Which has the best source code?

----

Best is whatever you care about code quality. For some it might be design coherence, for others it might be resistance to security exploits, for others it might be architecture portability.

#netbsd #openbsd #freebsd #opensource

Proposal: remove IPv6-only RA draft bits to adopt DHCP option (RFC 8925)

<https://lists.freebsd.org/archives/freebsd-current/2026-April/010065.html> @spmzt

Referenced: <https://mailarchive.ietf.org/arch/msg/ipv6/7nwZ6BUqbSqEC11eTqVqCOZwGI8/>

#FreeBSD

EuroBSDcon 2026's call for papers is open, see https://2026.eurobsdcon.org/cfp/

Here is a direct link to the submissions form https://events.eurobsdcon.org/2026/submit/ew426G/info/

@eurobsdcon #eurobsdcon #openbsd #netbsd #freebsd #conference #development #devops #sysadmin #freesoftware #libresoftware

@nixCraft #freebsd tag for extra visibility

This morning I coined a new phrase. Inspired by "This meeting could have been an email", I came up with the assonant "This VM could have been a jail".

#FreeBSD #RunBSD #IT #SysAdmin

Til that getmicrouptime on FreeBSD only gives millisecond precision. If you want microsecond precision, use microuptime. The docs does say that it'll be less precise, but didn't expect it to be that much less.

#FreeBSD

Whoops, #ImageMagick was updated in the #FreeBSD repos

Sadly, it is a #slopware version — time to make "pkg lock".

Alt...

All repositories are up to date. Checking for upgrades (6 candidates): 100% Processing candidates (6 candidates): 100% The following 4 package(s) will be affected (of 0 checked): Installed packages to be UPGRADED: ImageMagick7: 7.1.2.15 -> 7.1.2.16 [FreeBSD-ports] bastille: 1.4.0.260219 -> 1.4.1.260315 [FreeBSD-ports] librewolf: 147.0.4 -> 148.0.2 [FreeBSD-ports] postgresql17-client: 17.7_2 -> 17.9 [FreeBSD-ports] Number of packages to be upgraded: 4 The process will require 6 MiB more space. 95 MiB to be downloaded. Proceed with this action? [y/N]: n

The Book of PF, 4th Edition: It's Here, It's Real https://nxdomain.no/~peter/its_real_its_here.html - now that I have physical copies, I'll bring some to the upcoming conferences such as #asiabsdcon #bsdcan #eurobsdcon #freebsd #openbsd #pf #packetfilter #networking #networktrickery #freesoftware #libresoftware #bookofpf

Ok, FreeBSD 14.4-R is now available via torrent/magnet links.

Magnet links and more information at: https://wiki.freebsd.org/Torrents

As always, it takes a while for the DHT to discover the torrents, and my client is verifying the last of the images.

Happy torrenting!

#FreeBSD #FreeBSDMagnet

Keep forgetting that the releases are dropped at midnight UTC. Just started the d/l of 14.4-R. I might get the magnet links released in the next hour if I don't fall asleep first.

#FreeBSD #FreeBSDMagnet

PSA

To whomever this may concern and to get you a break from the international news:

Your daily driver Windows computer is not obsolete after October 13th 2026. And above all it is NOT E-waste.

Your Apple computer is not E-waste if Tim Cook says so.

Chances are that even the beige DELL tower from 2003, which is currently holding the barn door open, is not obsolete.

And if you have an old/broken computer: please sell or donate it. If nothing else, someone can learn to solder working on it.

Contact your local IT nerd for further questions. The one with an Atari or Amiga T-shirt. Someone you know will know one.

You can also contact IT nerds here in the fediverse. Almost all of us are here.

#RightToRepair #AlternativeOperatingSystems #OperatingSystems #OS #OpenBSD #FreeBSD #NetBSD #Linux #HaikuOS #Windows #Apple #PowerPC #BeOS #Ubuntu #LinuxMint #Vic20 #Commodore64 #Amiga #ComputerClubs #Learning #OldComputersAreNotE_Waste #PCB #VintageComputing #RetroComputing #Refurbishers

Just over a week before FreeBSD 14.4 will be released!

(And I'll be posting magnet links.)

#FreeBSD

> https://www.freebsd.org/releases/14.4R/schedule/

#TIL that there is a command "units" for units conversion exists. In the #BSD world it was appeared in the #NetBSD then ported to the #FreeBSD 2.2.0, according to the "History" section in the manpage.

https://jlsksr.de/notes/24100102/

At least, for now I known that 19 liters equals to 30.89 vodka bottles, or 154.47 charkas (чарок, от «чарка»), or 308.94 shkalikoff (шкаликов, от «шкалик»), or 1.55 vёder (вёдер, от «ведро»).

Conversion rules lives in the simple text file in the /usr/share/misc/definitions.units and the own rules could be written in some text file in the same manner.

@rf

Alt...

Screenshot of Xterm window with some examples of units conversion with "units" command. Commands issued: "units -t '19 liters' vodkabottle", "units -t '19 liters' charka", "units -t '19 liters' shkalik", "units -t '19 liters' vedro". Their output already described in the main toot.

@AnachronistJohn @OpenComputeDesign @pixx @kabel42

I kinda wish computers had an OS-level reset button that was supported directly by the kernel.

You flip open a protective door, hit the button, and the kernel takes over immediately, unmounting everything and rebooting.

That would definitively answer your question.

I know Linux has the magic sysrq key combos. I used to know how to use them a few years ago when troubleshooting these kinds of bugs, but I haven't had to in a while.

I don't know if #FreeBSD has an equivalent.

@mwl

This list is incomplete. You can add to it by adopting one and/or becoming a member of the FreeBSD community.

(Same goes for the cat page that is in the replies. I need to add mine to that list.)

#FreeBSD

I've been using #FreeBSD since 1995. 31 years, more or less.

I was never aware of this most vital community resource.

https://wiki.freebsd.org/Community/Dogs

@OpenComputeDesign @pixx @kabel42

I haven't run out of RAM in Linux in a while, so I can't comment on it.

I had a hilariously frustrating experience in #FreeBSD recently when I was running out of its equivalent of tmpfs, and its equivalent of oom-killer was getting so zealous that it was killing my logins.

So I had to time it such that I logged in, cded to the directory, and deleted some files within just a handful of seconds so that my session didn't get killed.

It took what seemed like half an hour of furiously typing at the fb login prompt until I got fast enough (and remembered the file names I could delete which saved enough space to make a difference, but without losing the data I actually wanted to keep) to delete enough from /tmp to make a difference, then I could save the files I wanted to keep onto the thumb drive I was meaning to write them onto, and reboot. XD

@pixx @OpenComputeDesign @kabel42

Brofam, I lived through the cooperative years.

Wild horses couldn't drag me back there.

Having your entire OS go belly-up because StuffIt Expander stuffed itself was not fun, and stuff like that happened a lot.

Just imagine what a modern web browser could do to a cooperatively-multitasked OS, YE FLIPPING GODS!

#FreeBSD can barely handle heavy sites on Firefox without hiccups as it is!

@Zenie @rl_dane

On this #FreeBSD laptop, I just use startx to run #openbox. I've done that on plenty of #Debian systems in the past....even in its lighter days with #sysvinit. It it helpful with multiple users, however.

As for #systemD, if it were just an init manager I'd have less of a problem with it. Creating "unit files" and where things are located are convoluted at best.

SystemD has its tentacles in other traditionally non-init things like /etc/resolv.conf and others. That's where my biggest problem lies.

@amin

I will probably try that, too! I do use it on my phone, and it's pretty great. I mean, it's got a TON of features, and the UI can be a bit complex at times, but it's pretty nice.

I want to try it on my laptop, but there doesn't seem to be a #FreeBSD build for it, even though it's written in #Lua? 😒

#KOReader

@spaceraser @peteorrall

Yes. Exactly.

But a bit more feature-rich.

So, maybe #FreeBSD, basically. XD

Basically, I want a Linux distro that has the attitude of a #BSD.

And optimally be pretty easy to install and use, and be well-documented.

And make me hot tea in the morning and tuck me in at night.

'Tis the dream 😅

PSA

Your "old" computer is probably NOT EWaste.

Especially not, if the provider of your commercial OS or other paid service says so.

#E_Waste_Conoisseur

#FreeBSD #OpenBSD #NetBSD #Linux #HAIKU_OS #HaikuOS

Notices that there are no tests for the curve25519 code in FreeBSD's kernel.

If only the rfc had text vectors that could be used to validate the implementation. /s

#FreeBSD

This is the antithesis of the philosophy of programming for people. Really disappointed with this direction.

#BSD #FreeBSD #OpenBSD #GhostBSD
#Linux #KDE

https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/26/plasma_6_6_systemd_login/

@AFresh1

That should go in local_unbound instead of jail.

Conf.d/service is the key part. And yes, the service in rc.subr should be noted in angle brackets to denote that it's replaced by the service name.

If you're trying to configure it for a jail, that should be in the jail's rc.conf, or rc.conf.d, not the host.

#FreeBSD

Just FYI, day 61 of #DailyDriving #FreeBSD.

Zero complaints! I mean, zero serious complaints. There are one or two minor things I haven't figured out yet, but for the most part, it feels just like #Linux, except that, you know... it has DOCUMENTATION. 😂

Okay, folks — I've updated to the #FreeBSD 15.0 on my #Thinkpad X220

The process itself completed without any problems — I used freebsd-update as usual. After first reboot (kernel updated, userspace not updated) I met the strange blinking of display, while the second "freebsd-update install" was running in the text console. But after update was fully completed, this "problem" was gone.

After update, i915kms refused to load, system says that it is already loaded or compiled into the kernel. So, there are no graphical interface (possibly I should run "pkg update" or install drm-kmods from FreeBSD-kmods repository )

And there are no networking with iwm and Intel AC 8260 (possibly, it's time to finally switch to iwlwifi, lol)

#FreeBSD #FreeBSD150RELEASE

Ugh, "pkg upgrade" says that I should download 10 GB of updates for packages

Where is my Ethernet cable?!

#FreeBSD #FreeBSD150RELEASE

Alt...

Black and white photo of a text FreeBSD console with the "pkg upgrade" output. It offers to download 10GB of updates.

Okay, after "pkg upgrade" I got my graphical drivers and Xorg back!

Sound works, GUI works.

I was using the iwm driver for my Intel AC 8260 — and after update it stopped initialize and wlan0 interface couldn't be added to the my aggregate interface lagg0.

Before, I was using iwm driver, not the iwlwifi, because the second could not be added to the lagg0 (it showed some cryptic error about SIOC80211). But after update tables turned — and my WiFi interface could be added to the aggregate interface with iwlwifi driver.

Couldn't say that WiFi speeds dramatically changed in comparison with 14.3 — I see the same numbers as before in my experiments with iwlwifi in 14.3.

Sadly, the problem with waking up laptop still exists — most of the times it works, but sometimes the CPU fan starts to spin for a second and after some time system powering off with message "CPU temperature is too high, shutting down" in the console Possibly, something in my system is misconfigured and overloads the CPU after wake up.

#FreeBSD #FreeBSD150RELEASE

Alt...

Screenshot of AwesomeWM with opened xterm window. There is output of "freebsd-version -kru", showing the FreeBSD 15.0 release strings.

Alt...

OpenSpeedTest screenshot with speed results in the FreeBSD 15.0 with Intel 8260 AC and iwlwifi.

Damn, FreeBSD 15.0 is so effective that it is using -1% of swap!

#FreeBSD #FreeBSD150RELEASE

Alt...

Screenshot of AwesomeWM widgets in the AwesomeWM main bar. There are three lines with violet background and violet foreground. On the first line there is an icon with image of computer with some graph on the display, and the text "11% 2000 MHz" (CPU usage and frequency) On the second line there is an icon with image of some chip and the text "RAM: 32% / -1%" (RAM and swap usage in percents). On the third line there is an icon with image of flames and the text "49°C / 26°C" (CPU and motherboard temperatures).

New 𝟮𝟬𝟬 𝗠𝗕 𝗥𝗔𝗠 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗕𝗦𝗗 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗸𝘁𝗼𝗽 [200 MB RAM FreeBSD Desktop] article on vermaden.wordpress.com blog.

https://vermaden.wordpress.com/2026/01/18/200-mb-ram-freebsd-desktop/

#verblog #desktop #dzen2 #freebsd #laptop #linux #openbox #pkgbase #tint2 #x11 #xlibre #xorg

I've been running one Linux distro or another (mostly Debian) for 30 years, so how hard can it be to get a FreeBSD 15.0 ISO or memstick.img on a USB thumb drive for installation? Apparently, for me, very hard. 🤣

I'll figure this out. This is quite the humbling experience. 👍️

UPDATE: Using the dd command worked. I now have the FreeBSD ISO on the thumb drive. Should have tried this earlier.

Yet another UPDATE. ISO is on the thumb drive but still won't boot on the X1 Carbon. I have an older laptop I can try this on. The Boot Menu recognizes the thumb drive but won't boot.

#FreeBSD #BSD

New #blog post: Monocultures Considered Harmful or: Why Linux Nerds Should Give BSD and Other "Weird" OSes a Try

https://rldane.space/monocultures-considered-harmful-or-why-linux-nerds-should-give-bsd-and-other-weird-oses-a-try.html

545 words

cc: my wonderful #chorus: @joel @dm @sotolf @thedoctor @pixx @orbitalmartian @adamsdesk @krafter @roguefoam @clayton @giantspacesquid @Twizzay @stfn @ay

(I will happily add/remove you from the chorus upon request! :)

#rlDaneWriting #blost #Linux #BSD #RunBSD #FreeBSD #OpenBSD #EdsgerDijkstra #Dijkstra #monoculture #monocultures #ConsideredHarmful

After many years, I've just started testing #MooseFS again.
I used it in the past and it was great. It supports #FreeBSD and the performance was quite decent.

I can definitely see some use cases for it as MooseFS is fully POSIX-compliant

Some things I write need to be completed/better exposed, like this script:
https://www.funkthat.com/~jmg/FreeBSD/usbserialsn

That script creates unique links for usb serial devices, either by serial number or by hub port path.

Reason this even comes up is that a friend has a different usb serial that is a single usb device, but presents 4 different interfaces for each serial port, and we don't expose the interface number via pnpinfo (I'll be looking at generating a patch to add this).

#FreeBSD #USB #USBSerial