DesktopBSD
Encyclopedia
DesktopBSD is a Unix
-derivative, desktop
-oriented operating system
based on FreeBSD
. Its goal is to combine the stability of FreeBSD with the ease-of-use of KDE
, which is the default graphical user interface
.
of FreeBSD. DesktopBSD is always based on FreeBSD's latest stable branch but incorporates certain customized, pre-installed software such as KDE and DesktopBSD utilities and configuration files.
A common misconception about DesktopBSD is that it is intended as a rival to PC-BSD
as a BSD-based desktop distribution, since they are similar in structure and goals. However, the DesktopBSD project was started approximately one year before the PC-BSD project, despite the fact that the first PC-BSD release came out before DesktopBSD's. Neither the DesktopBSD nor PC-BSD projects intend to rival each other and are completely independent projects with distinctive features and intended outcomes: e.g., DesktopBSD uses ports and packages for additional software installation, whereas PC-BSD introduced PBIs.
The current release is 1.7 which was made available on September 7, 2009. The release announcement stated "This is the last and final release of the DesktopBSD project" because the lead developer could no longer contribute the time required to maintain it.
As of May 2010 development of DesktopBSD has been restarted under new leadership.
On 7 September 2009 DesktopBSD 1.7 was made available on the project site.
Unix
Unix is a multitasking, multi-user computer operating system originally developed in 1969 by a group of AT&T employees at Bell Labs, including Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Brian Kernighan, Douglas McIlroy, and Joe Ossanna...
-derivative, desktop
Desktop computer
A desktop computer is a personal computer in a form intended for regular use at a single location, as opposed to a mobile laptop or portable computer. Early desktop computers are designed to lay flat on the desk, while modern towers stand upright...
-oriented operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
based on FreeBSD
FreeBSD
FreeBSD is a free Unix-like operating system descended from AT&T UNIX via BSD UNIX. Although for legal reasons FreeBSD cannot be called “UNIX”, as the direct descendant of BSD UNIX , FreeBSD’s internals and system APIs are UNIX-compliant...
. Its goal is to combine the stability of FreeBSD with the ease-of-use of KDE
KDE
KDE is an international free software community producing an integrated set of cross-platform applications designed to run on Linux, FreeBSD, Microsoft Windows, Solaris and Mac OS X systems...
, which is the default graphical user interface
Graphical user interface
In computing, a graphical user interface is a type of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices with images rather than text commands. GUIs can be used in computers, hand-held devices such as MP3 players, portable media players or gaming devices, household appliances and...
.
History and development
DesktopBSD is essentially a customized installation of FreeBSD and is not a forkFork (software development)
In software engineering, a project fork happens when developers take a legal copy of source code from one software package and start independent development on it, creating a distinct piece of software...
of FreeBSD. DesktopBSD is always based on FreeBSD's latest stable branch but incorporates certain customized, pre-installed software such as KDE and DesktopBSD utilities and configuration files.
A common misconception about DesktopBSD is that it is intended as a rival to PC-BSD
PC-BSD
PC-BSD is a Unix-like, desktop-oriented operating system based on FreeBSD. It aims to be easy to install by using a graphical installation program, and easy and ready-to-use immediately by providing KDE SC as the pre-installed graphical user interface. PC-BSD provides official binary nVidia and...
as a BSD-based desktop distribution, since they are similar in structure and goals. However, the DesktopBSD project was started approximately one year before the PC-BSD project, despite the fact that the first PC-BSD release came out before DesktopBSD's. Neither the DesktopBSD nor PC-BSD projects intend to rival each other and are completely independent projects with distinctive features and intended outcomes: e.g., DesktopBSD uses ports and packages for additional software installation, whereas PC-BSD introduced PBIs.
The current release is 1.7 which was made available on September 7, 2009. The release announcement stated "This is the last and final release of the DesktopBSD project" because the lead developer could no longer contribute the time required to maintain it.
As of May 2010 development of DesktopBSD has been restarted under new leadership.
Features
- Graphical installer allowing to partition disks and create users
- Graphical tool for managing, installing and updating software using FreeBSD ports system
- Graphical management of network interfaces and mounting/unmounting drives
1.7 Release
The 1.7 Release includes- Live-DVD feature - try the system before installing it
- FreeBSD 7.2 as stable and secure base system
- KDE 3.5.10 as mature and easy-to-use desktop environment
- OpenOffice.org 3.1.1 as feature-rich office suite
- Pre-installed Java SE 6 environment
- X.Org release 7.4 with extensive graphics support
- Large number of enhancements and fixes
- Support for GRUB as a boot menu (i386 only) and a graphical configuration tool
- Boot splash image management
On 7 September 2009 DesktopBSD 1.7 was made available on the project site.
External links
- DesktopBSD homepage, wiki and developer blog
- DesktopBSD 1.0 release notes
- BSDTalk Interview with Peter Hofer (DesktopBSD developer/mp3)
- DesktopBSD flyer Info from AllBSD.de (pdf/English)
- Using DesktopBSD Dru LavigneDru LavigneDru Lavigne is a network and systems administrator, IT instructor, technical writer and director at FreeBSD Foundation.She has been using FreeBSD since 1996, has authored several BSD books, and spent over 10 years developing training materials and providing training on the administration of FreeBSD...