restrictive and not a common ground. If we fail to keep a research environment, Unix devolopement will only happen in big companies, and new features will be acquired by those with big money or cross-licenses agreements. I know what I am saying involves A TREMENDOUS amount of time and money. We are also looking a the future of Unix.