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Considering OSX was originally built from FreeBSD, I suspect it wouldn't be that difficult to merge some of their work into OSX.
by j2d2 18y ago
Considering OSX was originally built from FreeBSD, I suspect it wouldn't be that difficult to merge some of their work into OSX.
- ajross 18y agoThis is mostly a fallacy. The FreeBSD code is limited almost exclusively to userspace stuff. The Darwin kernel descends much more directly from NeXT's mach-based product. It grew SMP support only very recently, and via a very different path from that taken in the monolithic BSD community. Honestly, I don't understand why Apple continues to work on their own kernel. It has near zero competitive advantage relative to FreeBSD or Linux, and much cost a fortune to maintain. The real value of their product has always been above the kernel anyway: I have to believe that switching the kernel out for a more robust Unix variant can only be a good thing for the Mac.
- wmf 18y agoSwitching to the FreeBSD kernel seems like it would have been a good idea back in the Rhapsody days, but Tevanian probably wouldn't allow it. By now Apple has added so many OS X-specific features like IOKit and DRM that it would be a lot of work to switch. Costs a fortune to maintain, costs a fortune to switch.
- j2d2 18y agoInteresting. Thanks for the correction.