Post #1641940

2026-02-22 18:25 UTC

@peteorrall this was published with a different title, and URL, in December 2025. The republication is not a bad thing. When I first read the article by Jack Wallen, I took the time to also read about him, as a person. One of his personal blog posts inspired me to send an email that was entirely unrelated to technology. When you introduced yourself to BSD Cafe, in May 2025, you reflected upon your many positive interactions with people. Imagine, now, having a more positive interaction with @jwallen, who might, or might not, read your critique, and the responses (it seems that he has not posted since May 2023). I encourage other readers to do the same. Be kind. I've used Linux for decades, but I'd switch to FreeBSD for this one feature | ZDNET Discussion: cc @lproven #FreeBSD

Replies (2)

@peteorrall@mastodon.bsd.cafe 2026-02-22 18:30

@grahamperrin @jwallen @lproven Thanks for sharing. I did read some about him *after* I posted. I also considered sending him an email. Maybe I should have done that. While an attack on him may have been perceived (it wasn't intended), but instead to call out the quality of information in the article.

Open ##1641941
@lproven@social.vivaldi.net 2026-02-22 21:39

@grahamperrin @peteorrall @jwallen Somehow you mangled the URL. I searched the Wayback Machine for the URL on the end and got this: https://web.archive.org/web/20260126155103/https://www.zdnet.com/web/20260126155103/https:/www.zdnet.com/article/freebsd-will-challenge-your-skills-and-make-you-learn-along-the-way/ TBH, I agree with most of @jwallen's points here. * FreeBSD _does_ have common roots with real original AT&T Unix©™. All the AT&T code was eventually removed & replaced, so it is Theseus's Unix: no original parts, but it started out made from the same bits. * FreeBSD _is_ more challenging than almost any Linux. I am not a Linux specialist -- I was installing SCO Xenix in production 3 years _before_ Linus started his project -- but Linux _has_ advanced _far_ more in ease of use than any of the BSDs. FreeBSD especially so: for example, at least OpenBSD and NetBSD leave you with working X11 and a window manager at the end of a default install. FreeBSD doesn't. I too am _considering_ switching to FreeBSD. My Intel Mac is getting old, I don't want an Arm one, and soon x86 macOS will start to bitrot. OTOH a lot of my favourite tools and apps are still missing from BSD. I don't want containers or fancy server stuff, but I very much do want a CUA editor in my console, for instance. TBH I may well switch to Alpine Linux instead. It's still a Linux, but it feels a bit like one of the 1990s ones: tiny, fast, clean, for the price of being not very friendly…

Open ##1641943