BSD Software

BSD stands for Berkeley Software Distribution. The Unix-based operating system was created and distributed by the Computer Systems Research Group. BSD now refers to any of its descendants including OpenBSD, DragonFly BSD, Free BSD, and NetBSD. Some proprietary versions of Unix are based on BSD. They include SunOS from Sun, Dynix from Sequent, NeXT’s NeXTSTEP, and DEC’s Ultrix. BSD is usually preceded by a number to show the specific distribution level of the system. For example, 4.3 BSD. Breckley’s Unix was the first one to have libraries that support the Internet Protocol stacks: Berkeley Sockets.

FreeBSD is one of the most popular descendants of BSD. It was initially referred to as BSD Unix or Berkeley Unix. It is similar to Linux but there are a few differences in licensing and scope. It has a full system with a kernel, userland utilities, documentation, utilities, and device drivers. Unlike Linux, it does not depend on third-parties for its system software. It features a security team that oversees all the software that is shipped in the base distribution. The codebase of FreeBSD has become an important part of other operating systems.

OpenBSD is a free operating system that is open-source and security-focused. It focuses a lot on the quality of code and its components are used a lot in many software projects. Some of them include Android, LLVM and Windows 10. It is a secure system by default. Most developers term it as the most secure operating system in existence.

NetBSD is also based on Berkeley Software Distribution. It is a free and open-source operating system that works like Unix. It was derived from the 4.3BSD-Reno. Some of its most attractive features include portability, the package source packages collection, portable build framework, and security.

Benefits of BSD Software

If you want to perform extended studies or research, BSD is an excellent choice. It allows you to customize it with no legal issues and it is free of charge. The license will continue to evolve over time. The following are other benefits of using BSD software.

It is an actual operating system. It was created by a team of knowledgeable and experienced scientists who went on to have successful careers. BSD was developed on the foundation of the V6/V7 UNIX from Bell Labs. It was written to ensure that it always performs well. You can rely on it regardless of how dated your hardware is.

The core of BSD software is stable. One of the architects of original 4.2bsd continues to make occasional commits. That makes for 30 years of continuity. It has great networking and IPC. It is a mix of the stability, age and the time when it was written.

Most developers like to have a BSD license because it makes it possible to avoid legal complaints. They can do with the code as they please. Contrary to what many people may think, the license is not just a gift. It leads to the question ‘What is the benefit in helping our competitors have access to our work?’ if a company becomes dominant in a certain niche, other companies do not require much effort to form a mini-consortium. They can create a parity which will help to promote fairness and competition in the field. This means that every company can profit from any advantage that they provide.