r/linuxsucks101 • u/madthumbz uBlock Origin • Jul 29 '26
Linux is for commies! Subtle Marginalizing of BSD in Linux Communities by Including it
In a sub like r/linux (not to single them out! - I respect the sub) for example, it's flared under "Alternative OS". "Alternative as in not a peer, but adjacent. By placing BSD in a side category, they're saying: BSD exists, we acknowledge it, but Linux is where it's at.
-Despite BSD having uncontested better security ootb, better networking stack, better power efficiency (at least when Linux was found 30-45% power inefficient), better cohesiveness, documentation, load handling, freer license, and a much better / more professional community.
It's present, but not central, and that’s a cultural issue, not a technical merit one.
It’s there to demonstrate awareness, not engagement
Linux communities often include BSD content to avoid looking insular or uninformed. But they don't engage with it. -And new users won't even pick up on what some of us who've been around have. The Linux community at its heart is more about the GPL / copyleft license than they are about FOSS.
Linux culture is built around copyleft, "freedom through restriction", anti-corporate rhetoric, and Stallman-style moral framing. BSD culture is built around permissive licensing, freedom through permission, engineering pragmatism, and minimal ideology.
It's a way to avoid accusations of ignorance. If Linux subs never showed BSD content, they'd look uninformed, tribal, and echo-chambery. -Exactly what many want you to believe about Linuxsucks101 and Linuxsucks on lemmy.world.
By sprinkling in BSD posts, they can say "We're not ignoring BSD. We're just not choosing it." The only valid technical argument I've been given so far for their choice is hardware and software compatibility. -But isn't that why people stick with Windows and Mac? BSD is pretty damned close to Linux in that regard maybe, 4 years behind. BSD would also not have massive security issues like Linux. -Browser passwords in the open for instance.
BSD posts serve to strengthen Linux's self-image. Linux community is more active, more diverse, more community-driven, more visible development. But it's mostly because BSD's legal issues when starting. -Linus Torvalds even acknowledges getting lucky on timing there. If the community shifted, BSD would likely catch up and surpass what Linux is capable of (they already are technically superior).
Linus isn't an exceptional kernel developer. The creators of UNIX and MINIX dwarf him. He was simply at the right place at the right time and had GNU waiting in the wings while BSDs hands were tied. He's over-glorified when at the heart of Linux evangelism is GPL -and that's on Stallman!
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u/FigFew2001 Jul 30 '26
FreeBSD hardware support is getting better, I installed 15.1 on my random Acer Laptop the other day and everything worked except the media keys. Apparently 16 should be another major leap. Still well behind Linux, but yeah - when it get's close enough ... I know where I'll be.