What's going on with Linux - Rant incoming!

#FreeBSD #OpenSource #Unix #garyhtech #2023

I need to get my thoughts about the state of Linux off my chest!

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00:00 Intro
00:16 Start of Rant
03:08 Middle of Rant
06:15 End of Rant
08:03 Outro

[cjennings]

Here's my experience: I started with Linux in early 1999 on Red Hat 6 -- before there was a Fedora or RHEL. It was a revelation. No one understood why I loved it so much: wifi was a pain, not all hardware was supported, there was plenty I didn't understand. But it was MINE and I had fun learning how to change the code to improve it for my use. Over the years, I moved to Debian, Arch, and most recently FreeBSD.

What matters to me is stability, security, and a good looking modern UI. Yes, UIs are important enough that I assembled a DWM-based desktop experience I love, and it moved right over from Arch to FreeBSD with minimal changes. Now I feel like I've come full circle. My friends don't understand my love for FreeBSD. The wifi is a pain (though I just found wifibox!), not all hardware is supported, and not everything translates cleanly from Linux. But just in the few months I've moved over, I've learned some things about operating systems, file systems, virtualization, and security. And that, in turn, makes me a better engineer.

I appreciate the videos, Gary! Many have been useful in the transition. Thank you!

[bobbuilder]

I love the fact that FreeBSD provides a blank slate out of the box as most of the time I don't want a GUI, but I do think there needs to be some progress made towards a standard desktop experience that users can optionally install. Installing straight to a working desktop with video, sound, Wi-Fi, network browsing etc. would greatly improve the appeal of the OS.

[lingux_yt]

5:15
I tend to agree with you. but when I tried BSD for the first time, I spend hours trying to mount a disk. I really think that that should be straightforward. maybe I didn't read enough, but still

love your channel 😁😁

[leonmerts]

I made the switch from Windows (10) to FreeBSD around the end of februari 2020. I don't see myself ever moving back. FreeBSD has all I need and I can customize almost everything I want. It wasn't easy and help was needed alot. Good thing there are enough people (like yourself) to explain and show things to make it easier.

[arturorochoa]

I used both Gentoo Linux and Arch Linux. What both have in common is that the documentation for the respective distros are easy to understand. Using Linux and GNU is comfortable. I don’t know ALL the commands, but if I had to choose between a Linux or a FreeBSD system to use, I mostly choose Linux

[donaldmickunas]

I started in the Linux world with Mandrake Linux. Today, I’m using FreeBSD and giving Void Linux a go, . FreeBSD, for me, is closer to the Unix philosophy that I prefer than Linux is today. Linux seems to be gradually changing into another Windows/Apple type of OS. I’m not into ricing my system either. I spend most of my time in a terminal and a browser. Anyway, I like the occasional rant video because it gives me a better idea who the “ranter” is. Get some rest and relax.

[MrWarneet]

I'm still using Ghost for the ease of deployment - far too lazy to build a FreeBSD system.. lol

[keyboard_g]

I don’t think gnome changing customisation for a consistent ui has chased developers to Windows. Maybe to KDE, but even that is doubtful.

I know several developers who develop for and deploy to linux who use MacOS for their base computer, but that has more to do with even more polish and integration.

[MrR]

Totally agree and god bless you. Your positive is fresh air in this world

[Daggenthal]

Y'know what man, I've used Windows for 23 years as I grew up with it, Linux since 2011 during High School when I found out about it, and became proficient enough that I wanted something "Unix based that was widely supported". Now, I could've stuck with Linux as it's extremely easy nowadays, especially to use as a desktop and a gaming machine, but I had always wanted to learn macOS, as I couldn't say that I am proficient enough in all of the major OS's until I got hands on with Apple's macOS and learned its ins-and-outs.

Sure, it's limited in things that you can do compared to Linux, as to Windows, but disregarding the astronomical prices they charge for their hardware and software while locking down their OS in some regards, it's become something I've personally rather enjoyed so much using. A bunch of my usual Unix commands run under-the-hood, and since I've used Linux for so long with tinkering as a child and now as an adult, I'm able to easily adapt to new changes and ways of thinking.

I've been using my M1 Max MBP for almost a year now, and I've got to say, it's easily become my favorite machine. There's things that Windows does differently than Linux, things that Linux does differently than macOS + Windows, and things that macOS does differently than those as well, but for what I use it (macOS) for, it does it all wonderfully for me. What matters most is that we use the right tool for the right job. I use RHEL / Debian for my servers, and have been learning FreeBSD as well on the side. Windows for gaming even though I can use Linux, and macOS for video-editing + remoting into my machines to perform tasks for my job. Gaming on Linux has become much easier than it was back in 2011, when I had to tinker with my own hardware and Kernels to get specific things running, and even back then I had moments where I gave up because of your usual WiFi issues, but I always came back and worked on it and improved my knowledge.

Sure, I can use Linux as my main Desktop, and I did since 2011 up until last year when I changed over to macOS to learn their way of doing things, but I don't game as much as I used to nowadays. After many years of tinkering with hardware and software, and although it all has gotten drastically better now and I am so glad we've progressed this far and will continue to do so, these years of experience in my life has just led me to use the right tool for the job. I don't have one OS that I prefer to the others, as I'm capable and now freely able to work around in all of them, and I'm no hardcore "fanboy" of one over the other, as Linux will always hold a special place in my heart alongside the others-- but it all comes down to a few things; Just use whichever you're most comfortable with, while continuing to learn how the other sides operate and tinker, and although Windows may be incorrect in certain areas as macOS is in some, as is Linux.

We must continue to strive and learn, not being beholden to one side against the others, and try to see things from other points of views, as that's how we progress together.

[Felix-vehs]

5:08 Any examples? I my experience I almost never had to really do much of anything to set up FreeBSD, even installing is much easier than any other OS I know :/

[tonypowell]

I have been planning to get off MS windows for YEARS, decades in fact. I have now the time to do it. Free BSD is where I'm going. I just never liked the controlling aspects of Windows etc.

[DV-mlfm]

I feel the same. I don't care for fancy themes or eye candy desktops. I have a basic i3wm setup. I use the terminal about 90% of the time. My gui usage is mostly Firefox and the Chrome browser.

[simonhuang]

Although I am just a beginner into the world of FreeBSD and Linux, I really appreciate how these things can customize to my needs without all the unnecessary things for me

[JoeyXie]

I have always been trying to use freebsd, but several things stopped me, lack of wifi6 support, no vscode, no docker

[WINTERTAX]

You have nothing to apologize for! Rant on, brother! I thought what you had to say was pretty interesting. And you probably felt better blowing off some steam. Best wishes to you and your family, I hope your daughter is OK.

[derekr]

I am happy using either a BSD derivative or a Linux Distro, I am not bothered about the fact that I should pick one or the other. I have used Windows and Mac and they have their good points but I have not used either for many moons. I am happy with free OS'es and as long as I can do what I enjoy on them so be it. I always enjoy your videos Gary and look forward to the next.

[kztuptuo]

Things you said should be obvious, yet we live in a weird times and a society in which it sounds like some shock therapy truth bombs.
My only problem with linux is a fragmented community of adult spoiled demanding emotional" kids" that gives nothing in return.
I love bsd people for being professional in process of helping others and when they ask for help.
My only problem with bsd is im not good enough with it to perform custom installation by bootstrapping the system without using installer.
Free bsd installer great for quick basic installation and that is great.
Yet if you want information how to install system in full manual nerd mode, then finding info on a subject is not a trivial task. Yet it is possible if you want it.

[bertnijhof]

I love the GUI, I used Job Control Language (main frames) and the terminal (16-bits minis) from 1969 till around 1993, when I started using Windows for Workgroups 3.11. Since that time I love the GUI, I don't have to remember all those effing commands and their syntax. On my desktop I run a minimal install of Ubuntu 22.04 with OpenZFS. I moved all my apps to specialized Virtualbox VMs (4x Linux; 2x Windows; XP and 11). I also use FreeBSD 13.2 on my 32-bits backup server and there I use mostly the terminal with OpenZFS.

My oldest VM is installed and activated in March 2010 and it is Windows XP Home and I still use it weekly to play the wma copies of my LPs and CDs with WoW and TrueBass effects. I love some old VMs. That is, why I also use Ubuntu 16.04 ESM (encrypted) for my banking with the latest stable snaps of Firefox and LibreOffice. I intend to use it till the end of the ESM (Extended Security Maintenance) in 2026.

[retroshack]

My first venture into *Nix was on a Sun Ultra 10 “Creator 3D” running Solaris, also had a dabble with a Silicon Graphics Indigo (Elan 4000) running IRIX. Since then I’ve used various Linux flavours, these days I’m predominantly using FreeBSD for servers and as my daily driver, FreeBSD is a great O.S.