I can understand using multiple BSD's on servers, but this is purely meant for BSD's on desktops (including laptops, single board computers, and pentabs), so your main BSD of choice. I got into the BSD's via OpenBSD first, which remains my most favorite one, because it just works, and everything works beautifully together, more so than with the other BSD's. However, I also like FreeBSD, and since a few days ago NetBSD, I have yet to try out Dragonfly BSD though, but I heard it's pretty snappy. But there was a time when I was unsure whether I want to make FreeBSD or OpenBSD into my main OS on my main desktop, and I chose FreeBSD for the following reasons: 1. Steam 2. ZFS 3. Apart from Steam, all software I need is on FreeBSD, but is lacking on OpenBSD. As it then turned out: 1. Steam actually doesn't work on FreeBSD at all, so I still boot into Linux for that. 2. I barely even use ZFS on the desktop, I do use it extensively on my NAS though. 3. All the software that's unavailable (with the exceptions of XMRig and OBS-Studio) are compileable on OpenBSD with only a little bit of extra effort. So I'm pretty much settled on making OpenBSD into my main OS after a while of uncertainty of which one to choose. I will continue to run both FreeBSD and NetBSD on spare laptops though, because as a software engineer I want to ensure compatibility and portability between as many Unix-like OS's as possible, but we're talking about main OS's here. My reasons of choosing OpenBSD: 1. Great team with a clear passion. 2. No political bullshit at all, it's all about technical merit. 3. No need to harden, it's already secure by default. 4. True minimalism and true libre software (so not like GPL where freedom is slavery). 5. Everything just works. 6. Packed with unique, rock solid software. 7. I can sympathies with the mindset of the OpenBSD developers much more than I can with the other ones. 8. Friendly community (if you're not an idiot on the internet). 9. It's the first BSD I used. The only downside is that it's so slow. So what is your main BSD of choice, and why did you pick that over the others? Did you have any situations you were unable to choose?

@"remiliascarlet"#p16840 well, you said pretty much everything I'd say about why I chose OpenBSD. :D

Why did you chose the BSD variant you're mainly using?

remiliascarlet

I can understand using multiple BSD's on servers, but this is purely meant for BSD's on desktops (including laptops, single board computers, and pentabs), so your main BSD of choice.

I got into the BSD's via OpenBSD first, which remains my most favorite one, because it just works, and everything works beautifully together, more so than with the other BSD's.
However, I also like FreeBSD, and since a few days ago NetBSD, I have yet to try out Dragonfly BSD though, but I heard it's pretty snappy.

But there was a time when I was unsure whether I want to make FreeBSD or OpenBSD into my main OS on my main desktop, and I chose FreeBSD for the following reasons:

Steam
ZFS
Apart from Steam, all software I need is on FreeBSD, but is lacking on OpenBSD.

As it then turned out:

Steam actually doesn't work on FreeBSD at all, so I still boot into Linux for that.
I barely even use ZFS on the desktop, I do use it extensively on my NAS though.
All the software that's unavailable (with the exceptions of XMRig and OBS-Studio) are compileable on OpenBSD with only a little bit of extra effort.

So I'm pretty much settled on making OpenBSD into my main OS after a while of uncertainty of which one to choose.
I will continue to run both FreeBSD and NetBSD on spare laptops though, because as a software engineer I want to ensure compatibility and portability between as many Unix-like OS's as possible, but we're talking about main OS's here.

My reasons of choosing OpenBSD:

Great team with a clear passion.
No political bullshit at all, it's all about technical merit.
No need to harden, it's already secure by default.
True minimalism and true libre software (so not like GPL where freedom is slavery).
Everything just works.
Packed with unique, rock solid software.
I can sympathies with the mindset of the OpenBSD developers much more than I can with the other ones.
Friendly community (if you're not an idiot on the internet).
It's the first BSD I used.

The only downside is that it's so slow.

So what is your main BSD of choice, and why did you pick that over the others?
Did you have any situations you were unable to choose?

Sam

remiliascarlet well, you said pretty much everything I'd say about why I chose OpenBSD. 😃

push

My old love is NetBSD, I returned to it recently, after decades.
And discovered DFBSD, which I voted for, since poll allows only one choice.
All your nine reasons you love OpenBSD, is like NetBSD for me.
Or I could say no particular reason, I just love it. And now DFBSD as well.
Of course, my wish list is long, but nothing is crucial, since I don't mind
going back to Debian or even Windows, occasionally.
Also, I am not IT professional, fr twenty years.

BaronBS

First BSD for me was OBSD (almost 10y'ago, and it is the one I hold closest to my heart). With that out of the way, I have a Beastie tattoo, not a Puffy one.
In practice, I only use OBSD in my old T430 (and because of the kqueue hardcoded limit I'm not happy with it, it breaks Syncthing).
My main laptop(Latitude 5400) runs FBSD, also my homelab server(Optiplex9020). My desktop workstation runs Void (mainly bc I could not make FBSD run with my 1070).
And I will install NetBSD on my X40, mostly because I want to use exwm on it, and it doesn't run properly on OBSD. Also 32bit is second tier on FBSD, so NetBSD it is.