On: Revisiting How We Put Together Linux Systems

[papaf]

How is this not Embrace Extend Extinguish?

1. Systemd as an alternative to Upstart and init.

2. Systemd does everything.

3. Systemd becomes more important than the distributions themselves.

I actually like their vision - I just wish my linux boxes were not part of it.

[joepvd → papaf]

A very apt summary.

Can anyone recommend something from The Other Side of the fence for desktop/laptop use? One of the BSDs? A spinoff from Solaris? Or, something else?

I currently use archlinux, and value the rolling release approach with precompiled binaries.

[justincormack → joepvd]

PC-BSD is the obvious option targeted at desktop. Normal.FreeBSD, NetBSD or OpenBSD are also options. The Solaris spinoffs are pretty much server targeted so not really recommended.

[techdragon → joepvd]

FreeBSD and the very desktop friendly PC-BSD

[kjs3 → joepvd]

I run FreeBSD on most things that I care about running long term these days, tho PC-BSD probably makes more sense for end-user use. I'll caveat that by saying *BSD isn't Linux, and it does a lot of stuff differently, so expect a learning curve and a need to embrace certain new ways of doing things.