FreeBSD in 2022, is it usable ? reddit / freebsd ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [deleted] · 2022-08-05 21:56 [deleted] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- lenzo1337 · 2022-08-05 22:04 I mean it's pretty stable, as long as you don't start purposely trying to make it fail. As for it being hard to install, not at all. The handbook literally "holds your hand" through the installation onto hardware. hardware is the tricky part, mostly just if you're needing strange esoteric pcie devices or newer wifi/blutooth connectivity. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Xarix-_ · 2022-08-05 22:07 Luckily I don't need any of that. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Morris_Mulberry · 2022-08-05 22:19 You're asking if FreeBSD is any good in a FreeBSD community. What sort of answers do you think you're going to get? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DerekB52 · 2022-08-05 22:21 I first installed FreeBSD in 2016. It works fine. Totally useable. I personally don't use it though, because I like to game, and gaming on FreeBSD just isn't up to par with Linux Gaming. I really want to take a deeper dive into FreeBSD and daily drive it though. I'll probably set it up in a VM at some point. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- BigBoyLemonade · 2022-08-05 22:23 How long ago is that memory? I’ve been using FreeBSD since version 4 and it’s been the most stable OS I’ve ever used. I can’t even think how you could have made it unstable except for user error. The challenge with earlier FreeBSD versions was compiling all software from ports or source rather than using packages. This made things more stable and higher performing but more time consuming to maintain a system. Another challenge was a lot of software was ported over from linux and not supported but that has changed dramatically and most major software is supported with a dedicated FreeBSD package and better Linux compatible libraries. If I have to build a system that needs to be high performing, secure and reliable I will always choose FreeBSD but that said you can’t commonly hire people with FreeBSD so Linux remains the common OS choice purely as most people can manage it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Xarix-_ · 2022-08-05 22:24 🤦‍♂️ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DazedWithCoffee · 2022-08-05 22:31 More usable than ever, gets better every day, just in smaller, more careful increments ---------------------------------------------------------------------- GreenMan802 · 2022-08-05 22:39 Of course FreeBSD is "usable" in 2022. It's been "usable" since I started using it in the 1990s. I've used it for desktops, servers, NAS (FreeNAS), Plex server, router (pfSense), and more. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Morris_Mulberry · 2022-08-05 22:44 Sorry if that came off as snippy haha, I just mean to say that likely every response is going to be a more verbose rewording of "it's great!". It's perfectly usable as a desktop, but do know that gaming is more complicated than in Linux/Windows because of a lack of native Steam if you're planning on using the system for gaming. I love FreeBSD for storage because of native ZFS support, and it makes a lovely router/firewall OS too. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- vermaden · 2022-08-05 22:46 It definitely is. These may help: - https://vermaden.wordpress.com/2022/04/14/freebsd-13-1-on- thinkpad-w520/ - https://vermaden.wordpress.com/freebsd-desktop/ Some reasons why FreeBSD is a good choice: - https://vermaden.wordpress.com/2020/09/07/quare-freebsd/ Regards. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [deleted] · 2022-08-05 22:54 [deleted] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DiamondHandsDarrell · 2022-08-05 23:21 Kind of a strange question in regards to stability? Years of operating without a reboot hasn't been a problem. The only issues I've had are compatibility. Laptops or random hardware that may not be mainstream. You'd want to check their docs for compatible devices. Even then I've found a work around for just of them (e.g. Brightness keys or audio issues). Otherwise it's a very stable system. I run it on servers, pc, and laptops. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- UnusualRelative8251 · 2022-08-06 01:27 Wrong question. FreeBSD is not intended to be a desktop operating system and installing on a laptop is asking for disappointment. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- edthesmokebeard · 2022-08-06 01:47 Can you explain how FreeBSD or a Linux distro would be less secure than OpenBSD on a laptop? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- reformedyankee · 2022-08-06 02:26 I wrote my college thesis on a FreeBSD machine? Maybe version 5. ​ ...Christ I'm old. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- David_W_ · 2022-08-06 05:09 > Maybe version 5. > ...Christ I'm old. My first Unix was FreeBSD 2.0.5 as a college freshman, you whippersnapper! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- nickbernstein · 2022-08-06 05:50 https://www.freebsd.org/releases/13.1R/hardware/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- chesheersmile · 2022-08-06 05:50 I'm yet to see an OS that is easier to install, and I'm a distrohopper all right. FreeBSD has the most user-friendly and simplest installer, in my opinion. You don't need to do anything obscure even if you want to go for FDE. As for stability, that must be a joke. BSD systems are stable as rocks. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- chesheersmile · 2022-08-06 05:53 Well, I use it on my main working laptop and feel great about it. It does just what I need and always capable of something more. I must be doing something wrong. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DrRedmondNYC · 2022-08-06 06:04 Eh I thought Linux was way easier to install. My first attempt installing FreeBSD on a VM was a little rocky. Between the editing configuration files in that strange text editor and then having to install the GUI manually it's def not simple. Compare that to say Ubuntu or Linux Mint which you can use as a desktop/laptop OS as soon as you install it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DrRedmondNYC · 2022-08-06 06:05 Why not ? If people want a stable OS that never crashes I feel like FreeBSD is the way to go. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- chesheersmile · 2022-08-06 06:26 Well, you might need to edit some configuration files to fine tune your OS to your needs. You'd have to do that on Linux as well. But we're not talking about tuning, we're talking about installation procedure. When you have working system, installation is complete. And I think that getting a working system is much easier on FreeBSD than even on Linux Mint or Manjaro. As for GUI, "pkg install xorg xfce" is dead simple to me. BSDs are a living example of a principle "less is more". When I have to use some mainstream Linux distro, most of the time I think: "Ok, what the hell is this and how do I get rid of this?" Because they are full of some preinstalled software you'll have to figure out. Not to mention unpredictable behavior like "Ooops, looks like I have btrfs and KDE baloo is conflicting with it and starting to eat my disk space as we speak". FreeBSD gives you simple and straightforward way to get a working setup that doesn't act strange. You don't need to do anything obscure to get there. Just simple commands like "please, computer, I need Xorg and some nice DE, if you will". P.S. I'm not going to throw rocks at Linux per se, I use it everyday. I'm just saying that simplicity is a strange thing. You can install FreeBSD practically by pressing "Next". And when you need to tailor it to your needs, you can just open Handbook, find a particular chapter, read and run a couple of simple commands like already mentioned "pkg install xorg xfce". I think, it's simple enough. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [deleted] · 2022-08-06 06:34 [deleted] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- setwindowtext · 2022-08-06 07:39 With Ubuntu you click Next, Next, Next, and get a perfectly functioning and stable desktop that you can use immediately for being productive, i.e. _doing work_. You don’t have to know anything about baloo fighting against btrfs, because the default ext4 just works. It’s the power of Linux — for once you are getting a [almost] viable substitute for Windows. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- setwindowtext · 2022-08-06 07:41 OpenBSD security is an urban legend. And since I’m going to get downvoted anyway, Windows insecurity is the one, too. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- setwindowtext · 2022-08-06 07:57 It depends on your use case. If you use it as a desktop at work, your employer likely won’t approve it, and that would be the end of it. If you use it as a desktop at home, you will probably be disappointed with the out-of-the-box experience, but if you persevere, you can tweak it to the point where it works as good as a mainstream Linux distro, provided that all of your hardware is supported. If you use it for home NAS, some home automation, recreational programming, reviving old hardware, learning the basics of operating systems design, or other hobby use cases — it will be the perfect choice. If you use it on the server, then I believe that it has a specific niche, which I’ve never seen myself. For example, I’ve never seen it used in the cloud (AWS documentation doesn’t even mention it), no containers = no modern SaaS deployments, etc. But it looks like it is used on the infrastructure layer somewhere, even though all network appliances I’ve seen in the wild ran something proprietary based on Linux. Source — I’ve served 450 AWS customers, with ~30K EC2 instances, none of which ran FreeBSD. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- _w62_ · 2022-08-06 08:03 [In this video](https://youtu.be/w6oGeTm95no), the executive director of FreeBSD foundation is doing a presentation with FreeBSD running in a VM on a Mac. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- kyleW_ne · 2022-08-06 08:53 FreeBSD is capable as a desktop/laptop workstation. Some things it has going for it is minor releases like 13.1, 13.2 etc can't break backwards compatibility. Meaning that it is rock solid stable. The installer gives you the easiest way to a FDE setup of any OS I've ever installed, mirrored or with Z raid if you want it! The only downside is much like Arch Linux or Gentoo you will be left with a terminal only environment after install, no gui. You have to add Xorg and probably a graphics driver for modern systems and tell it to start at boot. So no integrated Xorg like with OpenBSD. Handbook is rock solid documentation. I love FreeBSD and OpenBSD currently rocking a Chromebook because of ease of use but still have a desktop that boots OpenBSD and FreeBSD for when I need the horsepower. In my opinion you can't go wrong with either OpenBSD or FreeBSD. Why are you sure you don't need the security on a laptop that OpenBSD provides? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Xarix-_ · 2022-08-06 09:10 Oh okay I see ! Sorry 😅 I wondered more if it was just a hobby OS or something for daily use. (Both fall into the "great" category but differently) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Diligent_Ad_9060 · 2022-08-06 10:50 What limitations did you run into with OpenBSD and what expectations would you have of a FreeBSD desktop? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- VastAd1765 · 2022-08-06 11:45 Every single time someone comes here talking about their struggles with installing or configuring FreeBSD you'll find they didn't use the Handbook. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- VastAd1765 · 2022-08-06 11:47 You need to ask Netflix and WhatsApp how they feel about it as a hobby OS. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- VastAd1765 · 2022-08-06 11:50 And then you live with what Ubuntu gives you. FreeBSD gives you a base OS which lets you install what you want. No fighting with UFS or ZFS. It just works. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- VastAd1765 · 2022-08-06 11:50 I will immediately uninstall it from the two laptops I've used for years based on your comment. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- VastAd1765 · 2022-08-06 11:54 >I’ve never seen it used in the cloud (AWS documentation doesn’t even mention it) [FreeBSD on AWS](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview- ukzmy5dzc6nbq) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [deleted] · 2022-08-06 11:56 [removed] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- CoolTheCold · 2022-08-06 12:14 Great stats on AWS, will refer on it ---------------------------------------------------------------------- kyleW_ne · 2022-08-06 13:08 You also have to tell RC to load the driver at boot. I didn't say it was difficult, just an extra step coming from OpenBSD where it is handled for you and having Xenodm start at boot is an install option. I first used FreeBSD back in the 5.x versions when it prompted to install X11 in the installer. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SpiderTheWhisperer · 2022-08-06 13:10 Oh these are good. Having read your comment I'm giving serious thought to putting FreeBSD on my W530. I'm more used to Ubuntu - and mainly as a user - so I'm going to try and follow your guides. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- AdRelative8852 · 2022-08-06 15:45 "unstable OS that's hard to install"? That's quite harsh on any BSD! While YMMV depending on what you want to do with an OS, BSDs are fairly competitive. I personally prefer NetBSD which also you may want to try. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- minorsatellite · 2022-08-06 17:52 Driver support is often a problem for FreeBSD where source software and pre-compiled binaries do not exist. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Plump_Apparatus · 2022-08-06 18:15 Driver support on desktop is excellent, unless you're looking at some sort of exotic hardware. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Plump_Apparatus · 2022-08-06 18:16 A good portion the internet is routed through FreeBSD based software. It is not a hobby OS and hasn't been for a long time. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- minorsatellite · 2022-08-06 18:30 I recently needed a driver for a PCIe USB-C card and no FreeBSD binary or source code was available. :-( ---------------------------------------------------------------------- vermaden · 2022-08-06 22:38 I have been using FreeBSD on ThinkPad W530 for 4 years straight. With Nvidia as primary display adapter because all external ports like Display Port or D-SUB were attached to it. Had uptime of 30-60 days (depending on the needs of update) and zero problems. Feel free to contact be directly if you face any problems on your FreeBSD journey. Regards. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- justonelastthign · 2022-08-07 20:31 In the meantime that all works fine for me ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SpiderTheWhisperer · 2022-08-07 21:39 Thank you. I tried GhostBSD the other night and while i love how it looks i couldn’t get the external monitor going - the BIOS seemed to stick to Optimus and refused to change to discrete graphics only. (i’ve heard this may be an issue if UEFI only boot is selected so i could try turning that off) should i try Ghost again or go straight for FreeBsd? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- vermaden · 2022-08-07 23:39 Its about how W530 is made. It has nothing to do with FreeBSD (or any other OS). ALL the external outputs on W530 (D-SUB or DisplayPort) are HARDWIRED to Nvidia GPU. That means that if you want to use ANY external monitor then you need to use Nvidia GPU for it. The integrated Intel GPU can be used only for the builtin screen. Regards. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- lbmn2 · 2022-08-08 17:13 FreeBSD is 100% usable on a nice powerful desktop or server. What doesn't run natively can run in emulation. FreeBSD is still 0% usable on phones and tablets. Laptops are somewhere in between, depending on the hardware.