In the crowded landscape of open source operating systems, one thing is clear: not all "open" systems are created equal. When discussing truly open systems—ones that provide real freedom, flexibility, and innovation—there is an elephant in the room: the GPL.
The GPL isn't just an abstract licensing debate; it’s a fundamental difference in philosophy that shapes how software is developed, distributed, and used. That’s precisely why FreeBSD stands out as the superior choice for those who value open source computing without ideological baggage, especially in embedded devices where efficiency, flexibility, and long-term support matter. And it’s why we at Klara have continuously supported FreeBSD, ZFS and many other truly open solutions.
Why Truly Open Systems Need to Be Free of the GPL
At its core, the GNU General Public License (GPL) is a restrictive license masquerading as freedom. The "copyleft" nature of the license forces derivative works to also be licensed under the GPL. Consider wanting to integrate your modifications without exposing proprietary code? Too bad. GPL pushes innovators towards workarounds rather than collaboration. It’s no wonder that many major vendors either avoid Linux entirely, maintain extensive internal forks, or perform elaborate contortions with userspace code to keep their modifications private.
Contrast that with FreeBSD’s permissive BSD license, which says: "Here’s the code, do what you want with it." You can modify, integrate, or even commercialize FreeBSD-based solutions without being shackled by license restrictions. This is why FreeBSD has found a home in the most unexpected places—from high-performance networking stacks to gaming consoles, storage appliances, and critical infrastructure. Simply put, it's a system designed for true freedom, not forced compliance.
As a startup that has an innovative idea and just needs a bit of a boost, you usually need both: a community that helps you get there, and a policy that allows you to grow over time and feed back into the community.
FreeBSD's Community and Upstreaming Culture
A well-known and defining trait of FreeBSD is its robust community and upstreaming model. FreeBSD’s development is managed under a centralized governance model with a core team and contributor structure. This approach ensures consistency, long-term vision, and high-quality contributions.
This is a stark contrast to the often chaotic, fragmented development process seen in Linux distributions, where patches can languish in mailing lists, and meaningful upstream collaboration is a struggle.
FreeBSD actively encourages contributions from all corners. Use cases span individuals, academic researchers, or large-scale companies like Netflix and NetApp. More importantly, FreeBSD developers ensure that improvements make their way upstream. This allows the entire ecosystem to benefit from refinements, rather than locking them away in a corporate-controlled fork. This is a key reason why companies building performance-critical applications turn to FreeBSD—it is predictable, maintainable, and continuously refined through real-world use cases.
Proven Use Cases: How BSD Powers Critical Infrastructure and Embedded Devices
For those who claim that FreeBSD (or BSDs in general) are niche or irrelevant, the reality tells a different story. FreeBSD, OpenBSD, and NetBSD power some of the most critical, high-performance, and widely used systems in the world.
- FreeBSD is the foundation for major platforms. Netflix relies on FreeBSD for its high-performance content delivery needs. Sony’s PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 both use a FreeBSD-based OS to power their gaming experiences. Countless storage and network appliances use FreeBSD as a base to provide performant, secure, and reliable platform for their products.
- OpenBSD, renowned for its security. OpenBSD underpins infrastructure where security is paramount, including the Internet’s core router infrastructure and cryptographic systems. OpenSSH, the de facto standard for secure remote access, was born out of, and is maintained by OpenBSD.
- NetBSD is a joy of portability. It runs on everything from cutting-edge hardware to legacy machines that other operating systems have long abandoned. Its lightweight design makes it a favorite for embedded devices and specialized applications.
These are not small-scale projects or hobbyist endeavors—they are real-world, high-performance implementations that demonstrate the BSDs’ robustness and versatility.
Meanwhile, Linux has become the fragmented Wild West of distributions, riddled with compatibility issues, unnecessary bloat, and an ever-growing list of projects that never reach upstream. As a result, it’s a free-for-all ecosystem where everyone reinvents the wheel, but few contribute back in a way that strengthens the core system.
Getting Started with FreeBSD
For developers, engineers, and technology decision-makers who are tired of Linux’s licensing pitfalls and chaotic governance, FreeBSD offers a cleaner, more predictable alternative. With its lightweight design and permissive licensing, it's a great fit for embedded devices that need efficiency and flexibility. Getting started is surprisingly simple:
- Install FreeBSD: The official site provides ISO images and prebuild VMs along with straightforward documentation.
- Explore the Ports Collection: FreeBSD’s package management is one of its strongest assets, offering tens of thousands of well-maintained applications.
- Dive into Jails and ZFS: FreeBSD's built-in Jails provide a lightweight, efficient containerization solution, while ZFS offers unparalleled storage performance and reliability.
- Join the Community: Unlike Linux, where navigating kernel development can be an exercise in frustration, FreeBSD’s structured development process and welcoming community make contributing accessible to newcomers.
Making the Right Choice: Embedded and BSD
Open source should be about freedom, innovation, and sustainability—not about licensing battles, corporate takeovers, or fractured ecosystems. FreeBSD offers a compelling vision for what open source operating systems should be for embedded devices: permissive, structured, high-performance, and adaptable.
While Linux continues to grow in complexity and corporate entanglement, FreeBSD remains a beacon for those who want real control over their systems. It’s time to break free from the illusion of choice and embrace an operating system that truly embodies openness and engineering excellence.
For those who want an operating system that works for them, rather than against them, FreeBSD is the answer.
Embedded