*BSD News Article 85639


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From: "Jordan K. Hubbard" <jkh@FreeBSD.org>
Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc
Subject: Re: The only way to keep FreeBSD viable in competition with linux
Date: Wed, 25 Dec 1996 14:23:37 -0800
Organization: Walnut Creek CDROM
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Message-ID: <32C1A969.2781E494@FreeBSD.org>
References: <sehari.851369526@eng3.iastate.edu>
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To: "Babak $ehari" <sehari@iastate.edu>
Xref: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc:33143

Babak $ehari wrote:
> examples of these.  Therefore, those who care to keep FreeBSD alive
> should start thinking hard to ways to confront Linux head to head,
>
> [many points deleted, some good some bad]

I think you make some good points regarding certain types of boostership
we're lacking, and there should indeed be a large and active FreeBSD
user contingent which makes "evangelism" its #1 goal.  Such groups exist
now, though perhaps not as well-organized as they could be, and I'd
welcome anyone reading this message to get in touch with us via email
(freebsd-doc@freebsd.org being probably the most apropos mailing list)
if they're interested in serving in such organizational roles.

I disagree, however, that neglect in these areas alone would cause
FreeBSD to "fade away" as you say.  I think the market is far more
multidimensional than a lot of people see it and there is, in reality,
no such thing as "one UNIX market."  There are many existing and
potential UNIX markets, and they span a very wide spectrum of users.  It
would be folly to say that all of them respond to the same kinds of
product features or marketing techniques, and the fact remains that
Linux and FreeBSD are still VERY different products, regardless of what
code they may have in common.

Don't worry, we know what our strengths are and many of us are working
quite hard to play to those strengths.  The wheel goes not nearly so
unmanned as you might think.
-- 
- Jordan Hubbard
  President, FreeBSD Project