freebsd
FreeBSD is a free-software Unix-like operating system descended from the Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD). The first version was released in 1993 developed from 386BSD, one of the first fully functional and free Unix clones on affordable home-class hardware, and has since continuously been…
Key facts
- First appeared
- 1993
- Category
- operating_system
- Problem solved
- FreeBSD was created to provide a complete, robust, and freely redistributable Unix-like operating system for Intel x86 compatible platforms. Its predecessor, 386BSD, while pioneering, lacked the consistent development and release schedule necessary to become a widely adopted, production-ready system, and faced legal challenges regarding its codebase. FreeBSD aimed to resolve these issues, offering a stable and actively maintained alternative.
- Platforms
- x86-64 (amd64), macos, PowerPC (powerpc64), ios, linux, ARM (arm64, armv7), unix, web, RISC-V (experimental), windows
Related technologies
Notable users
- Juniper Networks (Junos OS based on FreeBSD)
- WhatsApp (server infrastructure)
- NetApp (ONTAP storage operating system heavily influenced by FreeBSD)
- Cloudflare (some edge network services)
- Sony (PlayStation consoles operating system base, specifically Orbis OS)
- Netflix (for content delivery network infrastructure)
- Nintendo (Switch console operating system base)