[Info-vax] systemd boycott call was: Re: Why so much Unix envy?

[wendellxe at yahoo.com]

On Tuesday, September 9, 2014 10:04:58 PM UTC-7, terry+go... at tmk.com wrote:
> > haven't liked the un-Unix-like evolution of Linux for some time, but 
> > moving away from it is generally unfeasible.
>
> I've been using FreeBSD for years and years...
> FreeBSD supports a reasonably large set of hardware...

I agree with you. To avoid confusion, I should specify server vs. workstation use. If I were only concerned with servers, I might just switch to *BSD. My comment regarding Linux was motivated by its prevalence in technical computing, where you have a much wider variety of hardware and a vast, Windows/Linux tool ecosystem.

I'm now even seeing systemd supporters saying that if you don't like it, you should just leave Linux and go to FreeBSD. But if your shop has a large knowledge investment in Linux, there is a natural reluctance to start supporting an additional OS.

There is another factor to consider regarding FreeBSD, which is the nature of the community. Why was FreeBSD with its cohesive development model and (initial) technical superiority so dramatically trounced by Linux in industrial acceptance? I believe a major factor was a pervasive "we are so special" attitude. (Not that Linux fanboys aren't bad.) Really, I can't hang out in a FreeBSD forum for long before getting the urge to distance myself. So, partly for the attitude and partly for the clean design, I'd rather go with OpenBSD. (Yeah, a bit of attitude there, too.)

Although comp.os.vms has its curmudgeons, it is relatively well focused on just getting work done and avoiding that sort of egotism.