Why FreeBSD and OpenBSD are tidy [GNU/Linux vs. BSD OS + coreutils]

I feel like my previous video didn't do the topic justice and there was a lot more I could have talked about. In this video, I briefly touch on some differences (and similarities) between core utilities (coreutils) on Linux and other POSIX compliant operating systems like the BSD's, Solaris, MacOS and so on.

You can install GNU/Free Software Foundation coreutils in FreeBSD if you want to like this: 'pkg install coreutils' (programs will have a g-prefix).

POSIX compliance is a lot more detailed than this - this is just touching on one of the most obvious standards criteria.

[Andrath]

The beauty of a BSD system is when you remove all the 3rd party packages (basically anything in ports), you still have something that boots. And even if it's borked, there's still /rescue (on FreeBSD at least, don't know about the others)

[remigoldbach]

Great Job !
The comparisons between implementation is interesting and means also a lot !

[heathriley]

For the Linux guys who say "Who cares?" . . . It is the same thing with the GPL. It matters to the people for whom it matters.

I prefer BSD's structure. It matters because it does.

Does it affect my job or performance? No. I just prefer it.

Does the GPL affect anything at the admin or dev level? No. Not really. It just makes them feel better about the licensing.

I started with CP/M and Xenix before DOS. Then -- shudder -- Irix. Only later, years later, did I get a taste of Linux with Yggdrasil Linux. Then Red Hat, Gentoo, Debian, Slackware, Arch, and so on.
I prefer OpenBSD, FreeBSD, then a tie between Fedora Mate and Ubuntu Mate, in that order, for desktops.
Ubuntu Mate has come a long way towards supplanting BSD on my home machines because it takes less thought to get to a good enough state. Fedora, it depends on the release version. Some are more stable/usable than the others.

Is Ubuntu better than the BSDs? No. Yes. Depends on what the goal is. OpenBSD is my number-one pick for a server. The built-in HTTPD server is perfect for most of my needs. The built-in OpenSMTPD, and OpenSSH servers are equally suited to everything I've needed to accomplish with a server. I wouldn't dream of doing the same with Ubuntu or Fedora. The whole mindset behind even their Server Editions just seems too 'frivolous' for lack of a better word. Too many changes without clearly documenting what the change is fixing or affecting, especially two or three dependency levels deep. Then I have to figure-out why updating this or that may or may not have made the Devs' Electon/RoR project start acting funky, or if they messed-up their own code-base with an accidental git transaction just prior to or sometime after the overnight updates.

Would I throw OpenBSD on any random laptop or desktop given to me for use? Well, yeah. I'd try it if I had time to play. But if I had work to get done, I'd grab the Fedora Workstation (Mate Spin) or Ubuntu-Mate thumb drive most likely, and just be done with it. I greatly appreciate the Tiling Window Managers, but I have too many hot-keys/macros/shortcuts in my brain to begin with. Plus, it's easier for when the CTO or CIO comes around and wants to see this or that. Management always wants to see something, especially when they're Windows Zealots.

I'm experimenting with the French Project "Isotop" for OpenBSD. It makes for a nice desktop, though it needs considerable tweaking -- for me -- to get rid of the French localizations and some of the random-seeming software they choose to install that I either don't like or more commonly just don't have a need for. The added bonus is that I have the same httpd server locally as on the actual servers, so testing is quick and effortless. I'm getting too old to "name my servers" anymore. They're cattle, not pets.

[nightwish]

I've been using linux for the past 10 years, and i agree with you :) but hey we all use what we are comfortable with, some use linux, some openbsd, some unfortunately use windows etc :)

[mhelmreich]

I noticed that there was a lot more comment lines on the GNU, and the OpenBSD has almost no comments.
If all comments were deleted, how many bytes would be in each, or how many lines would be in each.

[dusterdriven]

I have used many BSD and LINUX distro... I understand what you are saying but bsd doesn`t have NEAR the programs/apps that linux has.... unforunately at the present time, linux now has more programs than windows... it used to be the other way around. Microsoft Windows has been failing for a while but the more bsd and linux guys fight each other, the more MAC moves in.... I seriously believe the organization of linux needs to merge into linux... it wouldn`t be impossible.

[salparadise]

"Linux distributions are all POSIX compliant".
And them came the Poettering, and he looked and said, "POSIX schmosix", and took out his axe and began to set about chopping poor POSIX to pieces.

EDIT
I'm 80% switched to BSD, after 18 years of Linux use.
I'm enjoying using the pc again, instead of mindlessly distrohopping in order to feign and/or maintain interest.
Definitely felt like I was no longer in control of my computer.
But then I discovered BSD.
FreeBSD, everything built from ports.
A revelation.

[bashisobsolete.pythonismyn]

i started on slackware and its bsd-like config was a winning feature. but nothing beats the real thing!

*Technical Issues:*
your ultrawide QHD screencasts are beautiful but, they look completely fuzzy at lower resolutions. you might need to check the upload settings on YT.
additionally, please zoom your text a bit more for those of us watching on average gear. a good rule of thumb is a screen height of 30 rows. more than 30 looks small.

[nishanthshanmugham]

Worth noting that though most mainstream Linux distributions use ls(1) from GNU coreutils, not all distributions do. For example, some non-mainstream distributions use Busybox for core commands, so they have a smaller ls(1) implementation.

[Ranguvar]

Excellent video!

In general I prefer simplicity and code correctness, but GNU tools are often - though not always - very well optimized at least, in return for the complexity.

Busybox is also worth a look, as you can build a very powerful non-GNU stack with Linux, musl libc, clang, and busybox.

[dexternepo]

That was a great video! I just want to point out that Richard Stallman and team wrote the GNU system from the ground up to be POSIX compliant just like how OpenBSD has been rewritten as you have pointed out.

I've installed both Red Hat as well as OpenBSD. Installing Red Hat was as painful as surgery without anesthesia whereas OpenBSD was a complete joy.

[celestialadministration]

Make you way back man. Your were the guy that had people really looking into bsd. You brung stuff many slept on. Maybe it's just me.

[DevynCairns]

/bin and /usr/bin being separate is still a thing for many Linux distributions also, it's mainly Arch that started putting everything in /bin, and some others decided to start doing the same.

Usually Linux distributions treat /usr/local/bin a little differently though; package managers are expected to install non-core software into /usr/bin, and /usr/local is for things that the user has done on their own without a package manager.

[wjchivers]

A very interesting video, thank you. It is very hard to see how anyone could take offense to what you say, you are very diplomatic.
Do you think that OpenBSD is easier to set up on a laptop (read: Thinkpad) than FreeBSD?

[michaelchalupiak]

Great video and all, but mate you know you can go to the bottom of a document with G in vim right?

[bashisobsolete.pythonismyn]

those developers must be very skilful, disciplined, patient, attentive and creative. my mind boggles how they produce a complete system that keeps getting better and keeps getting it right. the kind of system that could protect a whistleblower or a chinese dissident. i feel genuine admiration for those guys.

[ucnguyenvan]

is BSD for beginner ? I want to try it for learn programing. Thanks very much

[Supervideo]

Intriguing... I might try FreeBSD one day.

[ImageJPEG]

I love that there are separate update utilities for the system and packages on FreeBSD. Same with OpenBSD but I don’t use that as a daily driver on my desktops and laptop.