Like many people, I’ve used Linux for years. It’s stable, and it gets the job done. But I’ve always felt like I was driving a car where the engine, wheels, and stereo were all made by different companies that barely spoke to each other. Really, this is the open source and Linux ecosystem. It’s a wonder things work after all. I never really understood what was going on under the hood. It just seemed complicated.
Now, I’m trying something different FreeBSD. It’s roots are from the old UNIX from the 70’s and it’s actually a revival of BSD from 1992!
I’m making this switch not because I’m a “power user”, far from it, I’m just a random person who have used computers for a long time to know they’re valuable and you need to invest in skills. I’m drawn to FreeBSD’s three key ideas that I feel missing in the modern software world: cohesion, security, and the original UNIX principles.
🏛️ The Cohesive and Simple System
Linux is often described as a kernel (the core brain) that is surrounded by a bunch of separate tools and programs put together by different groups (this is what makes a “distro” or distribution). The Linux ecosystem has hundreds if not thousands of separate distributions! This creates complexity!
FreeBSD is different. It’s developed as a single, complete Operating System (OS).
- Less Moving Parts: Because one team makes both the brain and the main tools, everything just fits together better. It’s more predictable and has less of that “chaos” feeling I got from Linux.
- The UNIX Idea: FreeBSD’s history goes back directly to the original UNIX thoughts—the philosophy that a system should be simple, clean, and logical. I want a system that works, but I also want one that makes sense when I look at the design.
This simpler internal design is what makes it feel more secure and stable—like a well-built stone house, not a patchwork tent.
🛡️ Built-In Security and Stability
Security and stability should be the most important things.
- Security by Design: Because the whole system is built together, the developers can focus on security from the very core outward, not just by bolting on extra programs.
- The Handbook: And if anything does go wrong, the FreeBSD Handbook is legendary. It’s one place where everything is documented perfectly. I don’t have to wade through twenty different websites or forum posts to find the single answer I need. It gives me confidence that I can learn and fix things myself. Sure, I do need to go to forums for certain edge cases, but the 935 pages of the handbook could serve as a complete tutorial to UNIX!
Yes, the initial setup can be tricky, and the system is pickier about the hardware it likes. But I’m willing to put up with a little inconvenience upfront to gain a system that is fundamentally cohesive, secure, and true to the principles of original computing. It’s about choosing a complete, thoughtful design over mass-market convenience.
I’m ready to learn how the whole house works, not just how to open the front door.