Jack Wallen/ZDNET
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**ZDNET’s Expanded Key Takeaways:**
FreeBSD stands as one of the most remarkably stable operating systems ever developed. While its dependability is virtually unmatched, it also presents a steeper learning curve than Linux, requiring users to engage more deeply with system internals. The platform is completely free to download and install, making it an open gateway for enthusiasts, developers, and IT professionals eager to explore advanced Unix-like systems.

I must confess, despite recognizing the brilliance of the BSD family, I’ve historically devoted the bulk of my attention to Linux. The explanation is quite straightforward: I’m a committed Linux advocate by habit and profession. For many, the superficial similarities between FreeBSD and Linux—their textual interfaces, shared command structures, and Unix-inspired environments—suggest they might be interchangeable. But beneath that resemblance lies a profound difference. FreeBSD is not Linux, even though at first glance it seems to imitate its look and feel.

FreeBSD traces its lineage directly to the Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD), itself an evolution of the original Unix codebase. The inaugural official release of FreeBSD appeared in 1993, following development from 386BSD, one of the pioneering free Unix-like systems that made Unix functionality accessible on affordable personal computers. Since that early milestone, FreeBSD has become the most prolific and recognized derivative within the BSD family. It has been prized in both academic and enterprise environments for its robustness, efficiency, and architectural coherence.

What sets FreeBSD apart from Linux at a structural level is its unified and holistic design philosophy. FreeBSD provides a complete and cohesive operating system that encompasses not only the kernel and device drivers but also the essential userland utilities, networking stacks, and system documentation—each of these crucial pieces being maintained under one consistent development model. In contrast, Linux delivers primarily a kernel, relying on a mosaic of independent distributions and third-party projects to supply the surrounding tools, libraries, and interface layers.

Think of FreeBSD as a more demanding, but ultimately deeper, version of Linux—a system that doesn’t attempt to simplify every operation for you. Instead, it expects the user to engage closely with its architecture, learning through exploration and configuration. For even an experienced Linux veteran, FreeBSD can be perplexing at times, presenting moments that force one to revisit foundational computing concepts.

There’s an old saying that illustrates the cultural divide: *BSD is what results when a group of Unix experts attempt to port Unix to the PC platform, while Linux emerges from PC enthusiasts aspiring to replicate Unix functionality on their own terms.* This distinction, though anecdotal, captures the philosophical divergence between the two systems.

Essentially, FreeBSD remains true to Unix itself, whereas Linux is only Unix-like. Because of this direct lineage and emphasis on design purity, FreeBSD—and other BSD variants—are renowned in the server world. Seasoned system administrators often swear by BSD for mission-critical infrastructure, regarding it as the gold standard for reliability. Its stability is legendary; among all existing operating systems, few or none surpass it in long-term consistency under heavy workloads.

This enduring stability is one of FreeBSD’s greatest strengths. While I often commend Debian’s reliability within the Linux ecosystem, even Debian cannot quite equal the seamless resilience and predictability that FreeBSD consistently delivers.

To visualize the fundamental distinction between FreeBSD and Linux, imagine two automobile manufacturers. The first sources every component—engine, chassis, electronics—from different suppliers and assembles the pieces in its own warehouse. The second designs and constructs each part internally, ensuring that all components are calibrated to work harmoniously. The latter invariably achieves tighter quality control and smoother performance because it comprehends and oversees every detail of its creation. FreeBSD is that second manufacturer, building and maintaining everything within its own developmental ecosystem.

The reward for setting up FreeBSD is immense fidelity and dependability; once operational, you can trust it implicitly. The real challenge lies in getting it configured in the first place.

To provide some context, I previously explored GhostBSD, a more user-friendly variant of the BSD family. GhostBSD stands in relation to BSD as Ubuntu does to Linux—approachable, graphical, and streamlined for newcomers—whereas FreeBSD occupies the same niche for BSD as Arch Linux does for the Linux community: powerful, minimalist, and unapologetically manual.

**Installing FreeBSD**
While the FreeBSD installation process relies solely on a command-line interface, it is far from insurmountable. In fact, initiating the installer and proceeding through its steps typically involves little more than pressing *Enter* to accept default values. The main duties during setup are setting a secure root password and creating at least one standard user account. Upon completion, however, you’re left with a purely console-based system—no graphical desktop environment, no icons, just a blank but highly capable command line.

Driven by curiosity, I decided to enhance my installation with the KDE Plasma desktop environment. Unlike in many Linux distributions, this process was far from effortless. To achieve it, several precise steps were required: first installing the necessary packages using the command `pkg install kde plasma6-sddm-kcm sddm xorg`; then enabling and starting key background services through `service dbus enable && service dbus start`; and finally activating the display manager with `service sddm enable && service sddm start`. Once these commands were executed, I was greeted by a functional KDE Plasma desktop environment—minimalist, responsive, and elegant.

However, exploring the desktop revealed that only a sparse collection of preinstalled applications was available. Attempting to use KDE Discover to expand the software selection quickly ran into a problem: the utility refused to function properly due to a malfunctioning PackageKit backend. PackageKit, which on Linux systems greatly simplifies package management, continually crashed on FreeBSD, rendering graphical software installation impractical. This limitation forced me to rely entirely on the command line for application management—a familiar territory for me, though certainly less accommodating for beginners.

Out of curiosity, I also attempted to install GNOME, but encountered issues with its GDM login manager, which refused to start correctly. Consequently, I remained with KDE Plasma, which, though minimal, performed admirably.

**Lessons Learned**
Ultimately, my experience with FreeBSD proved highly educational. The first and most crucial realization: FreeBSD is definitively not Linux. Nevertheless, many of the skills honed in Linux administration remain highly transferable—managing packages, troubleshooting services, editing configurations—all require similar conceptual understanding. FreeBSD demands extra time and effort to function as a comfortable desktop operating system, yet the returns are substantial: extraordinary stability, impressive performance, and precise control over the computing environment.

In terms of raw speed, FreeBSD surprised me. While I have seen Linux reach remarkable levels of efficiency, FreeBSD’s responsiveness and system throughput often surpass it.

That being said, I must admit I am unlikely to abandon Linux entirely. The pragmatic reason is simplicity: productivity tasks, application management, and configuration are generally faster and more intuitive under Linux. Modern Linux distributions embody a “just works” philosophy that enables users to accomplish more with minimal friction. FreeBSD, though extremely rewarding, still demands careful attention and extra setup time—resources not always available in a busy daily workflow.

Nonetheless, when the absolute priority is unshakable reliability—whether for a long-running server, a high-security environment, or a system that must never fail—FreeBSD remains my first recommendation. Its architecture, performance consistency, and reliability continue to represent the pinnacle of Unix-like operating system design.

Sourse: https://www.zdnet.com/article/freebsd-linux-review/