Re: Why Linux, Why Debian
Manoj Srivasta wrote:
>In order to start a dialogue, I have a few questions I would
> like to solicit responses to the following (please do not hesitate to
> add to the following; these are merely things I have thought off the
> top of my head).
Mind if I give another reason?
"Debian will remain 100% free software".
Although Debian is currently not adhering to that principle IMO (non-free
documentation software), it is at least in theory committed to it.
(Similarly, I like the US and Thomas Jefferson for the claim in the
Declaration of Independence that "All men are created equal, and are endowed
by their creator with certain unalienable rights -- that among these are
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" -- even if it was written while
most of the states still allowed slavery, and was in fact written by a
slaveholder -- so, written and signed by hypocrites.)
Essentially nobody else commits to this even in principle. I know I can make
a private fork of anything in Debian if I want or need to. I know I have the
source to everything available very easily. -- well, except for the places
where Debian doesn't fulfill its promise, of course.
> 1) Do you think that OpenBSD 's repuation as a secure OS is
> justified? Does the secure part of OpenBSD provide a useful platform
> for your needs? Would SELinux meet or exceed the needs for a
> secure OS for you?
Yes, no because it's too obsolete (gcc 2.95), and yes.
> 3) Do you think that BSD kernels have better quality than Linux
> kernels? Do Linux kernels have more features? Are these features
> important for you?
no, yes, and yes.
> 4) Do you think that network performance of the BSD's is better than
> that of Linux, including that of the 2.6 kernels? What about NFS
> performance?
No, and I hate NFS with a passion.
> 6) Are security fixes available in a timely fashion for the BSD's?
> For Linux in general? For Debian?
Yes to all of the above.
> 9) Does the gentoo configurability deliver significantly better
> performance? Is the added step of compilation too much of an
> inconvenience?
No, and no. Hmm, came down on the fence there, didn't I?
> 10) Does the BSD ports system compare favorably to gentoo or sorceror
> Linux? Does the ports system always build for you? are upgrades
> to individual packages easy, using ports/portage/emerge?
Ports does not compare to Debian packages or source packages. Yeah, that
wasn't the question, I know.
> 11) Is it easy for you to discover new software when not using
> Debian? When using gentoo? When using one of the BSD's?
Debian has been by far the easiest way to discover new software for me.
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