The Changelog: Software Development, Open Source

Let's talk FreeBSD (finally) (Interview)

Jan 17, 2024

Allan Jude, a key developer behind FreeBSD and OpenZFS, dives into the vibrant history and philosophy of FreeBSD, sharing why it stands out among operating systems. He compares FreeBSD to Linux and discusses its various derivatives, emphasizing unique features like the ZFS file system. The conversation touches on the evolution of the internet, system stability, and the importance of community engagement. Jude’s insights also highlight practical implementation strategies for FreeBSD in virtual environments, showcasing its robust capabilities for developers.

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ANECDOTE

Teen Sysadmin

Allan Jude's first experience with a non-Microsoft OS was FreeBSD 2.2 while hosting an IRC server as a teenager.
He learned sysadmin skills by hosting on FreeBSD 4, managing bandwidth with DummyNet.

INSIGHT

BSD vs Linux

Allan Jude prefers FreeBSD's consistent organization and integrated tools over Linux's fragmentation.
He values the separation of OS and packages, enabling fresher software and easier upgrades.

INSIGHT

ZFS Integration

ZFS integration is tighter with FreeBSD due to compatible licensing, unlike Linux's GPL complexities.
This enables features like booting from ZFS, boot environments, and snapshots integrated into core utilities.

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This week we’re joined by FreeBSD & OpenZFS developer, Allan Jude, to learn all about FreeBSD. Allan gives us a brief history of BSD, tells us why it’s his operating system of choice, compares it to Linux, explains the various BSDs out there & answers every curious question we have about this powerful (yet underrepresented) Unix-based operating system.

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Featuring:

Allan Jude – Website, GitHub, LinkedIn, X
Adam Stacoviak – Website, GitHub, LinkedIn, Mastodon, X
Jerod Santo – GitHub, LinkedIn, Mastodon, X

Show Notes:

Something missing or broken? PRs welcome!