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Path: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au!newshost.anu.edu.au!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!simtel!zombie.ncsc.mil!news.mathworks.com!gatech2!news.sprintlink.net!helena.MT.net!nate From: nate@trout.sri.MT.net (Nate Williams) Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc,comp.unix.advocacy,comp.unix.misc,comp.unix.pc-clone.32bit Subject: Re: Linux vs FreeBSD Date: 15 Nov 1995 00:28:22 GMT Organization: SRI Intl. - Montana Operations Lines: 57 Message-ID: <48bc76$ma9@helena.MT.net> References: <489kuu$rbo@pelican.cs.ucla.edu> <48ajue$3h6@muirwood.convex.com> Reply-To: "Nate Williams" <nate@sneezy.sri.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: trout.sri.mt.net Xref: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au comp.os.linux.advocacy:27435 comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc:8999 comp.unix.advocacy:11051 comp.unix.misc:19517 comp.unix.pc-clone.32bit:8849 In article <48ajue$3h6@muirwood.convex.com>, Larry Daffner <ldaffner@news.eng.convex.com> wrote: [ Thanks for answering the question, but a bit of confustion arises ] >2) UNIX model - There are essentially 3 main flavors of UNIX. POSIX, >BSD and SysV. Actually, POSIX isn't a flavor but a standard. There are really only 2 flavors, BSD and SysV. > They're very similar, but they vary slightly, mostly in >programming models. If you're not going to do any programming, this >is probably not an issue either. FreeBSD tends toward the BSD model >where they differ, so if you're familiar with SunOS4.x or some other >BSD-style UNIX, you might be more comfortable on FreeBSD. Yep. > Linux tends towards POSIX, which is more SysV-ish. Nope, Linux tends towards SysV. Both FreeBSD and Linux tend towards POSIX, and strive to maintain POSIX compatability except where it makes no sense. POSIX is just a model, so saying the Linux is 'flavored' towards POSIX is not necessarily correct. FWIW - Both DEC's OpenVMS and M$'s WNT are both 'POSIX' systems, and they don't even have a unix flavor. >3) Support/development model - FreeBSD is being developed by a more >closed group. Not necessarily any more closed. The main 'commits' to the tree are probably done by as many people as are done in Linux, but the kernel development isn't (mostly) controlled by one individual in FreeBSD, unlike Linux by Linus. >4) User base: from what I can tell, there's a LOT more Linux users out >there than FreeBSD users. So there's more people out there that might >be able to help if you run into a problem. Then again, depending on >how standard your hardware is, it might not be a problem. Too true, but the tide is shifting. Many 'new' users use Linux, but many experienced unix and former Linux users have been switching to FreeBSD. >So, look at which OS answers the questions above for you. Also >another consideration: Do you have friends who are FreeBSD or Linux >users? Ask them how they like their systems? This is the #1 question to answer. Use what other folks are using and you'll be a lot happier since you'll have someone to help you get started. Nate -- nate@sneezy.sri.com | Research Engineer, SRI Intl. - Montana Operations nate@trout.sri.MT.net | Loving life in God's country, the great state of work #: (406) 449-7662 | Montana. home #: (406) 443-7063 | A fly pole and a 4x4 Chevy truck = Heaven on Earth