FreeBSB and its cousins were not started from scratch but descended from a stable UNIX. Microsoft was really trying hard to win a huge contact with DOD (If m

FreeBSB and its cousins were not started from scratch but descended from a stable UNIX. Microsoft was really trying hard to win a huge contact with DOD (If memory serves). They worked along with DEC for the contract and planned to sell computers based on DEC Alpha + WindowsNT. The POSIX compatibility subsystem was added specifically because the DOD contact demanded such a feature. Sadly (for them) they did not win the contract. The DOD was not the reason Microsoft developed Windows but some of the features and archtetures were in respons to features demanded.