Desktop Install Option
So, I've been wondering about something. FreeBSD is a general purpose operating system, even though it has historically only heavily been used on servers. Why is it that FreeBSD doesn't provide a desktop installation, something similar to say Debian's option of Standard Desktop? For those who need it, it'd be great. -- No person has sustained greater loss than that whose learning could not restrain him from indulging in vices. | Imam Abu Hanifa Sabeeh Ahmed Baig ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Desktop Install Option
Hi, So, I've been wondering about something. FreeBSD is a general purpose operating system, even though it has historically only heavily been used on servers. Why is it that FreeBSD doesn't provide a desktop installation, something similar to say Debian's option of Standard Desktop? For those who need it, it'd be great. Not sure what you are looking for but I have a feeling that it may be something like http://www.freebsd.org/cgi/url.cgi?ports/sysutils/desktopbsd-tools/pkg-descr http://desktopbsd.net/ Rgds, Peter. -- GRATIS für alle GMX-Mitglieder: Die maxdome Movie-FLAT! Jetzt freischalten unter http://portal.gmx.net/de/go/maxdome01 ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Desktop Install Option
Sabeeh Baig wrote: So, I've been wondering about something. FreeBSD is a general purpose operating system, even though it has historically only heavily been used on servers. Why is it that FreeBSD doesn't provide a desktop installation, something similar to say Debian's option of Standard Desktop? For those who need it, it'd be great. God willing, the majority of effort in regards to FreeBSD will be spent where it always has. FreeBSD is not Linux. There are those who are working toward making a GUI easier-to-implement, but afaik, that is not (and hope not) the design goal. Instead of Desktop features to appeal to people, what FreeBSD really needs is people who are willing to take the time to drop the GUI for a few weeks, and gain a bit of exposure and enlightenment. If it clicks, you're hooked. If not, then there's Linux and Windows. Steve smime.p7s Description: S/MIME Cryptographic Signature
Re: Desktop Install Option
Hi, On Wed, Aug 19, 2009 at 1:54 AM, Sabeeh Baigsba...@jhu.edu wrote: So, I've been wondering about something. FreeBSD is a general purpose operating system, even though it has historically only heavily been used on servers. Why is it that FreeBSD doesn't provide a desktop installation, something similar to say Debian's option of Standard Desktop? For those who need it, it'd be great. You may want to have a look at: http://freebsd-custom.wikidot.com http://pcbsd.org/ http://desktopbsd.net -- Glen Barber ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Desktop Install Option
On Wed, Aug 19, 2009 at 12:54 AM, Sabeeh Baigsba...@jhu.edu wrote: So, I've been wondering about something. FreeBSD is a general purpose operating system, even though it has historically only heavily been used on servers. Why is it that FreeBSD doesn't provide a desktop installation, something similar to say Debian's option of Standard Desktop? For those who need it, it'd be great. -- Sabeeh Ahmed Baig I am of the opinion that specializing in everything is the same thing as specializing in nothing. (Said another way: If everything is a priority, nothing is.) Every operating system has its strengths and weaknesses. The more an operating system becomes all-things-to-all-users, the more it tends to lose its comparative edge in any one area. All of that being said, PC-BSD is a desktop solution on FreeBSD. You can download it for free or purchase it with support: http://www.pcbsd.org/ Andrew ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Desktop Install Option
On Wed, Aug 19, 2009 at 12:54 AM, Sabeeh Baig sba...@jhu.edu wrote: So, I've been wondering about something. FreeBSD is a general purpose operating system, even though it has historically only heavily been used on servers. Why is it that FreeBSD doesn't provide a desktop installation, something similar to say Debian's option of Standard Desktop? On Debian Lenny, let me know how the install of kde4 goes. Not attempting to disregard your view, just saying there are roadblocks to every approach. IMO, the FreeBSD method allows for greatest flexibility. For those who need it, it'd be great. -- Adam Vande More ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Desktop Install Option
On Wed, Aug 19, 2009 at 01:54:51AM -0400, Sabeeh Baig wrote: So, I've been wondering about something. FreeBSD is a general purpose operating system, even though it has historically only heavily been used on servers. Why is it that FreeBSD doesn't provide a desktop installation, something similar to say Debian's option of Standard Desktop? For those who need it, it'd be great. Really, all the desktop options you get on Linux are available for FreeBSD.KDE and Gnome are the main things and many people install one of them to make a desktop environment. The main difference with FreeBSD over Lunix is that Linux sort of forces it on you and FreeBSD gives you a choice. That means you have to click one more thing during installation to get that stuff installed. But, if you are doing a server, you don't have to spend an extra hour or two getting rid of all the bloat you don't need or want like on some other systems. To add to that, some people have packaged desktop versions of FreeBSD with all those gui extras already included just to make you happy. Probably someone else will post their favorites with links. jerry -- No person has sustained greater loss than that whose learning could not restrain him from indulging in vices. | Imam Abu Hanifa Sabeeh Ahmed Baig ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Desktop Install Option
Andrew Gould wrote: On Wed, Aug 19, 2009 at 12:54 AM, Sabeeh Baigsba...@jhu.edu wrote: So, I've been wondering about something. FreeBSD is a general purpose operating system, even though it has historically only heavily been used on servers. Why is it that FreeBSD doesn't provide a desktop installation, something similar to say Debian's option of Standard Desktop? For those who need it, it'd be great. -- Sabeeh Ahmed Baig I am of the opinion that specializing in everything is the same thing as specializing in nothing. (Said another way: If everything is a priority, nothing is.) Every operating system has its strengths and weaknesses. The more an operating system becomes all-things-to-all-users, the more it tends to lose its comparative edge in any one area. All of that being said, PC-BSD is a desktop solution on FreeBSD. You can download it for free or purchase it with support: http://www.pcbsd.org/ That's true, but the FreeBSD thing is performance[*] which, curiously enough is at the core of a good desktop system as well as the core of a good server system. In fact, the missing parts required to make a good desktop out of FreeBSD are more to do with graphics hardware support -- much of which comes out of the Xorg project now -- and support for various proprietary data formats and software packages like flash, and, of course, a really well written user interface. Or to put it another way, you can build a good desktop system based on a good server OS, but it's pretty hard to build a good desktop system based on a bad server OS. Cheers, Matthew [*] and for completeness, the NetBSD thing is portability, and the OpenBSD thing is security. Not that the big three *BSDs are entirely lacking in any of those departments. -- Dr Matthew J Seaman MA, D.Phil. Flat 3 7 Priory Courtyard PGP: http://www.infracaninophile.co.uk/pgpkey Ramsgate Kent, CT11 9PW, UK signature.asc Description: OpenPGP digital signature
Re: Desktop Install Option
Op woensdag 19 augustus 2009 09:18:15 schreef Steve Bertrand: Sabeeh Baig wrote: So, I've been wondering about something. FreeBSD is a general purpose operating system, even though it has historically only heavily been used on servers. Why is it that FreeBSD doesn't provide a desktop installation, something similar to say Debian's option of Standard Desktop? For those who need it, it'd be great. God willing, the majority of effort in regards to FreeBSD will be spent where it always has. FreeBSD is not Linux. There are those who are working toward making a GUI easier-to-implement, but afaik, that is not (and hope not) the design goal. Instead of Desktop features to appeal to people, what FreeBSD really needs is people who are willing to take the time to drop the GUI for a few weeks, and gain a bit of exposure and enlightenment. If it clicks, you're hooked. If not, then there's Linux and Windows. Steve That seems to be the standard answer here when (periodicaly) this questions comes up :-) We don't need it (the we being the server-gurus). It's that or if you want it, do it yourself. But to me it seems that the question returns regularly and that there must be a certain demand for it. So why don't you let the user decide if he wants a bloated desktop or a lean mean server ? Now I don't have that option... That is why I run pc-bsd now. They are able to do a GUI install of a desktop on top of a solid OS, something that the hardcore server/headless/serial/admins/whatever users here don't seem to care about. And yes, I know this discussion has been done already several times here :-) -- Beni. ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Desktop Install Option
On Wed, Aug 19, 2009 at 05:00:27PM +0200, beni wrote: Op woensdag 19 augustus 2009 09:18:15 schreef Steve Bertrand: Sabeeh Baig wrote: So, I've been wondering about something. FreeBSD is a general purpose operating system, even though it has historically only heavily been used on servers. Why is it that FreeBSD doesn't provide a desktop installation, something similar to say Debian's option of Standard Desktop? For those who need it, it'd be great. God willing, the majority of effort in regards to FreeBSD will be spent where it always has. FreeBSD is not Linux. There are those who are working toward making a GUI easier-to-implement, but afaik, that is not (and hope not) the design goal. Instead of Desktop features to appeal to people, what FreeBSD really needs is people who are willing to take the time to drop the GUI for a few weeks, and gain a bit of exposure and enlightenment. If it clicks, you're hooked. If not, then there's Linux and Windows. Steve That seems to be the standard answer here when (periodicaly) this questions comes up :-) We don't need it (the we being the server-gurus). It's that or if you want it, do it yourself. But to me it seems that the question returns regularly and that there must be a certain demand for it. So why don't you let the user decide if he wants a bloated desktop or a lean mean server ? Now I don't have that option... That is why I run pc-bsd now. They are able to do a GUI install of a desktop on top of a solid OS, something that the hardcore server/headless/serial/admins/whatever users here don't seem to care about. And yes, I know this discussion has been done already several times here :-) FreeBSD is the one that does let users have an option. One of those options is pcBSD. There are others who make up a bundle with FreeBSD as the base OS that already has your GUI and other things built for you -- a FreeBSD desktop. I hear they install real easily and work well.It is not what I need so I haven't tried them, but rather than raile at those who are building a good platform, just go and get one of those bundles. Seems you actually have already - a pretty close to FreeBSD based bundle anyway. jerry -- Beni. ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Desktop Install Option
On Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:57:21 -0400, Jerry McAllister jerr...@msu.edu wrote: FreeBSD is the one that does let users have an option. One of those options is pcBSD. There are others who make up a bundle with FreeBSD as the base OS that already has your GUI and other things built for you -- a FreeBSD desktop. I hear they install real easily and work well.It is not what I need so I haven't tried them, but rather than raile at those who are building a good platform, just go and get one of those bundles. Seems you actually have already - a pretty close to FreeBSD based bundle anyway. Even if you state the existance of FreeBSD based preinstalled and preconfigured GUI oriented desktop environments, the next problem that will arise is the availability of a live file system that can be booted and tried out, such as: The $NAME Linux distribution can be run from a DVD and I don't have to install it in order to try it out. And when I want, I can install it from the same media. Why can't FreeBSD have such thing? The answer is: Is has. After a short read on the homepage of the FreeBSD project, the reader will have learned that there is a live file system (Fixit) on the install CDs or DVDs. But that's text mode, so no deal. BUT projects like FreeSBIE feature a XFCE driven FreeBSD based preinstalled and preconfigured GUI oriented desktop environment that can be used without installing anything. It's very useful for diagnostics and recovery preparations. And it's FreeBSD. I just wanted to mention it, in case a question like above arises. It usually does. :-) -- Polytropon Magdeburg, Germany Happy FreeBSD user since 4.0 Andra moi ennepe, Mousa, ... ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Desktop Install Option
On Wed, Aug 19, 2009 at 01:54:51AM -0400, Sabeeh Baig wrote: So, I've been wondering about something. FreeBSD is a general purpose operating system, even though it has historically only heavily been used on servers. Why is it that FreeBSD doesn't provide a desktop installation, something similar to say Debian's option of Standard Desktop? For those who need it, it'd be great. Just install any of the destkop environment ports like Gnome, KDE or XFCE, whichever takes your fancy. That will give you the basics. Other apps are just a port away. :-) My workstation has been running FreeBSD since 5.3-RELEASE. Roland -- R.F.Smith http://www.xs4all.nl/~rsmith/ [plain text _non-HTML_ PGP/GnuPG encrypted/signed email much appreciated] pgp: 1A2B 477F 9970 BA3C 2914 B7CE 1277 EFB0 C321 A725 (KeyID: C321A725) pgpUrcd1koh7Y.pgp Description: PGP signature
Re: Desktop Install Option
Sabeeh Baig wrote: So, I've been wondering about something. FreeBSD is a general purpose operating system, even though it has historically only heavily been used on servers. Why is it that FreeBSD doesn't provide a desktop installation, something similar to say Debian's option of Standard Desktop? For those who need it, it'd be great. Aloha Manolis Desk Top with XFCE works! Have a look at Manolis Kiagias work at http://freebsd-custom.wikidot.com/downloads-page I run it on a HP MIni from a San Disk. +++ -- ~Al Plant - Honolulu, Hawaii - Phone: 808-284-2740 + http://hawaiidakine.com + http://freebsdinfo.org + + http://aloha50.net - Supporting - FreeBSD 6.* - 7.* - 8.* + email: n...@hdk5.net All that's really worth doing is what we do for others.- Lewis Carrol ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
