Both Linux and BSD are free, open source, Unix-like systems. They even use a lot of the same software. They just look like an operating system, so what's the difference?
In fact, the difference between the two goes far beyond the ones we mentioned below, especially in the philosophy of building a complete operating system and licensing. Through this short article will be able to simply understand the difference between them. Basics What many people call "Linux" isn't actually Linux. Linux is technically just the Linux kernel, and a typical Linux distribution includes the Linux kernel and a lot of software. This is why Linux is sometimes called GNU/Linux. In fact, much of the software used on Linux is also used on BSD. Both Linux and BSD are UNIX-like operating systems. We can see that Linux and BSD have different lineages by reading the history of UNIX-like operating systems. Linux was developed by Linus Torvalds while he was at university in Finland. BSD stands for "Berkeley Software Distribution", which originated from a series of modifications to Bell Labs UNIX developed at the University of California, Berkeley, which eventually evolved into a complete operating system, and now there are several different BSDs branch. Kernel vs. Full Operating System Strictly speaking, Linux is just a kernel. All you have to do to make a Linux distribution is to take all the software you need to create a complete Linux operating system and combine it into a Linux distribution like Ubuntu, Mint, Debian, RedHat, or Arch. There are many different Linux distributions.
In contrast, the name BSD stands for its kernel and operating system. For example, FreeBSD provides the FreeBSD kernel and FreeBSD operating system. It is maintained as a single project. In other words, if you want to install FreeBSD, there is only one FreeBSD you can install. If you want to install Linux, you first need to choose between many Linux distributions.
BSD includes a system called Ports, which provides a way to install packages. The Ports system contains the source code of the software packages, so you need to compile them first if you want to install the software on your computer. (If you've ever used the popular Gentoo before, it's kind of like that.) However, packages can also be pre-installed in binary form so that you don't need to spend time and system resources compiling them to run.
License
License is the typical difference, although it won't affect most people. Linux uses the GNU General Public License, or GPL. If you modify the Linux kernel and distribute it, you must release the source code of your modifications.
BSD uses the BSD license. If you modify a BSD kernel or distribution, and distribute it, you don't have to distribute its source code at all. You are free to do whatever you want with your BSD code, and you are not obligated to release the source code you modified, if you want.
Both are open source, but in different ways. People sometimes get caught up in debates about which license is "more liberal". The GPL helps users ensure that they can own the source code of GPLed software, and restricts developers forcing them to open the code. The BSD license does not ensure that users can own the source code, but rather gives developers the option to publish the code, even if they want to make it a closed source project.
BSD Forks
Here are the three "mainstream" BSD operating systems that are generally recognized:
FreeBSD: FreeBSD is the most popular BSD for high performance and ease of use. It supports 32-bit and 64-bit processors from Intel and AMD.
NetBSD: NetBSD is designed to run on almost any architecture, with support for many more. The motto on their home page is "Of course we run on NetBSD".
OpenBSD: OpenBSD is designed for maximum security - not just what it claims, but in practice. It is designed for critical systems in banks and other important institutions.
There are two other important BSD operating systems:
DragonFly BSD: DragonFly BSD is designed to provide an operating system that runs in a multithreaded environment -- for example, a cluster of computers.
Darwin / Mac OS X: Mac OS X is actually based on the Darwin operating system, and the Darwin system is based on BSD. It's a bit different from other BSDs in that while the underlying kernel and other software are open source code (BSD code), most of the operating system is closed source Mac OS code). Apple developed Mac OS X and iOS on the basis of BSD so that they didn't have to write the bottom layer of the operating system, just like Google developed the android system on the basis of Linux.
Why would you choose BSD over Linux?
Linux is clearly more popular than FreeBSD. For example, Linux tends to provide support for new hardware earlier than FreeBSD. BSD has a compatibility package available that enables it to execute Linux binaries natively like most other software.
If you've used Linux, FreeBSD won't make much of a difference. If you use FreeBSD as your desktop OS, you can also use the same GNOME, KDE or Xfce desktop environment, and you can use most other software on Linux on BSD. One thing to note, FreeBSD doesn't automatically install a graphical desktop, so you'll have to take care of your BSD a bit more than Linux does. BSD is more conservative.
The reliability and stability of FreeBSD may be better suited as a server operating system. And manufacturers also choose BSD instead of Linux as their operating system, because then they don't have to release their modified code.
If you're a PC desktop user, you really don't need to worry about BSD too much. You might like Linux because it has more advanced hardware support, is easier to install, and has the characteristics of a modern operating system. If you care about servers or embedded devices, you may prefer FreeBSD.
We may hear some people say they use FreeBSD on their desktop, and of course you could be one of them too! But an open source operating system like Ubuntu or Mint is more comfortable and advanced for most users.
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