GhostBSD is a user-friendly desktop operating system based on FreeBSD. Its default desktop is MATE, but a separate community edition with Xfce is available too. It also features a selection of commonly used software, a rolling-release development model, and a bootable live image with an intuitive graphical system installer.
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Notes: In case where multiple versions of a package are shipped with a distribution, only the default version appears in the table. For indication about the GNOME version, please check the "nautilus" and "gnome-shell" packages. The Apache web server is listed as "httpd" and the Linux kernel is listed as "linux". The KDE desktop is represented by the "plasma-desktop" package and the Xfce desktop by the "xfdesktop" package.
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Reader Ratings
Reader supplied reviews for GhostBSD
Average rating
7.3
from 43 review(s) Please specify which version of the distribtion you are reviewing. Please selecting a rating in the range of 1-10. Please write at least a few sentences about the distribution while limiting your review to 4080 characters.
There are big advantages of using GhostBSD over Linux.
It's native zfs support makes it an outstandingly reliable workstation.
For any user, who is interested in reliability of zfs mirrored data this OS is choice #1.
Any PC in such a role as a workstation or even homeserver does NOT need Wi-Fi driver support at first place.
When security plays a role, a smaller software repo with well maintained apps is also not harmful at all.
The updater itself could be a bit more transparent during its activities: it only displays 1 line per downloaded software package.
A human wants instead see a full display with as many downloaded packages, as possible at the very same time. Including the possibility to manually save this log in a reserved location on disk.
On the documentation side, GhostBSD seems to have not yet found a stable workflow, where to put the latest information about fixing minor issues. These hints are spread over several locations - each having its specific (dis-)advantage(s).
I have good feelings about this distro, ven though I have only recently installed, it has impressed myself. What I was particularly impressed about that the filemanaher was able to instaly see and open a partion that is ext3 formated, something which when I tried FreeBSD there was some difficulty doing.
I also like, unlike FreeBSD, where everything is pretty much set-up out of the box, just have to make those small adjustments to make it more like what you want.
Did have difficulty (just like with FreeBSD) with slackwares lilo registering GhostBSD on the menu, so I installed slackware grub, and all is good.
Otherwise, I find it to be quick and smooth running.
There's no real advantage on using BSD today over Linux other than for hobby.
I mean it's a joke considering in 2024, still lacking hardware support like ancient 'nix., can't even connect to wifi, seriously???
I would have been acceptable as *nix if it were around early 2000's though, come on, it's already 2024; most people won't bother stuff that can't even do basic thing as supporting common hardware right (unless there is other appealing advantage over others).
It's not their fault, I know they don't have enough developers though I believe that BSD is going to be dead soon.
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