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ReggaetonKing · Jan 30th, 2006, 10:54 PM

How is FreeBSD? Is it better than Linux? Do a lot of people have it?

Mocker · Jan 30th, 2006, 11:03 PM

That question is pretty open to opinion. I don't have much first hand experience with it, but I've heard it is pretty good at running servers, but not that good for most anything else.

It is pretty easy to run, it is easy to get files for it and it is pretty stable, but when it breaks, it really breaks.

Most of this is just what i've heard though, as for better?? You can't really do that comparison because they are not the same use. I wouldn't use FreeBSD for my desktop software, but I would probably want to use FreeBSD or Linux for my webserver.

OpenLoop · Jan 30th, 2006, 11:07 PM

It is certainly not for you reggaeton. Like Mocker said, it is best suited for servers.

ReggaetonKing · Jan 30th, 2006, 11:16 PM

Thank you OpenLoop! You saved me from 16 minute downloads of the .iso's!

a thing · Jan 31st, 2006, 12:18 AM

It's like what I think Gentoo is like (I've tried FreeBSD but not Gentoo). It's uber do-it-yourself and compiling friendly.

King · Jan 31st, 2006, 12:54 AM

FreeBSD from what I hear is more secure, but way less userfriendly. For home use Linux is better.. well in almost all situations Linux is better... it is not better then linux

nnxion · Jan 31st, 2006, 3:24 PM

FreeBSD is generally for servers and yes it's better than linux for that.

Lich · Jan 31st, 2006, 5:23 PM

I'm running FreeBSD for my file/web server, and there's a lot that I love about it.

* The ports system. Automatically dealing with dependencies makes installing software or updating very easy, much better than any linux distro I've used.
* Fast, fast, and fast. No extra bloat in the kernel or anywhere else, makes for a very efficient system
* Security. Keeps everything off by default, then you turn on only what you need to. Lots of secure options and such.
* Everything's a lot more straight forward. No run levels or anything like that.

But there's some things that a lot of people may not like...

* You have to configure everything manually. So unless you're already experienced in the command line, forget about.
* You have to manually configure X (unless you use PC-BSD). It can be quite a challenge at times if you're not already good at it. then, you have to figure out how to manually start kde/gnome/xfce or whatever. Which again, can be hard to find.

FreeBSD is awsome for what it does, and for servers I like it a lot better than linux. But because of application compataility and development, Linux is better for that. If you want to try the BSD waters, give PC-BSD a try, it does most of the configs for you, a lot like linux. So it's the most user-friendly BSD out there. http://www.pcbsd.org/

stevengs · Jan 31st, 2006, 5:35 PM

FreeBSD rocks. I love it. I run a webserver, a fileserver and a DNS server with it.. rock solid. I also have a workstation (KDE) with FreeBSD that I use for devel.
The portsystem was what originally sold me... I had been hassling with a LAMP setup with apache 2 and kept coming up with all sorts of dep problems on SuSE 7 (or so). It sucked. Then I installed FreeBSD 4.x.. and setting up a FAMP (and keeping it up to date) from the ports was a snap. Another thing I hated with the linux distros was the constant problem of finding config crap that each decides belongs elsewhere.. and the default installation destinations is always fun too. While I am sure things have gotten better since SuSE 7, I happily continue to stick with BSD.

DaWei · Jan 31st, 2006, 5:52 PM

The coding is superior. Whether or not the functionality suits you is a matter of personal opinion.

Jan 30th, 2006, 10:54 PM	#1
ReggaetonKing Sexy Programmer Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 891 Rep Power: 4	FreeBSD, lol How is FreeBSD? Is it better than Linux? Do a lot of people have it? __________________ I would love to change the world, but they won't give me the source code!

Jan 30th, 2006, 11:03 PM	#2
Mocker Hobbyist Programmer Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 223 Rep Power: 0	That question is pretty open to opinion. I don't have much first hand experience with it, but I've heard it is pretty good at running servers, but not that good for most anything else. It is pretty easy to run, it is easy to get files for it and it is pretty stable, but when it breaks, it really breaks. Most of this is just what i've heard though, as for better?? You can't really do that comparison because they are not the same use. I wouldn't use FreeBSD for my desktop software, but I would probably want to use FreeBSD or Linux for my webserver. __________________ #programmingforums relay - http://thegupstudio.com/cgi-bin/pforelay.cgi freelance scripts - http://ryanguthrie.com/index.html

Jan 30th, 2006, 11:16 PM	#4
ReggaetonKing Sexy Programmer Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 891 Rep Power: 4	Thank you OpenLoop! You saved me from 16 minute downloads of the .iso's! __________________ I would love to change the world, but they won't give me the source code!

Jan 31st, 2006, 12:18 AM	#5
a thing Unverified User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: none Posts: 146 Rep Power: 0	It's like what I think Gentoo is like (I've tried FreeBSD but not Gentoo). It's uber do-it-yourself and compiling friendly. __________________ Warning: My posts may change (dramatically) within the first 15 minutes they're posted. Got 'Nux?�GNU/Linux and other free software support. It's GNU/Linux, not just Linux.

Jan 31st, 2006, 12:54 AM	#6
King Professional Programmer Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 380 Rep Power: 3	FreeBSD from what I hear is more secure, but way less userfriendly. For home use Linux is better.. well in almost all situations Linux is better... it is not better then linux __________________ I am Addicted to Linux!

Jan 30th, 2006, 11:07 PM	#3
OpenLoop Expert Programmer Join Date: May 2005 Location: East Lansing, MI Posts: 663 Rep Power: 4	It is certainly not for you reggaeton. Like Mocker said, it is best suited for servers.

Jan 31st, 2006, 3:24 PM	#7
nnxion Programming Guru Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: elemental plane Posts: 1,429 Rep Power: 5	FreeBSD is generally for servers and yes it's better than linux for that. __________________ "Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings, so that you shall gain easily what others have labored hard for." -- Socrates

Jan 31st, 2006, 5:23 PM	#8
Lich Professional Programmer Join Date: May 2005 Location: Detroit Posts: 254 Rep Power: 4	I'm running FreeBSD for my file/web server, and there's a lot that I love about it. * The ports system. Automatically dealing with dependencies makes installing software or updating very easy, much better than any linux distro I've used. * Fast, fast, and fast. No extra bloat in the kernel or anywhere else, makes for a very efficient system * Security. Keeps everything off by default, then you turn on only what you need to. Lots of secure options and such. * Everything's a lot more straight forward. No run levels or anything like that. But there's some things that a lot of people may not like... * You have to configure everything manually. So unless you're already experienced in the command line, forget about. * You have to manually configure X (unless you use PC-BSD). It can be quite a challenge at times if you're not already good at it. then, you have to figure out how to manually start kde/gnome/xfce or whatever. Which again, can be hard to find. FreeBSD is awsome for what it does, and for servers I like it a lot better than linux. But because of application compataility and development, Linux is better for that. If you want to try the BSD waters, give PC-BSD a try, it does most of the configs for you, a lot like linux. So it's the most user-friendly BSD out there. http://www.pcbsd.org/ __________________ --John Cruz Web Developer www.cruzweb.net

Jan 31st, 2006, 5:35 PM	#9
stevengs Professional Programmer Join Date: May 2005 Location: Bad Nauheim, Germany Posts: 436 Rep Power: 4	FreeBSD rocks. I love it. I run a webserver, a fileserver and a DNS server with it.. rock solid. I also have a workstation (KDE) with FreeBSD that I use for devel. The portsystem was what originally sold me... I had been hassling with a LAMP setup with apache 2 and kept coming up with all sorts of dep problems on SuSE 7 (or so). It sucked. Then I installed FreeBSD 4.x.. and setting up a FAMP (and keeping it up to date) from the ports was a snap. Another thing I hated with the linux distros was the constant problem of finding config crap that each decides belongs elsewhere.. and the default installation destinations is always fun too. While I am sure things have gotten better since SuSE 7, I happily continue to stick with BSD. __________________ -Steven "Is this a piece of your brain?" - Basil Fawlty

Jan 31st, 2006, 5:52 PM	#10
DaWei Resident Grouch Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 6,453 Rep Power: 10	The coding is superior. Whether or not the functionality suits you is a matter of personal opinion. __________________ Abstraction doesn't make it impossible to write bad code; it makes it possible to write superior code. Contributor's Corner: Grumpy on C++ Exceptions DaWei on Pointers

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Programming Forums > Community Forums > Coder's Corner Lounge

FreeBSD, lol