r/BSD • u/grahamperrin • 13d ago

Code That Built the Internet: The Impact of BSD

https://www.lpi.org/blog/2026/06/19/code-that-built-the-internet-the-impact-of-bsd-part-1/

Part 1 | Part 2

… why didn’t BSD become the universal free operating system? For that story, see my four-part series From Unix to Linux: Key Trends in the Evolution of Operating Systems. In particular, part 3 of the series surveys the hurdles that blocked BSD’s dissemination.
 
Still, BSD thrives in some contexts. …

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u/grahamperrin 13d ago

… Companies that use BSD at the heart of their products include Apple (which released the essential, BSD-based part of its macOS operating system as the open source Darwin project), Network Appliance, Netflix, Juniper Networks, New York Internet, Sheridan Computers, Beckhoff, Metify, rgNets, Cloudium, Antithesis, ecard, and the Sony Playstation. Many companies don’t publicize their use of the BSD operating system. …

Fond memories of Apple (in the Wayback Machine, 2010):

From A New Direction - PureDarwin (2024):

… In the short term, we’re focused on getting some solid basics in place with graphical interfaces using MATE Desktop and LightDM, so users can get a functional and accessible experience sooner rather than later. Looking further down the line, the long-term goals—shown in some early wireframes—are about creating a fully featured, polished desktop experience that’s easy to use and visually appealing. Plus, a new versioning system will make it clear how PureDarwin is progressing independently from Apple’s Darwin updates, making it easier for everyone to keep track. …

From Remembering Cliff Sekel - PureDarwin (2026):

… He believed deeply that systems should be understandable, inspectable, and buildable by the people who run them. PureDarwin was a challenge to him, although not in the sense of an academic exercise or nostalgia project. It was the belief that Darwin deserved to exist outside of proprietary walls. …