I Like NetBSD, or Why Portability Matters

NetBSD, one of the oldest BSD operating systems, was first released in 1993 and is known for its focus on portability. It is based on the original UCB 4.3 BSD and offers a minimal desktop environment. While other BSDs like FreeBSD and OpenBSD are more popular, NetBSD maintains a niche appeal due to its extensive portability, supporting multiple hardware architectures with 8 "tier-1" and 49 "tier-2" ports. Its package manager, Pkgsrc, is compatible with 19 different operating systems. The philosophy behind NetBSD emphasizes high-quality, modular code, making it easy to understand and modify, which is beneficial for learning and sustainability. The author appreciates NetBSD for its simplicity and the ability to customize the system, contrasting it with commercial software that limits user control. The concept of "Permacomputing," which focuses on extending the life of systems and minimizing waste, resonates with the author's views on sustainability. NetBSD is accessible, flexible, and resilient, fulfilling many characteristics of a good system. Although it may not match the performance of FreeBSD or Linux, it offers a user-friendly experience with automatic hardware support and a minimal setup. The community around NetBSD values older technology, exemplified by users running it on vintage hardware. Overall, the author finds NetBSD's philosophy aligns with their own, appreciating its hackable nature and educational potential.