freebsd-src

The FreeBSD src tree publish-only repository. Experimenting with 'simple' pull requests....

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illumos-gate

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An open-source Unix operating system

darwin-xnu

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Legacy mirror of Darwin Kernel. Replaced by https://github.com/apple-oss-distributions/xnu

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A free Windows-compatible Operating System

Quick Overview

FreeBSD is a free and open-source Unix-like operating system descended from the Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD). The freebsd/freebsd-src repository contains the entire source code for the FreeBSD operating system, including the kernel, drivers, and userland utilities. It serves as the central development hub for FreeBSD contributors and maintainers.

Pros

Robust and stable operating system with a long history of development
Excellent performance and scalability, particularly for server and network applications
Comprehensive documentation and a supportive community
Strong focus on security and reliability

Cons

Smaller user base compared to Linux, resulting in fewer third-party applications and less hardware support
Steeper learning curve for users coming from other operating systems
Less frequent release cycles compared to some Linux distributions
Limited gaming support due to fewer available drivers and compatibility layers

Getting Started

To get started with FreeBSD development:

Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/freebsd/freebsd-src.git

Set up a FreeBSD development environment (either on bare metal or in a virtual machine).
Familiarize yourself with the FreeBSD development process and coding style guidelines in the FreeBSD Handbook.
Join the FreeBSD mailing lists and IRC channels to connect with other developers and stay updated on project news.
Submit patches or bug reports through the FreeBSD Bugzilla system or via GitHub pull requests.

Competitor Comparisons

illumos-gate

1,627

An open-source Unix operating system

Pros of illumos-gate

More active community-driven development with diverse contributors
Better support for modern hardware and virtualization technologies
Enhanced security features, including Zones for containerization

Cons of illumos-gate

Smaller ecosystem and less widespread adoption compared to FreeBSD
Limited hardware support for certain devices and architectures
Steeper learning curve for system administration and development

Code Comparison

illumos-gate:

#if defined(__i386) || defined(__amd64)
#define	HAVE_EFFICIENT_UNALIGNED_ACCESS	1
#else
#define	HAVE_EFFICIENT_UNALIGNED_ACCESS	0
#endif

freebsd-src:

#if defined(__i386__) || defined(__amd64__)
#define	HAVE_EFFICIENT_UNALIGNED_ACCESS	1
#else
#define	HAVE_EFFICIENT_UNALIGNED_ACCESS	0
#endif

Both repositories show similar code structures for defining efficient unaligned access, with minor differences in syntax for architecture checks. illumos-gate uses __i386 and __amd64, while freebsd-src uses __i386__ and __amd64__.

darwin-xnu

10,997

Legacy mirror of Darwin Kernel. Replaced by https://github.com/apple-oss-distributions/xnu

Pros of darwin-xnu

Tightly integrated with Apple's ecosystem, optimized for macOS and iOS devices
Includes advanced features like Grand Central Dispatch for efficient multicore processing
Regularly updated with security patches and performance improvements

Cons of darwin-xnu

Closed-source components limit customization and community contributions
Less portable across different hardware architectures compared to FreeBSD
Smaller developer community and ecosystem outside of Apple's platforms

Code Comparison

darwin-xnu (Mach-based kernel):

kern_return_t
thread_create(
    task_t                  parent_task,
    thread_t                *child_thread)
{
    return thread_create_internal(parent_task, child_thread);
}

freebsd-src (monolithic kernel):

int
kern_kthread_create(void (*func)(void *), void *arg,
    struct thread **newpp, int flags, int pages, const char *fmt, ...)
{
    return kthread_add(func, arg, NULL, newpp, flags, pages, fmt);
}

Both repositories contain kernel source code, but darwin-xnu is based on the Mach microkernel architecture, while freebsd-src uses a monolithic kernel design. The code snippets show differences in thread creation APIs, reflecting their distinct architectures and design philosophies.

linux

180,417

Linux kernel source tree

Pros of Linux

Larger community and more widespread adoption, leading to extensive hardware support
More frequent updates and rapid development cycle
Broader range of distributions catering to various use cases

Cons of Linux

Less consistent system design due to diverse contributions
More complex licensing model (GPL) compared to FreeBSD's simpler BSD license
Potentially less stable due to faster release cycles and inclusion of cutting-edge features

Code Comparison

FreeBSD (kernel initialization):

void
mi_startup(void *dummy)
{
    struct timeval boottimer, dummytv;
    void *startkernel_args;

Linux (kernel initialization):

asmlinkage __visible void __init start_kernel(void)
{
    char *command_line;
    char *after_dashes;

Both snippets show the entry point for kernel initialization, but Linux uses the __init attribute for memory optimization, while FreeBSD doesn't have this specific attribute in the shown code.

reactos

14,565

A free Windows-compatible Operating System

Pros of ReactOS

Aims to be binary-compatible with Windows, allowing users to run Windows applications
More user-friendly for those familiar with Windows interfaces
Potentially easier transition for Windows users looking to switch to an open-source OS

Cons of ReactOS

Less mature and stable compared to FreeBSD
Smaller developer community and ecosystem
Limited hardware support compared to FreeBSD's extensive driver compatibility

Code Comparison

ReactOS (kernel initialization):

VOID
NTAPI
KiSystemStartup(IN PLOADER_PARAMETER_BLOCK LoaderBlock)
{
    /* Initialize the Kernel */
    KiInitializeKernel(LoaderBlock, (PKPCR)KeGetPcr(), TRUE);
}

FreeBSD (kernel initialization):

void
mi_startup(void *kmdp)
{
    /* Initialize the kernel */
    init_param1();
    init_param2(kmdp);
    init_param3();
}

Both projects have different approaches to kernel initialization, reflecting their distinct architectures and design philosophies. ReactOS aims to mimic Windows internals, while FreeBSD follows a Unix-like design.

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README

FreeBSD Source:

This is the top level of the FreeBSD source directory.

FreeBSD is an operating system used to power modern servers, desktops, and embedded platforms. A large community has continually developed it for more than thirty years. Its advanced networking, security, and storage features have made FreeBSD the platform of choice for many of the busiest web sites and most pervasive embedded networking and storage devices.

For copyright information, please see the file COPYRIGHT in this directory. Additional copyright information also exists for some sources in this tree - please see the specific source directories for more information.

The Makefile in this directory supports a number of targets for building components (or all) of the FreeBSD source tree. See build(7), config(8), FreeBSD handbook on building userland, and Handbook for kernels for more information, including setting make(1) variables.

For information on the CPU architectures and platforms supported by FreeBSD, see the FreeBSD website's Platforms page.

For official FreeBSD bootable images, see the release page.

Source Roadmap:

Directory	Description
bin	System/user commands.
cddl	Various commands and libraries under the Common Development and Distribution License.
contrib	Packages contributed by 3rd parties.
crypto	Cryptography stuff (see crypto/README).
etc	Template files for /etc.
gnu	Commands and libraries under the GNU General Public License (GPL) or Lesser General Public License (LGPL). Please see gnu/COPYING and gnu/COPYING.LIB for more information.
include	System include files.
kerberos5	Kerberos5 (Heimdal) package.
lib	System libraries.
libexec	System daemons.
release	Release building Makefile & associated tools.
rescue	Build system for statically linked /rescue utilities.
sbin	System commands.
secure	Cryptographic libraries and commands.
share	Shared resources.
stand	Boot loader sources.
sys	Kernel sources (see sys/README.md).
targets	Support for experimental `DIRDEPS_BUILD`
tests	Regression tests which can be run by Kyua. See tests/README for additional information.
tools	Utilities for regression testing and miscellaneous tasks.
usr.bin	User commands.
usr.sbin	System administration commands.

For information on synchronizing your source tree with one or more of the FreeBSD Project's development branches, please see FreeBSD Handbook.

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