LinuxQuestions.org
Share your knowledge at the LQ Wiki.
Home Forums Tutorials Articles Register
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Other *NIX Forums > *BSD
User Name
Password
*BSD This forum is for the discussion of all BSD variants.
FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, etc.

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 09-24-2015, 11:59 AM   #1
hitest
Guru
 
Registered: Mar 2004
Location: Canada
Distribution: Void, Debian, Slackware, VMs
Posts: 7,342

Rep: Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746
Question Is there anything you can't use BSD for?


I am curious if there's anything that you can't use BSD for.
I'll start. I use OpenBSD as a desktop for: e-mail, web browsing, ftp, web design, IRC, banking, youtube, and typing documents. I can't use OpenBSD for Netflix.
How do you deploy your BSD box? Do you run desktops, servers, or other appliances?

Edit: Added later.
The original thread title was "What do you use BSD for?" After reading some comments in the thread I decided to change the thread title to "Is there anything you can't use BSD for?"
Please feel free to list, discuss if there is any task that you are unable to do using BSD. I'd also like to know what you use your BSD box for. I'm hoping to get a wide variety of comments from desktop users, hobbyists, and BSD system administrators.

Last edited by hitest; 09-25-2015 at 10:20 AM. Reason: addition after valuable feedback
 
Old 09-24-2015, 12:15 PM   #2
rokytnji
LQ Veteran
 
Registered: Mar 2008
Location: Waaaaay out West Texas
Distribution: antiX 23, MX 23
Posts: 7,110
Blog Entries: 21

Rep: Reputation: 3474Reputation: 3474Reputation: 3474Reputation: 3474Reputation: 3474Reputation: 3474Reputation: 3474Reputation: 3474Reputation: 3474Reputation: 3474Reputation: 3474
As a teaching box for now. I am sure learning how to reinstall GhostBSD every-time I try something adventurous but wrongly applied since burning my first disk. I do not use it as a main box presently. I am lucky enough to do things like that.
 
1 members found this post helpful.
Old 09-24-2015, 05:54 PM   #3
Randicus Draco Albus
Senior Member
 
Registered: May 2011
Location: Hiding somewhere on planet Earth.
Distribution: No distribution. OpenBSD operating system
Posts: 1,711
Blog Entries: 8

Rep: Reputation: 635Reputation: 635Reputation: 635Reputation: 635Reputation: 635Reputation: 635
I single boot OpenBSD on a desktop I use as a home computer. So I use it for all normal purposes. Not for things like banking of course, which I never do over the internet.
 
1 members found this post helpful.
Old 09-24-2015, 07:47 PM   #4
frankbell
LQ Guru
 
Registered: Jan 2006
Location: Virginia, USA
Distribution: Slackware, Ubuntu MATE, Mageia, and whatever VMs I happen to be playing with
Posts: 19,321
Blog Entries: 28

Rep: Reputation: 6140Reputation: 6140Reputation: 6140Reputation: 6140Reputation: 6140Reputation: 6140Reputation: 6140Reputation: 6140Reputation: 6140Reputation: 6140Reputation: 6140
I'm running FreeBSD and PCBSD in VMs primarily for learning, but I've been using then, particularly FreeBSD, heavily for various desktop tasks, including visiting LQ here. I allocated the VMs lots of space so I could play freely in them.

I must say, the quality and thoroughness of the FreeBSD documentation is striking.
 
2 members found this post helpful.
Old 09-25-2015, 12:29 AM   #5
Randicus Draco Albus
Senior Member
 
Registered: May 2011
Location: Hiding somewhere on planet Earth.
Distribution: No distribution. OpenBSD operating system
Posts: 1,711
Blog Entries: 8

Rep: Reputation: 635Reputation: 635Reputation: 635Reputation: 635Reputation: 635Reputation: 635
I do not want this to appear insulting. It is simply an observation of appearances. The question in the OP has the appearance of being asked by a Linux user who is dabbling in BSD. It is like the questions posted on this board by Windows users who occasionally boot their dual-boot Linux systems asking if anyone here only uses Linux. The answers will be much different here than if the question were posted on a BSD forum.
 
Old 09-25-2015, 12:59 AM   #6
rokytnji
LQ Veteran
 
Registered: Mar 2008
Location: Waaaaay out West Texas
Distribution: antiX 23, MX 23
Posts: 7,110
Blog Entries: 21

Rep: Reputation: 3474Reputation: 3474Reputation: 3474Reputation: 3474Reputation: 3474Reputation: 3474Reputation: 3474Reputation: 3474Reputation: 3474Reputation: 3474Reputation: 3474
Well, because of this thread. It sparked interest in me to give dragonfly a try. sometime later on this weekend.

mainly

Quote:
I must say, the quality and thoroughness of the <snip> documentation is striking
So far. I seem to like their documentation (dragonfly) better than what I am using. You know. The one that froze hell.
 
1 members found this post helpful.
Old 09-25-2015, 02:00 AM   #7
astrogeek
Moderator
 
Registered: Oct 2008
Distribution: Slackware [64]-X.{0|1|2|37|-current} ::12<=X<=15, FreeBSD_12{.0|.1}
Posts: 6,263
Blog Entries: 24

Rep: Reputation: 4194Reputation: 4194Reputation: 4194Reputation: 4194Reputation: 4194Reputation: 4194Reputation: 4194Reputation: 4194Reputation: 4194Reputation: 4194Reputation: 4194
I run FreeBSD on a multi-boot machine with Slackware and Slackware64.

I installed it in order to learn a BSD to a good level of proficiency through actual use, instead of play.

I have felt right at home with FreeBSD from the start, with just a little extra attention required to make ports management as second nature as SBo package management under Slackware.

My actual uses of it so far has been as a database server (MySQL and PostgreSQL) for selected projects, and as primary development platform for a couple of in house C/C++ projects. But when booted for those uses it also becomes my desktop for the day with Fluxbox, Firefox, Thunderbird, TaskWarrior, etc... all synched to my Slackware machines. Not many bumps moving between them so far!

For most of my other C/C++ projects I now build them incrementally on the FreeBSD machine as well just to be sure I don't write anything that would be a problem. This is the extent of my cross-platform awareness, but very useful so far.

Quote:
Originally Posted by frankbell View Post
I must say, the quality and thoroughness of the FreeBSD documentation is striking.
I second that! It is the standard for others to aspire to!

Last edited by astrogeek; 09-25-2015 at 02:04 AM.
 
1 members found this post helpful.
Old 09-25-2015, 02:07 AM   #8
Randicus Draco Albus
Senior Member
 
Registered: May 2011
Location: Hiding somewhere on planet Earth.
Distribution: No distribution. OpenBSD operating system
Posts: 1,711
Blog Entries: 8

Rep: Reputation: 635Reputation: 635Reputation: 635Reputation: 635Reputation: 635Reputation: 635
Quote:
Originally Posted by rokytnji View Post
So far. I seem to like their documentation (dragonfly) better than what I am using. You know. The one that froze hell.
GhostBSD froze? If so, use the FreeBSD Handbook. Ghost and PCBSDs are FreeBSD pre-configured with a GUI and accompanying applications. Most of the information in the FreeBSD Handbook will be applicable to them also.
 
1 members found this post helpful.
Old 09-25-2015, 04:00 AM   #9
cynwulf
Senior Member
 
Registered: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,727

Rep: Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367
Quote:
Originally Posted by Randicus Draco Albus View Post
The question in the OP has the appearance of being asked by a Linux user who is dabbling in BSD. It is like the questions posted on this board by Windows users who occasionally boot their dual-boot Linux systems asking if anyone here only uses Linux. The answers will be much different here than if the question were posted on a BSD forum.
This is true enough. But this is a Linux site and there are only a handful of *BSD users frequenting this forum anyway - you and I are probably the most active. The rest are Linux users who use a *BSD as a hobby thing to play with as you say, but use Linux for day to day use.
 
Old 09-25-2015, 05:18 AM   #10
unSpawn
Moderator
 
Registered: May 2001
Posts: 29,415
Blog Entries: 55

Rep: Reputation: 3600Reputation: 3600Reputation: 3600Reputation: 3600Reputation: 3600Reputation: 3600Reputation: 3600Reputation: 3600Reputation: 3600Reputation: 3600Reputation: 3600
Quote:
Originally Posted by Randicus Draco Albus View Post
I do not want this to appear insulting. It is simply an observation of appearances. The question in the OP has the appearance of being asked by a Linux user who is dabbling in BSD. It is like the questions posted on this board by Windows users who occasionally boot their dual-boot Linux systems asking if anyone here only uses Linux. The answers will be much different here than if the question were posted on a BSD forum.
I agree. For those that use BSD intensively / professionally a question like "what do you not use BSD for?" could have been more interesting...
 
Old 09-25-2015, 08:01 AM   #11
hitest
Guru
 
Registered: Mar 2004
Location: Canada
Distribution: Void, Debian, Slackware, VMs
Posts: 7,342

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746
I asked the question to spark conversation, not to draw insults. I've used FreeBSD since 5.x. At your convenience I would appreciate it if a moderator would please close this thread.
 
Old 09-25-2015, 08:51 AM   #12
cynwulf
Senior Member
 
Registered: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,727

Rep: Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367
You've certainly sparked conversation - not sure why one post where no insult was intended has caused such a reaction? And how long someone has used FreeBSD isn't really relevant. I've come across people who have used their OS of choice for 10+ years and are still clueless about it and others who have pretty much mastered the basics in less than a month. I'm ok with the idea that there are kids who could learn stuff about OpenBSD in less than a week, which might take me 6 months -> never.

Randicus made a valid point in fact that there are Linux users who use a *BSD as a hobby or side project, but it never replaces Linux as their main OS. And it's correct to say that there are windows users who treat Linux in the same way.
 
1 members found this post helpful.
Old 09-25-2015, 08:57 AM   #13
hitest
Guru
 
Registered: Mar 2004
Location: Canada
Distribution: Void, Debian, Slackware, VMs
Posts: 7,342

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746
Quote:
Originally Posted by cynwulf View Post
You've certainly sparked conversation - not sure why one post where no insult was intended has caused such a reaction?
Point well taken. I'm likely reading too much into the comments. It is hard sometimes to determine the intent of a poster.
unSpawn, and other moderators please disregard my request for thread closure. Let us carry on.
 
Old 09-25-2015, 09:28 AM   #14
cynwulf
Senior Member
 
Registered: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,727

Rep: Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367Reputation: 2367
We have to remember the following:

1. *BSD operating systems are a base system only. The rest (e.g. ports/packages) is not the OS.

2. The ports system consists of software ported to that particular *BSD. Ports can be a combination of POSIX compliant type code - i.e. the stuff that 'should just build and run' - and other code - i.e. stuff which is coded with Linux in mind, which requires actual 'porting'. But that's an oversimplification.

3. *BSDs are really targeted at servers and other devices. The code is there for people to use - anyone - none of the four main BSD derived projects are focused on putting together fancy desktop systems for x86 users.

4. The *BSDs have nothing like the level of hardware vendor support and contribution that the Linux kernel has.

5. *BSDs have nowhere near the amount of closed source software developed for them compared with Linux.

With this in mind there are going to be a lot of things you can't do, which you will need another OS for. Some of us get by or find alternatives, some don't.

So yes, it's more interesting in a way to know what people can't do as opposed to what they actually do use it for.
 
2 members found this post helpful.
Old 09-25-2015, 09:39 AM   #15
hitest
Guru
 
Registered: Mar 2004
Location: Canada
Distribution: Void, Debian, Slackware, VMs
Posts: 7,342

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746Reputation: 3746
Quote:
Originally Posted by cynwulf View Post
With this in mind there are going to be a lot of things you can't do, which you will need another OS for. Some of us get by or find alternatives, some don't.

So yes, it's more interesting in a way to know what people can't do as opposed to what they actually do use it for.
Good points, cynwulf. I've changed the thread title and my initial post to reflect the new topic.
 
  


Reply



Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
LXer: FreeBSD/PC-BSD 9.1 Benchmarked Against Linux, Solaris, BSD LXer Syndicated Linux News 0 12-19-2012 06:31 PM
LXer: PC BSD 8.0 release made BSD much easier for desktop use | Installation and scre LXer Syndicated Linux News 0 02-26-2010 08:30 AM
PC BSD, Open BSD, or Free BSD ? Alexvader *BSD 5 02-08-2010 12:40 AM
Video For BSD --- New project to develop V4L compatible drivers for BSD Fritz_Katz *BSD 5 07-19-2008 11:53 PM
LXer: PC-BSD : A user friendly BSD flavor geared for the desktop LXer Syndicated Linux News 0 02-04-2006 03:01 PM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Other *NIX Forums > *BSD

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:26 AM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration