5 ms·

I think theres a misconception that OS X is in a huge debt to FreeBSD, or even runs it at its core. Apple runs a custom kernel, no relation to FreeBSD, with a

by gecko 14y ago

I think theres a misconception that OS X is in a huge debt to FreeBSD, or even runs it at its core. Apple runs a custom kernel, no relation to FreeBSD, with a mixture of *BSD user land tools--more NetBSD than FreeBSD the last time I looked, but certainly both. That's not nothing, but also not a situation where I'd expect Apple to be donating much.

profquail 14y ago
Apple has a developer page that lists exactly which parts of FreeBSD they've used, and which parts of OS X are different (mainly, the parts of Mach they added to the FreeBSD kernel): https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/#documentation/Darwin/Conceptual/KernelProgramming/BSD/BSD.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP30000905-CH214-TPXREF101 https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/#documentation/Darwi... Some of the Apple additions/inventions are also merged into FreeBSD proper: http://appleinsider.com/articles/09/10/16/freebsd_adds_support_for_snow_leopards_grand_central_dispatch.html http://appleinsider.com/articles/09/10/16/freebsd_adds_suppo...
- TallGuyShort 14y ago
  As some anecdotal evidence here - I used to run FreeBSD on my laptop, and when I would connect to wireless access points of use vulnerability scanning software (as a student) - I would often be identified as running OS X.
RaSoJo 14y ago
But there are many other "Big Corps" specified on the FreeBSD portal. Aren't they obligated in some form or the other to be funding FreeBSD? 500k appears to be quite a nominal amount when you put all these "Big Corp" names together. Or is this fund raising set apart from what the "Big Corps" pay? Not sure how this works...
- profquail 14y ago
  The 'Donors' page on the FreeBSD Foundation website shows both corporate and individual sponsors (and roughly, the amount donated): http://www.freebsdfoundation.org/donate/sponsors.shtml http://www.freebsdfoundation.org/donate/sponsors.shtml Sadly, the number of corporate ($$$) donors has dropped off in the last couple of years...
  - dewarrn1 14y ago
    Netflix is conspicuously absent, for one. https://signup.netflix.com/openconnect/software https://signup.netflix.com/openconnect/software
  - cpeterso 14y ago
    I see Google on the list of corporate sponsors. Do any Google services use FreeBSD?
    - gillianseed 14y ago
      Given how large Google is I'm certain they use FreeBSD in some form somewhere. Still it's kind of fun seeing Google who is predominantly Linux-based as a major sponsor and not Apple which likely ship code from the FreeBSD project in every device they sell. Also nice seeing Juniper contributing back but I can't see anything from Cisco...
  - emaste 14y ago
    A number of donations typically come in late in the year - it's really not possible to draw year-over-year conclusions until the year's over.
- pjmlp 14y ago
  Most corporations are leechers, they just take open source stuff as a way to save costs, without returning anything back. I have seen this happen in many Fortune 500 projects.
deleted 14y ago
[deleted]
yxhuvud 14y ago
Isn't it also the case that while they may not have donated cash they have certainly donated code. At least in some instances. Clang comes to mind.
- gillianseed 14y ago
  Well while Clang is open source and permissively licenced it's not exactly as it's a code donation aimed at FreeBSD. Apple needed a compiler frontend/backend as they were stuck with a very old GCC 4.2.1 due to them not accepting GPLv3, thus they hired Chris Lattner of LLVM fame and started working on Clang (which turned out great, now we have two excellent open source toolchains competing which benefits all end users). Likely FreeBSD is very thankful for the existance of a first-class non-GPL compiler frontend/backend toolchain like Clang/LLVM as it is in line with their licence philosophy, but that won't help if they can't generate enough funds to keep the project going. Having Apple contributing some money back (it's not as if they are strapped for cash) to the project from where they lifted a good chunk of code would not seem out of place. OT: yxhuvud, är du också svensk?
  - yxhuvud 14y ago
    I totally agree that it would reflect very nice on them if they sponsored the different BSD projects a bit. I was just pointing out that Clang redeems a whole lot nonsupport badwill. OT: Japp.

by gecko 14y ago

profquail 14y ago

Apple has a developer page that lists exactly which parts of FreeBSD they've used, and which parts of OS X are different (mainly, the parts of Mach they added to the FreeBSD kernel): https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/#documentation/Darwin/Conceptual/KernelProgramming/BSD/BSD.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP30000905-CH214-TPXREF101 https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/#documentation/Darwi... Some of the Apple additions/inventions are also merged into FreeBSD proper: http://appleinsider.com/articles/09/10/16/freebsd_adds_support_for_snow_leopards_grand_central_dispatch.html http://appleinsider.com/articles/09/10/16/freebsd_adds_suppo...

TallGuyShort 14y ago
As some anecdotal evidence here - I used to run FreeBSD on my laptop, and when I would connect to wireless access points of use vulnerability scanning software (as a student) - I would often be identified as running OS X.

RaSoJo 14y ago

But there are many other "Big Corps" specified on the FreeBSD portal. Aren't they obligated in some form or the other to be funding FreeBSD? 500k appears to be quite a nominal amount when you put all these "Big Corp" names together. Or is this fund raising set apart from what the "Big Corps" pay? Not sure how this works...

profquail 14y ago
The 'Donors' page on the FreeBSD Foundation website shows both corporate and individual sponsors (and roughly, the amount donated): http://www.freebsdfoundation.org/donate/sponsors.shtml http://www.freebsdfoundation.org/donate/sponsors.shtml Sadly, the number of corporate ($$$) donors has dropped off in the last couple of years...
- dewarrn1 14y ago
  Netflix is conspicuously absent, for one. https://signup.netflix.com/openconnect/software https://signup.netflix.com/openconnect/software
- cpeterso 14y ago
  I see Google on the list of corporate sponsors. Do any Google services use FreeBSD?
  - gillianseed 14y ago
    Given how large Google is I'm certain they use FreeBSD in some form somewhere. Still it's kind of fun seeing Google who is predominantly Linux-based as a major sponsor and not Apple which likely ship code from the FreeBSD project in every device they sell. Also nice seeing Juniper contributing back but I can't see anything from Cisco...
- emaste 14y ago
  A number of donations typically come in late in the year - it's really not possible to draw year-over-year conclusions until the year's over.
pjmlp 14y ago
Most corporations are leechers, they just take open source stuff as a way to save costs, without returning anything back. I have seen this happen in many Fortune 500 projects.

deleted 14y ago

[deleted]

yxhuvud 14y ago

Isn't it also the case that while they may not have donated cash they have certainly donated code. At least in some instances. Clang comes to mind.

gillianseed 14y ago
Well while Clang is open source and permissively licenced it's not exactly as it's a code donation aimed at FreeBSD. Apple needed a compiler frontend/backend as they were stuck with a very old GCC 4.2.1 due to them not accepting GPLv3, thus they hired Chris Lattner of LLVM fame and started working on Clang (which turned out great, now we have two excellent open source toolchains competing which benefits all end users). Likely FreeBSD is very thankful for the existance of a first-class non-GPL compiler frontend/backend toolchain like Clang/LLVM as it is in line with their licence philosophy, but that won't help if they can't generate enough funds to keep the project going. Having Apple contributing some money back (it's not as if they are strapped for cash) to the project from where they lifted a good chunk of code would not seem out of place. OT: yxhuvud, är du också svensk?
- yxhuvud 14y ago
  I totally agree that it would reflect very nice on them if they sponsored the different BSD projects a bit. I was just pointing out that Clang redeems a whole lot nonsupport badwill. OT: Japp.