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FreeBSD Handbook / Introduction

docs.freebsd.org

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Re: FreeBSD Handbook / Introduction

#11

Post by comprev »

benwills wrote: post #7
r3trohack3r wrote: post #5

The FreeBSD handbook, and FreeBSD’s bit-rot resistant documentation, are the primary reasons I use it as a daily driver. I migrated from Linux on the Laptop ~1.5 years ago and my day-to-day has been more calm ever since.

It seems that finding a FreeBSD-compatible laptop can be a bit of a process. I've been considering the same for the last couple years, but always end up hesitating once I get into researching it. Are you up for sharing which laptop you got? And do you have any advice on the process of choosing one? My needs are pretty basic (no gaming, etc): web browser, sublimetext, command line.

Judging by this list [0] Thinkpads seem to have a good reputation, like they do for Linux too.

[0] https://wiki.freebsd.org/Laptops

Re: FreeBSD Handbook / Introduction

#12

Post by hericium »

benwills wrote: post #7
r3trohack3r wrote: post #5

The FreeBSD handbook, and FreeBSD’s bit-rot resistant documentation, are the primary reasons I use it as a daily driver. I migrated from Linux on the Laptop ~1.5 years ago and my day-to-day has been more calm ever since.

It seems that finding a FreeBSD-compatible laptop can be a bit of a process. I've been considering the same for the last couple years, but always end up hesitating once I get into researching it. Are you up for sharing which laptop you got? And do you have any advice on the process of choosing one? My needs are pretty basic (no gaming, etc): web browser, sublimetext, command line.

ThinkPads usually work well.

My T14s AMD Gen1 lacks fingerprint scanner support and as of now, AC/AX WiFi drivers are in very alpha stage, so I had to downgrade to 80211n.

Everything else, including AMD GPU acceleration in X.org, works perfectly. I am glad to be able to do some tinkering to have a system working just as I want it to, not like some corporation's investors prefer.

Re: FreeBSD Handbook / Introduction

#13

Post by benwills »

comprev wrote: post #11
benwills wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It seems that finding a FreeBSD-compatible laptop can be a bit of a process. I've been considering the same for the last couple years, but always end up hesitating once I get into researching it. Are you up for sharing which laptop you got? And do you have any advice on the process of choosing one? My needs are pretty basic (no gaming, etc): web browser, sublimetext, command line.

Judging by this list [0] Thinkpads seem to have a good reputation, like they do for Linux too. [0] https://wiki.freebsd.org/Laptops

Yeah, I've reviewed that and other forums as well and previously narrowed it down to 3-4 options (It was a while back and I don't remember which).

I'm expecting I just have to make the decision at some point, and work through whatever comes up.

Re: FreeBSD Handbook / Introduction

#14

Post by benwills »

hericium wrote: post #12
benwills wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It seems that finding a FreeBSD-compatible laptop can be a bit of a process. I've been considering the same for the last couple years, but always end up hesitating once I get into researching it. Are you up for sharing which laptop you got? And do you have any advice on the process of choosing one? My needs are pretty basic (no gaming, etc): web browser, sublimetext, command line.

ThinkPads usually work well. My T14s AMD Gen1 lacks fingerprint scanner support and as of now, AC/AX WiFi drivers are in very alpha stage, so I had to downgrade to 80211n. Everything else, including AMD GPU acceleration in X.org, works perfectly. I am glad to be able to do some tinkering to have a system working just as I want it to, not like some corporation's investors prefer.

Cool. Thanks for that. I think I'd be fine on 80211n.

Re: FreeBSD Handbook / Introduction

#15

Post by nauticacom »

r3trohack3r wrote: post #5

The FreeBSD handbook, and FreeBSD’s bit-rot resistant documentation, are the primary reasons I use it as a daily driver. I migrated from Linux on the Laptop ~1.5 years ago and my day-to-day has been more calm ever since.

I've been thinking of throwing FreeBSD on an old Thinkpad and trying to use it normally. Right now I run Debian, with most of my work happening in Firefox or the shell.

Is there anything you didn't even think about that ended up being a problem, or noticeably worse? Or the opposite, something you thought would be an issue but wasn't?

Re: FreeBSD Handbook / Introduction

#17

Post by andrewzah »

nauticacom wrote: post #15
r3trohack3r wrote: post #5

The FreeBSD handbook, and FreeBSD’s bit-rot resistant documentation, are the primary reasons I use it as a daily driver. I migrated from Linux on the Laptop ~1.5 years ago and my day-to-day has been more calm ever since.

I've been thinking of throwing FreeBSD on an old Thinkpad and trying to use it normally. Right now I run Debian, with most of my work happening in Firefox or the shell. Is there anything you didn't even think about that ended up being a problem, or noticeably worse? Or the opposite, something you thought would be an issue but wasn't?

FreeBSD runs pretty nice on thinkpads. I've thrown it (and OpenBSD) on my x201s and x220s. There are a few pain points:

* getting used to the BSD version of utilities. make frequently breaks for me, and last time I used gmake there were still issues.

* random software isn't packaged or just doesn't run/build on *BSDs well.

* lack of support for games. these days, steam games run rather well on linux as long as they don't require anticheats.

* no docker. this is what keeps me on linux, I use it every day for work and I have a server at home running software through docker containers.

For me, OpenBSD is the goto.. for servers. I still stick with debian or arch for my daily drivers.

Re: FreeBSD Handbook / Introduction

#18

Post by dddddaviddddd »

nauticacom wrote: post #15
r3trohack3r wrote: post #5

The FreeBSD handbook, and FreeBSD’s bit-rot resistant documentation, are the primary reasons I use it as a daily driver. I migrated from Linux on the Laptop ~1.5 years ago and my day-to-day has been more calm ever since.

I've been thinking of throwing FreeBSD on an old Thinkpad and trying to use it normally. Right now I run Debian, with most of my work happening in Firefox or the shell. Is there anything you didn't even think about that ended up being a problem, or noticeably worse? Or the opposite, something you thought would be an issue but wasn't?

WiFi is currently limited to 802.11n on all chipsets. Work to support 802.11ac (and more wireless cards) is ongoing and looks to me like it could be ready in 2022. Also, options for videoconferencing programs (Zoom, Skype) are poor, you're effectively limited to browser-based versions, which don't perform well with an iGPU at least.

Re: FreeBSD Handbook / Introduction

#19

Post by Ducki »

r3trohack3r wrote: post #5

The FreeBSD handbook, and FreeBSD’s bit-rot resistant documentation, are the primary reasons I use it as a daily driver. I migrated from Linux on the Laptop ~1.5 years ago and my day-to-day has been more calm ever since.

The system is just so nice. Memory footprint is very low, there are like a hand full of processes running, almost no magical stuff happening. Additionally to the handbook, the man pages are also way more informative than the Linux pendants.

Re: FreeBSD Handbook / Introduction

#20

Post by jrumbut »

packetlost wrote: post #9
erk__ wrote: post #2

It should be noted that this is a redesign of the old docs site that recently went live.

Oh wow, yeah. Finally looks like FreeBSD grew out of the 2005 era. I say that only half jokingly, the previous design was very dated, but still every bit as functional for it's purpose.

I saw horizontal scrolling and got nervous, but then I realized they were just hiding a "scroll to top" button over there.

Delightful!

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