Posted on 09/11/2011 8:47:53 AM PDT by Halfmanhalfamazing
FreeBSD provides a Linux binary compatibility layer that allows 32-bit Linux binaries to be natively executed on this BSD operating system. Linux binary compatibility on FreeBSD allows Linux-only applications to be executed in a near seamless manner on this alternative platform, even for games. New tests have revealed that the modern FreeBSD operating system (via PC-BSD 8.2) can actually outperform Linux when it comes to running OpenGL Linux game binaries.
This Linux binary compatibility support for FreeBSD is commonly referred to as "Linux emulation", but it is not emulating Linux in a traditional sense nor is it acting like Wine in user-space. This is a Linux ABI implementation for the FreeBSD kernel.
(Excerpt) Read more at phoronix.com ...
Been playing with Free BSD for a long time but also branched to Open BSD which is considered secure.
Could you summarize in lay language for non-techies?
Linux seems to be pretty good. It has finally come into its prime.
Running Ubuntu on my laptop right now and I love it.
Portions of BSD are used in the Apple OS X operating system. It is popular with the techie, software types.
It is even farther removed from the mainstream than Linux.
If you’re evaluating a game in terms of 3D graphics performance, Linux wins because of its superior support for graphics chipsets. The FreeBSD developers almost overwhelmingly are focused on disks & filesystems, networking, etc for work-related stuff, although they may be racing to catch up with new de-facto standards. FreeBSD people want a well-thought out environment that’s mostly BSD licensed, not restricted to a 500 clause GNU license. There’s a big variety of Linux distros that suck, but both OS’s rely on the huge library of ever-improving GNU software, and Linux has different priorities. Linux is ahead of the curve with small embedded platforms like cellphones (Android). iphones, etc have BSD code in them, but they aren’t FreeBSD.
I thought anything Apple was for non-techie geriatric hippy types. If they make up the mainstream, we’re screwed.
You obviously though wrong. Or maybe you just didn’t think.
Ha-rumph! to you, too.
Good point. Apple have certainly made it more mainstream. Still a small subset of overall PC platforms.
But what this article is referring to is BSD derived from Linux.
BSD derived from Linux seems like a folly to me. Nothing ever works as planned. Fun for the techie type — like building a Frankenstein. A cool idea but is it useful? And is it useful to mainstream folks.
Ha-rumph.? Who are you, Governor William J. Lepetomane?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN99jshaQbY&feature=related
The problem with FreeBSD are the Christian hating maggots who produce it.
It is an extremely efficient and stable OS, but I cannot stomach the people who developed it.
Whether an OS is “mainstream” anymore is rapidly becoming irrelevant in a world where most mainstream computer users are doing their most sophisticated computing with smartphones. You can make Linux or FreeBSD or even Windows work as a desktop OS, but Windows has almost all of the commercial software out there. Even then, most mainstream users are usually just web browsing, and that can be done with any OS that can run a decent (and for the most part free) web browser. The infrastructure that provides content for your web browser can be just about any decent OS, not necessarily a “mainstream” one.
Perhaps there will come a day when somebody can someone can take a perfectly functional Android phone on their Verizon/AT&T/tracfone plan and put a Linux/FreeBSD-based, completely open source OS onto it ...and still get it to work with whatever wireless broadband provider that they want to use.
Speaking about smartphones, has anyone come up with a “FreeRepublic” app yet? Think about it.
Besides, an OS is useless if you can't find drivers for your hardware. Linux was lame just a few of years ago but is now pretty well supported.
Right now Windows is out in the lead. Mac is in second. Linux is third. Unix in its various forms is probably in there somewhere with BSD in its raw form?... in last place.
Also, until they improve the UI for smart phones, a larger format will always necessary. I have an Android phone but by far prefer typing on this blog with my laptop. My thumbs are too fat! The Ipad is an attempt at a compromise. But it is still a compromise. Nothing like a full keyboard.
On the other hand, if I am a tech software type, I might enjoy it. But I am not.
Anyway, Linux is finally in its prime and an excellent free OS. Just as long as they don't mess with it which it appears they are doing. I hate the latest version of Ubuntu.
That is just my two cents.
Interesting idea.
I am using an Android.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.