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Reflecting on this a bit more, the popular OS's that are not linux-based predate linux: - Windows 8 (RT/Phone): NT kernel development started in 1989. - BB OS

by Joeri 14y ago

Reflecting on this a bit more, the popular OS's that are not linux-based predate linux: - Windows 8 (RT/Phone): NT kernel development started in 1989. - BB OS 10: QNX 4.0 released in 1990. - OS X 10.8 / iOS 6: NextStep first shipped in 1989. What is strange to me is how little-used BSD is, given its more permissive license.

ConstantineXVI 14y ago
Pedantry: BBX hasn't shipped yet outside the PlayBook, and I'd hardly call that popular. The phones are still running the original since-1999 BlackBerry OS. And why not BSD? I'd mainly say mindshare, and portability to a degree. You don't have to release your source every time you port BSD to a shiny new platform. BSD code is out there (networking stacks, a handful of the base *nix utils in OSX), but the permissive license cuts both ways.
- pedalpete 14y ago
  Joeri was referring to QNX which is the core of BBX (or BB10, not sure what it is being called). Apparently, many of your home electronics likey run QNX, and you wouldn't know it.
X-Istence 14y ago
BSD is used in a lot of places, it is generally hidden though. For example Juniper used it for their OS, FreeBSD is currently in use by NetFlix for their appliances (the ones that sit on the ISP's network to lower costs). Cisco has in the past used code from BSD, I've seen OpenBSD in various different commercial projects, including an audit logging machine. Every so often I get surprised as to where BSD is when I come across it.
wreckimnaked 14y ago
I'd say that the choice of Linux over BSD on those cases has to do with hardware support. Writing drivers and supporting a wide range of devices would increase up a lot the development time for Chrome OS, for instance.
slurry 14y ago
Industry settled on Linux in the 90s when a) there was lingering FUD from the AT&T lawsuit, b) everyone was afraid of "embrace and extend" which the BSD license arguably makes easier.

by Joeri 14y ago

ConstantineXVI 14y ago

Pedantry: BBX hasn't shipped yet outside the PlayBook, and I'd hardly call that popular. The phones are still running the original since-1999 BlackBerry OS. And why not BSD? I'd mainly say mindshare, and portability to a degree. You don't have to release your source every time you port BSD to a shiny new platform. BSD code is out there (networking stacks, a handful of the base *nix utils in OSX), but the permissive license cuts both ways.

pedalpete 14y ago
Joeri was referring to QNX which is the core of BBX (or BB10, not sure what it is being called). Apparently, many of your home electronics likey run QNX, and you wouldn't know it.

X-Istence 14y ago

BSD is used in a lot of places, it is generally hidden though. For example Juniper used it for their OS, FreeBSD is currently in use by NetFlix for their appliances (the ones that sit on the ISP's network to lower costs). Cisco has in the past used code from BSD, I've seen OpenBSD in various different commercial projects, including an audit logging machine. Every so often I get surprised as to where BSD is when I come across it.

wreckimnaked 14y ago

I'd say that the choice of Linux over BSD on those cases has to do with hardware support. Writing drivers and supporting a wide range of devices would increase up a lot the development time for Chrome OS, for instance.

slurry 14y ago

Industry settled on Linux in the 90s when a) there was lingering FUD from the AT&T lawsuit, b) everyone was afraid of "embrace and extend" which the BSD license arguably makes easier.