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What I find interesting about FreeBSD is the lack of a BDFL, so this is a testament to the governance model & structure they have built. - OpenBSD (previously

What I find interesting about FreeBSD is the lack of a BDFL, so this is a testament to the governance model & structure they have built. - OpenBSD (previously NetBSD) has Theo de Raadt - DragonflyBSD has Matt Dillon - Linux (kernel) has Linus Torvalds - GNU has Richard Stallman - FreeBSD doesn't have a "Founder/CEO" leading it, like the other examples above.

tcmart14 3y ago
NetBSD also lacks a BDFL I believe.
- alberth 3y ago
  Yes, I believe that happened when Theo forked NetBSD to create OpenBSD. Similarly, while Matt Dillon wasn't a founder of FreeBSD, he certainly was a core/key leader within FreeBSD. When he forked FreeBSD to create DragonflyBSD, a sizable void was left within FreeBSD leadership team. (at least that's how I understand it)
ilyt 3y ago
Similarly Debian with their election system which seems to work fine
- pjmlp 3y ago
  Debian already had its own share of dramas as well.
inferiorhuman 3y ago
FreeBSD doesn't have a "Founder/CEO" leading it, like the other examples above. Now, sure. For a long while I'd say jkh came close to being a BDFL.
- alberth 3y ago
  2001, jkh leaves FreeBSD (joins Apple) 2003, matt leaves FreeBSD (creates Dfly) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_Hubbard https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_Hubbard https://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-current/2003-July/006889.html https://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-current/2003-Jul...
  - inferiorhuman 3y ago
    jkh resigned in 2002, ostensibly not due to anything related to working for Apple. If memory serves there was plenty of drama around that time (and not just related to Matt). https://bsd.slashdot.org/story/02/04/30/012222/jordan-hubbard-resigns-from-freebsd-core https://bsd.slashdot.org/story/02/04/30/012222/jordan-hubbar...
sph 3y ago
In my opinion, the presence of a BDFL is what elevates open source to excellence from an aimless bazaar. Otherwise it's just a game of politics and bureaucracy to organise a herd of volunteers that would rather bike shed than reach a common goal. This is the reason why commercial software tends to be perceived of higher quality than most open source projects: you need someone to say "no, this is unacceptable." Thank God we have Linus. Meanwhile the Linux userspace is terrible because there is indeed no Linus, so we're still squabbling over X.org and systemd.
- pjmlp 3y ago
  Except, like in any kingdom, the king that follows isn't necessarly as good, and so far most of the originaly BDFL are still around. I am the opinion this will all pass, and FOSS movement will fade once all key leaders are gone. Proven by the fizzling out of all relevant movements throughout the human history.
  - sph 3y ago
    Is the suffragette movement about to fizzle out? Movements fade away, unless they succeed in changing the status quo. Open source has stopped being a movement since the turn of the millennium.

tcmart14 3y ago

NetBSD also lacks a BDFL I believe.

alberth 3y ago
Yes, I believe that happened when Theo forked NetBSD to create OpenBSD. Similarly, while Matt Dillon wasn't a founder of FreeBSD, he certainly was a core/key leader within FreeBSD. When he forked FreeBSD to create DragonflyBSD, a sizable void was left within FreeBSD leadership team. (at least that's how I understand it)

ilyt 3y ago

Similarly Debian with their election system which seems to work fine

pjmlp 3y ago
Debian already had its own share of dramas as well.

inferiorhuman 3y ago

FreeBSD doesn't have a "Founder/CEO" leading it, like the other examples above. Now, sure. For a long while I'd say jkh came close to being a BDFL.

alberth 3y ago
2001, jkh leaves FreeBSD (joins Apple) 2003, matt leaves FreeBSD (creates Dfly) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_Hubbard https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_Hubbard https://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-current/2003-July/006889.html https://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-current/2003-Jul...
- inferiorhuman 3y ago
  jkh resigned in 2002, ostensibly not due to anything related to working for Apple. If memory serves there was plenty of drama around that time (and not just related to Matt). https://bsd.slashdot.org/story/02/04/30/012222/jordan-hubbard-resigns-from-freebsd-core https://bsd.slashdot.org/story/02/04/30/012222/jordan-hubbar...

sph 3y ago

In my opinion, the presence of a BDFL is what elevates open source to excellence from an aimless bazaar. Otherwise it's just a game of politics and bureaucracy to organise a herd of volunteers that would rather bike shed than reach a common goal. This is the reason why commercial software tends to be perceived of higher quality than most open source projects: you need someone to say "no, this is unacceptable." Thank God we have Linus. Meanwhile the Linux userspace is terrible because there is indeed no Linus, so we're still squabbling over X.org and systemd.

pjmlp 3y ago
Except, like in any kingdom, the king that follows isn't necessarly as good, and so far most of the originaly BDFL are still around. I am the opinion this will all pass, and FOSS movement will fade once all key leaders are gone. Proven by the fizzling out of all relevant movements throughout the human history.
- sph 3y ago
  Is the suffragette movement about to fizzle out? Movements fade away, unless they succeed in changing the status quo. Open source has stopped being a movement since the turn of the millennium.