Linked by Uri Sharf on Mon 2nd May 2005 20:23 UTC
PC-BSD is a new FreeBSD 5.3 distribution, with a graphical installer and KDE 3.4 as its desktop. A new beta version was just released, and though I can't say I have much experience with FreeBSD, or any *BSD for that matter, I was curious enough to try it. And I'm glad I did. From a desktop user's point of view, completely oblivious to the many virtues and sound foundation of all things BSD, all I really ever wanted was an OS that is solid, easy to install and, well ... fun to work with.
Permalink for comment
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
If PC-BSD wants to be a viable DESKTOP OS, it needs to deal with two problems: Flash and JAVA.
If I were them, I would ship an OS ready for both. linux_load="YES" in /boot/loader and options PSEUDOFS in the kernel for supporting linux's procfs. Entry in the fstab. libmap.conf set up in /etc/ for browser plugins (it's harmless even if you don't have linuxpluginwrapper).
1) Flash
The problem: no native flash from macromedia. Currently there is only flash6 support using linux binaries, but users have to edit a bunch of files and install a few dependencies (linux-base for instance) to get it working properly. Not that it is difficult, the instructions are pretty clear, it's just not as smooth as installing other apps. So PC-BSD should present a custom graphical installer for both flash and JAVA, explaining the situation. I have something simple in mind: a next next kind of wizard that first installs linux-base, then by pressing next, the pluginwrapper and the linux rpms.
2) JAVA. This is more difficult - and FreeBSD devs can do nothing about it. RMS, Perens, etc is right. JAVA is not free enough - FreeBSD cannot distribute JAVA binaries, so JAVA is usually build by hand (so there is native JAVA both 1.4.x and 1.5 - it just needs to be built). Correction: FreeBSD can distribute 1.3 JAVA - my question is: is that OK? I mean: does it work for all JAVA enabled websites? Because if it does, installation is simple enough. Install menu should offer a direct link to the site where the user can click to accept the licence, than download should be done automatically (or semi-automatically - a custom konqueror window would do the trick).
If however, 1.3 sucks too much, a user can be informed of the situation, and might be offered a choice: install JAVA when he or she can spare the time it needs to be built (or rather, his/her computer can spare the time). Java build needs 4GB space, so user might choose a partition with enough space to build it (offer it automatically, or display a message if there is no such partition). Remember the location, pass the variable to make, offer the easiest possible way to download/install linux-jdk (for bootstrap) - and the needed sources for the native build. This LOOKS like a very involved process, but if the installer is carefully thought out, it is not as complex as it may seem from my description:
1) Install Java button
2) Menu comes up with brief description (max 6-7 lines) of what will happen.
3) If user chooses to do it, next screen with "Now you'll be taken to a website where you must accept the licence" > take him/her there
4) Download/install automatically
5) Next step in the process - another EULA (yeah, see how free is JAVA) than automatic download of the needed files, begin build process, with estimated ETA (based on the characteristics of the machine - which might be presented at the beginning of the process, informing the user that he may leave his/her pc on for the weekend/night/whatever time period.
I know, this sucks, support Perens/RMS/whomever is complaining to SUN to rectify the situation. Petition Macromedia to provide native flash version (it shouldn't be too difficult).