After the flood of Fedora Core 6 and Ubuntu 6.10 reviews, here is a review of PC-BSD 1.3 Beta. "PC-BSD has improved quite a bit and the use of its open-source PBI packaging system is a great idea. Although it obviously means there might be a minor delay in newly released products being ported over to the PBI package system, novice users will rejoice because the wait is well worth it. PC-BSD is a well oiled machine with its quick response times, even if you don't have that much memory in your system. Its implementation of a clean interface is welcomed by me and not having a 3D enabled desktop is not something I really would worry about unless you are an eye-candy lover."
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
Member since:2006-10-08
"The PBI's are for persons who probably don't even know what a lib or a dependency is."
For me, the PBI system seems to be good solution for PC-BSD users with smaller experiences in computer administration. It's okay so.
"If you want to optimize your software usage under PC-BSD just use ports and leave PBI behind."
PC-BSD offers various ways to maintain software (e. g xmms):
1. PBI system
Enough said, just click on "xmms". :-)
2. Ported applications (ports collection)
a) Use "old fashioned" way:
# cd /usr/ports/multimedia/xmms/
# make install
# make clean
b) Use helper programs:
# cd /usr/ports/
# portinstall -pp -P multimedia/xmms
Note: Use "make update" to get up-to-date ports collection; know targets "fetch", "extract", "patch" and "package" as well.
3. Pre-compiled packages
# pkg_add -r xmms && pkgdb -aF
4. Build from (external) source
(insert tar xjf and cd commands here)
# ./configure
# make
# make install
So you have the choice. You can do everything a "real" FreeBSD can PLUS using the PBI system.
I took a look to the 1.3 Beta. Wow, not bad! Runs with ATI Radeon, bktr0 and stuff. Even on "older" hardware. (Imagine what's "older" x86 hardware on your own.)
But... not so good... german I18N, "as usual"... :-( Admitted... most german users won't notice because we have a high rate of (functional) illeratatism here; many people have certain problems on language issues.
(Personally, I prefer a "normal" FreeBSD with WindowMaker GUI and in english please - because the german I18N is too bad to use.)
Edited 2006-10-31 11:23
Member since:2006-08-27
Why is this an either-or situation? You don't solve the dependency problem by banning dependencies. Windows can use local per-app DLLs, but mostly shared libaries are installed in shareable locations. And Windows users deal with this just fine. Even though they "don't even know what a lib or dependency is"! Really!
You can have your one-click installs AND shared libraries at the same time.
p.s. Class exercise: multiply the number of executables on the system by the size of all shared libraries present.
Member since:2005-07-24
"""Why is this an either-or situation? You don't solve the dependency problem by banning dependencies."""
I commend you on your sanity. OK. Maybe sanity is something that we can take for granted of the participants in *most* threads on OSNews. (And then again... maybe not.) But in this one, it is definitely worth noting. ;-)
Edited 2006-10-31 15:08
Member since:
2006-10-20
All of you who say PC-BSD sucks because the design of the package system doesn't use a share libs design can go take a walk outside and cool for a bit. The PBI's are for persons who probably don't even know what a lib or a dependency is. If you want to optimize your software usage under PC-BSD just use ports and leave PBI behind.