Devuan GNU+Linux VS FreeBSD

Compare Devuan GNU+Linux VS FreeBSD and see what are their differences

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FreeBSD

FreeBSD is an advanced operating system for x86 compatible (including Pentium® and Athlon™)...

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2020-01-19

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2018-09-29

Devuan GNU+Linux

Website: devuan.org
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FreeBSD

Website: freebsd.org
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Devuan GNU+Linux features and specs

Systemd-Free
Devuan does not use systemd as its init system, which appeals to users who prefer alternative init systems like sysvinit due to systemd's complexity and perceived centralized control.
Stability
Devuan aims to provide a stable and consistent operating environment by forking from Debian without using systemd, suitable for users who value stability over the latest features.
Compatibility
Devuan maintains a high level of compatibility with Debian, allowing users to access a wide range of software packages available in the Debian repositories, minus those requiring systemd.
Privacy and Control
By avoiding systemd, some users feel they have greater control over their system's processes, enhancing privacy and reducing potential data collection.

Possible disadvantages of Devuan GNU+Linux

Limited Software Support
Some modern software packages that depend on systemd may not be available or function optimally on Devuan, potentially limiting choices for users requiring such software.
Smaller Community
As a relatively niche distribution compared to Debian, Devuan has a smaller community, which may result in less community support and fewer resources or tutorials.
Delayed Updates
Updates on Devuan may lag behind other distributions, as it takes time to ensure compatibility without systemd, which might affect users seeking the latest software features or security fixes.
Complex Migration
Users migrating from systemd-based systems may face complexities or a steeper learning curve as they adapt to different init systems used in Devuan.

FreeBSD features and specs

Stability
FreeBSD is known for its robustness and reliability, making it a preferred choice for servers and critical applications that require high uptime.
Advanced Networking
It offers advanced networking features and performance, suitable for heavy network-related usage such as routers, firewalls, and servers.
ZFS File System
FreeBSD includes support for the ZFS file system, which provides high data integrity, advanced snapshot capabilities, and efficient data management.
Ports Collection
The FreeBSD Ports Collection offers a vast selection of pre-packaged software that eases the installation of applications and their dependencies.
Security Features
FreeBSD is known for its strong security features, such as jails for process separation and Capsicum, a capability-based security framework.

Possible disadvantages of FreeBSD

Hardware Compatibility
FreeBSD may have limited support for certain hardware devices compared to other operating systems like Windows or Linux.
Learning Curve
The system can be complex for new users, requiring a significant amount of time and effort to become proficient, especially if they are accustomed to more user-friendly environments.
Smaller Community
Compared to Linux, FreeBSD has a smaller user and developer community, which might result in less community-driven support and fewer available resources.
Limited Desktop Support
While FreeBSD can be used on desktop systems, it is primarily optimized for servers and might not offer the same level of convenience or support for desktop applications and environments as Linux distros.
Software Availability
Although it has a vast Ports Collection, some software might not be available or can be more challenging to compile and maintain than on Linux.

Analysis of FreeBSD

Overall verdict

Yes, FreeBSD is considered a good operating system, particularly for users seeking stability, security, and high performance. It is highly respected in the open-source community and widely used in various applications, from web hosting to advanced networking solutions.

Why this product is good

FreeBSD is well-regarded for its advanced networking, performance, and security features. It offers a robust and flexible system that is ideal for building servers, embedded systems, and desktops. The operating system is known for its strong adherence to UNIX principles, its permissive licensing, and its extensive documentation. Additionally, FreeBSD provides a Ports collection with thousands of applications and a supportive community.

Recommended for

System administrators interested in building reliable and secure servers
Developers and users who appreciate a UNIX-like environment
Organizations seeking customizable and high-performance networking solutions
Anyone interested in contributing to or learning from a well-documented open-source project
Users who prefer permissive licensing for software redistribution

Devuan GNU+Linux videos

+ Add

Devuan GNU+Linux 3.0.0 overview | software freedom, your way

FreeBSD videos

+ Add

FreeBSD 12 Review - Used as my daily OS

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Devuan GNU+Linux and FreeBSD)

FreeBSD

Linux Distribution

41 41%

Linux Distribution

59% 59

Linux

25 25%

Linux

75% 75

Operating Systems

35 35%

Operating Systems

65% 65

Linux Distro

100 100%

Linux Distro

0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using Devuan GNU+Linux and FreeBSD. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Devuan GNU+Linux and FreeBSD

Devuan GNU+Linux Reviews

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FreeBSD Reviews

Best free Linux router and firewall distributions of 2023

OpenBSD and FreeBSD are actively developed and are very capable, but these systems require a high level of understanding of operating system internals and low-level networking to be used as routers.

Source: teklager.se

Avoid The Hack: 11 Best Privacy Friendly Operating Systems (Desktops)

With "Linuxulator," FreeBSD has compatibility with Linux binaries. Linuxulator can run unmodified Linux binaries without using virtual machines or emulation. Additionally, FreeBSD has tens of thousands ported libraries and applications.

Source: avoidthehack.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, FreeBSD should be more popular than Devuan GNU+Linux. It has been mentiond 22 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Devuan GNU+Linux mentions (7)

Store birth date in systemd for age verification
Hello, as always: imho. (!) idk the exact procedure which will apply to enter the birth-date on such a system, but if other comments are correct: just enter what you want! There will be no real possibility to tie this to anything "legal" / to "enforce" any "official" check of lets say your passport or other governmental id. And if in my personal opinion (!) the pretty crazy guy behind the systemd-project tries to... - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
User and Admin Documentation?
I'm a new user with first install. Are there any user guides / admin guides available? I'm not seeing much documentation available at devuan.org -- maybe my eyes glaze over(?). Source: over 3 years ago
I removed Gnome and snapd from Ubuntu and it turns out the system underneath is reasonably lightweight with 130M ram and 2.8G disk usage.
If Canonical spin a variant without systemd, possibly choosing Devuan as the base, it'll be great. Possibly, less resource hungry. Source: over 4 years ago
Trisquel GNU/Linux
Trisquel's FAQ says: > Why should I use Trisquel instead of one of the better-known distributions? > There are literally hundreds of GNU/Linux distributions designed to fill every conceivable niche. Only a handful of them are entirely free software; Trisquel is one such distribution. ... But I disagree. Trisquel is based on ubuntu, and uses systemd. Not just as some optional init system you can remove -... - Source: Hacker News / over 4 years ago
Move from Ubuntu?
If you're experienced, look at Devuan Chimaera. BTW, I always felt Gnome is the most productive work environment with that UI. I think Cinnamon may come close. Source: over 4 years ago

FreeBSD mentions (22)

Why do we need DNSSEC?
Optional, alternative standards don't have visibility and don't get used. Without a way to measure, nothing happens. There was once a few, UX-hostile DNSSEC & DANE browser extensions but these never worked well and were discontinued. Purveyors of functional DNSSEC: https://freebsd.org. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
I've never used FreeBSD and have some questions
Aside from being UNIX based, what similarities does it share with Linux? Both have monolithic kernels. Source based build systems are offered (ports, which are like the portage system on Gentoo) as well as binary build systems (pkg, which is like apt, yum, pacman, etc.) Both offer a lot of free software, though more licenses are compatible with FreeBSD like CDDL, which is not compatible Linux. Both let you... Source: over 2 years ago
FreeBSD turns 30 today!
There's no mention of a birthday on their site, and its footer says 1995-2023. That must be just the site, because Wikipedia tells me FreeBSD's initial release was indeed, but not quite, 30 years ago, November 1st 1993. Still no birthday. Source: about 3 years ago
Computer
I'm not the right person to ask this -- I just run it on whatever I happen to have. But I think sleep and wifi (for example) have issues with different hardware, so you'd have to do your homework. The FreeBSD handbook on freebsd.org is always very helpful to me. You can try it out with a live cd / thumbdrive to see how much supported hardware you've got. My Lenovo X1 from a couple years ago works for what I... Source: about 3 years ago
Can SGI’s Enthusiast Community Bring IRIX Back to Life?
People are still actively working on Illumos. The last change was yesterday morning. * https://illumos.org People are still actively working on MirBSD. There's a CVS commit account that can be followed on the FediVerse. * http://www.mirbsd.org It's DragonFly BSD, not Dragon BSD, and the irony of that is that you missed FreeBSD, which is of course still going. * https://dragonflybsd.org * https://freebsd.org As... - Source: Hacker News / about 3 years ago