Mastodawn

Y'know what? As an #opensource #advocate and #tech enthusiast, it's genuinely awesome to see increased mainstream coverage of #Linux and #FreeBSD. Unfortunately, a lot of these articles are riddled with mistakes, misinformation, clickbait, and overall low quality. A few minutes ago, while catching up on tech news I came across one #ZDNet author's frequent posts on Linux and FreeBSD.

To emphasize my point, I am only going to focus on one article titled, "After decades on Linux, FreeBSD finally gave me a reason to switch operating systems."

The following passages stuck out like sore thumb:

1.) "FreeBSD is more challenging than Linux."

-But is it really? Subjective, particularly if coming from a GUI-driven Linux distribution. Frankly I find FreeBSD easier because of the excellent documentation and coherent design.

2.) "FreeBSD is Unix-like" but further down he states, "Essentially, FreeBSD is Unix, where Linux is based on Unix."

-Contradictory, incorrect, and confusing for newcomers. FreeBSD is Unix. Linux (neither the kernel nor OS) is based on Unix.

3.) "Think of FreeBSD as a more challenging version of Linux. This operating system doesn't hold your hand, so you might learn a thing or two as you install it and the software you require. Even for a seasoned Linux veteran like me, FreeBSD can often be a head-scratcher."

-Challenging because it's *different than Linux*? FreeBSD doesn't hold your hand? What about #Debian, #Gentoo, #Arch, heck even #RHEL? Since the author didn't mention it, I'm going to assume he did not check the FreeBSD Handbook and his "seasoned Linux" experience has been using a Linux desktop for a couple years. Also, head-scratcher?! Being an experienced Debian user, I'd be scratching my head too if I just decided to use Gentoo on a whim. The trauma of hand-configuring the xorg.conf file was real.

Finally, contrary to the article's title, the author ended up not switching to FreeBSD.

-Clickbait.

I am all for more people exploring FreeBSD and Linux. They are great OSes but it is critical the information being reported is both accurate and consistent. For reference the article is linked below.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/freebsd-linux-review/

After decades on Linux, FreeBSD finally gave me a reason to switch operating systems

FreeBSD isn't Linux, but if you didn't know any better, you'd swear it was.

ZDNET

Show thread

Graham Perrin Feb 22

@peteorrall this was published with a different title, and URL, in December 2025.

The republication is not a bad thing.

When I first read the article by Jack Wallen, I took the time to also read about him, as a person. One of his personal blog posts inspired me to send an email that was entirely unrelated to technology.

When you introduced yourself to BSD Cafe, in May 2025, you reflected upon your many positive interactions with people.

Imagine, now, having a more positive interaction with @jwallen, who might, or might not, read your critique, and the responses (it seems that he has not posted since May 2023).

I encourage other readers to do the same. Be kind.

<https://web.archive.org/web/20251219061844/https:/www.zdnet.com/article/freebsd-will-challenge-your-skills-and-make-you-learn-along-the-way/>

I've used Linux for decades, but I'd switch to FreeBSD for this one feature | ZDNET

Discussion: <https://www.reddit.com/r/freebsd/comments/1pschir/ive_used_linux_for_decades_but_id_switch_to/>

cc @lproven

#FreeBSD

I've used Linux for decades, but I'd switch to FreeBSD for this one feature

FreeBSD isn't Linux, but if you didn't know any better, you'd swear it was.

ZDNET

Show thread

Pete Orrall

@grahamperrin @jwallen @lproven

Thanks for sharing.

I did read some about him *after* I posted. I also considered sending him an email. Maybe I should have done that. While an attack on him may have been perceived (it wasn't intended), but instead to call out the quality of information in the article.

Show thread

Graham Perrin Feb 22

@peteorrall thanks. I could make any number of points, I'll cherry-pick just two.

First, in Reddit:

＂Bear in mind, the audience is far broader than the existing FreeBSD user base. For someone who is aware of Linux but not FreeBSD, or for someone who is unreasonably prejudiced against FreeBSD, the article is an effective eye-opener.＂

Second, I'm often guilty of uninvited corrections to other people's writing, and I say "guilty" because look at the state of my blog: <https://fuzzy.wordpress.com/>. In a parallel universe: it's resurrected, I'm famous, and naturally, I fixed the Internet. In reality: it's a derelict shambles, I'm too embarrassed to click back beyond the most recent post (I vaguely recall cringing, years ago, when I last clicked), and the cringe is probably the mental block that prevents me from adding something modern. I might resurrect it before I retire. In the meantime: @lproven next time I split hairs about something of yours in El Reg, you're cordially invited to tell me to shut the fuck up and get my own house in order 🙃

<https://www.reddit.com/r/Blogging/comments/1endh3d/the_harsh_reality_of_blogging/>

― The harsh reality of blogging

<https://callfortesting.org/stopblogging/>

― CFT: Stop Blogging and Start Documenting

I strongly suspect that (a) I'm micro-blogging right now, and (b) my next effort will be a micro-blog, not a document.

Give a little whistle …

"Happiness is not a state to arrive at, but a manner of travelling" – Margaret Lee Runbeck

Give a little whistle …