The future of FreeBSD as an OS?

Software & Web Applications
1

Hi all,

I’m sure like a few here, I’ve been using FreeBSD as a server operating system for a number years. This includes web servers and storage, due it’s strengths in its networking and storage stack.

However, there appears to be a steady decline in support for the OS from key projects like:

  • TrueNAS Core
  • pfSense
  • Junos

The donor list still seems quite strong but I’m not sure how long this last.

Does FreeBSD still have a future? I’m not asking for clickbait. I’m genuinely asking because I have a number of projects that I had planned to use FreeBSD but given these developments I’m not so sure.

One such project is to migrate from an ageing Synology NAS. Originally I was looking at TrueNAS Core with custom hardware but we know where that’s going. So I’m left with another Synology, TrueNAS Scale or just go vanilla FreeBSD.

Thanks

2

It’s far from gone but I would not bet my future on it either.

1 Like
3

Thanks for the quick response. That’s vibe I seem to be getting as well. It’s a shame but I guess it’s a good time to rip off the bandaid.

4

That list seems strong?? Compared to what?

Part of me wishes BSD had a strong future, but then the rest of me remembers that I don’t care about the kernel. As long as the GNU tools and FHS are basically in place, why would I think twice about the kernel?

Which is a fair question for you, why think about the kernel? Am I missing something about freeBSD that is super noteworthy (yes, freebsd is technically more than just the kernel)?

I know 99% of the bsd love from these forums is tied to their love for pfsense. I bet nobody donates directly to bsd.

5

I remember Tom posted a pie chart of the companies contributing to FreeBSD and that list was pretty small to begin with. Seeming this rapid decline I wouldn’t keep pursuing this OS. I think Netflix is the only company really pulling FreeBSD along.

I don’t know if it is “far from over”, but it does look like companies are abandoning FreeBSD over linux and rightfully so. Linux has a ton more contributors than FreeBSD and makes more sense as a business to develop off that.

6

BSD is one of those things that had a good history but has kind of died out in terms of popularity. Almost everything these days is Linux focused instead of BSD focused.

I do not think it will ever go away but it will at some point it will be the equivalent of FreeDOS and other smaller OS projects.