A series of Linux/GNU questions

[arinlares]

I'm quite new to linux, or else I wouldn't be asking these question, so bear with me, it could get weird. I read these articles on Wikipedia (which I trust, so many people can edit it, so it is quite likely true):
Unix - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Linux - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
GNU Hurd - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I read all of the above links, in a hope to learn something, which I did, but it raised more questions. On the Unix end, i gather that Unix was developed in the 60's by AT&T, along with the C programming language (it's mentioned). It also mentions that Unix is used for both Linux and BSD operating systems, which brings me to my first question: What is the difference between Linux and BSD?

My second question (bear with me) is about GNU, Linux and BSD OSes. Are they cross compatible (Does what works on Linux work on GNU or BSD?)? Any answer (no matter how obscure or technical) would be a great help in helping me solve this mystery. Thanks if you made it this far. (typing it almost put me to sleep)

[jayd512]

Hi, arinlares!

Here ya go: Linux vs. BSD. Quite a read

As far as cross-compatible... not so much. While there are a lot of similarities, the file system hierarchy is too different for it to really be called 'compatible'. But that article should answer all of it far better than I could.

[kopete]

Isn't one of the biggest differences the way BSD uses ports? I suggest the Linux (distro) that is closest to it would be something like Gentoo. Also, there are similarities between the Mac OS (Apple) and BSD. There's more to confuse ya.

[jayd512]

Also, there are similarities between the Mac OS (Apple) and BSD.

Actually, underneath the hood, a Mac is BSD. If one were to open a terminal on an Apple, you would have to use BSD commands and syntax. I think the last one was written on the version called Darwin... but I may be wrong on that one.

[arinlares]

Hi, arinlares!

Here ya go: Linux vs. BSD. Quite a read

As far as cross-compatible... not so much. While there are a lot of similarities, the file system hierarchy is too different for it to really be called 'compatible'. But that article should answer all of it far better than I could.

Read the article, and it DID confuse me a little (at first). So, let's see if I understand this far: Mac OSX is a BSD derivitave (same syntax as other BSD systems, same functions in the console)? Jay512, Mac OSX WAS written on Darwin, as far as the above articles can prove. So, even though BSD (Free, Open and Net versions) and Mac OSX use the same base, they are NOT cross compatible (i'm catching up). Well, that answere my questions, i believe, even though I didn't expect that relationship between Mac and BSD, but, i understand now. And kopete, you had me for a second. Just one more, if Gentoo is Linux, how can it be close to BSD (similar file hierarchy?)? THAT confused me.

[Freston]

Well, BSD uses a different system from Linux in that they differentiate between a base install and the application level. When you for example install FreeBSD you will have a system that is only a base system. There isn't much you can do as user with a system like that. But it has all the tools and applications necessary to build just the machine you have in mind. It's quite nice in that way, provided you know what you're doing

OSX is FreeBSD, but with a different kernel, a different (proprietary) Graphical User Interface and it defaults to the BASH shell. There's more differences, but these are easiest to spot.

Gentoo is similar to the BSD's in some respects. But it still is a full blood Linux distro. The same can be said about Slackware. I don't know much about Gentoo, except for that they have a similar portage system to FreeBSD's ports. That actually is a very flexible system to compile your own packages. I know Slackware keeps more to certain configurations that BSD uses, and in that respect it deviates from most other Linux distro's.

Compatibility between the BSD's and Linuxes are ... ehm ... a work in progress. There are many differences between the systems, so running a BSD application natively on a Linux system isn't quite as easy as you might wish. That said, the systems do share common protocols, so you can for example hook up your BSD machine to a Linux machine and use ssh with X forwarding to run Linux applications across the network on your BSD machine or vice versa. That works quite well actually, and it allows me to run the latest greatest heaviest Linux applications quite comfertably on my 450Mhz laptop. Sure, ssh is a little bit laggy on the graphics, but not as laggy as running OOo nativly on a machine build in the previous millenium

If you are really interrested in the matter, then this is also a good read.



As a finishing thought: Gnu Hurd is the long awaited promise of the FSF to build their own kernel. On the one hand, it might lead the way into a new century of computing, on the other hand it might not. It's an interesting development though. But it's also a /very/ complex concept, and it is not desktopfähig yet.

[arinlares]

couldn't get the article to show (don't know why), Freston, but, thanks for the clarification. I think I understand now.