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[winjer]

Sony uses FreeBSD on their consoles. Which is an open source operating system.
So the question one could have is if Sony is just free loading on the work of open source community.



The TLDR is no. Sony does contribute to the FreeBSD development, but takes great care not to be credited for it. probably for security reasons.

 

[Hudo]

Afaik, Switch OS is also using the FreeBSD kernel.

 

[Holammer]

The entire industry employs open source software and somewhat counter-intuitively I think Microsoft is the biggest contributor.

 

[Drew1440]

I wonder why they went with FreeBSD instead of a Linux kernel? Is FreeBSD more flexable for embedded designs?

 

[winjer]

I wonder why they went with FreeBSD instead of a Linux kernel? Is FreeBSD more flexable for embedded designs?

That answer is in thst video.
Basically, its because of the type of license.

 

[nowhat]

I wonder why they went with FreeBSD instead of a Linux kernel? Is FreeBSD more flexable for embedded designs?

The license I'm assuming. GPL (which Linux uses) would require Sony to share all their source code/modifications (which would have obvious security implications), no such requirement with the BSD license.

 

[Mahavastu]

interesting is, that LLVM was mentioned as where Sonys does its biggest contribution.
But then it is understandable: they probably add PS5 specific optimizations and those automaticly improve all games using their SDK

 

[SegaShack]

Most companies use tons of open source software.

 

[Gaiff]

Most companies use tons of open source software.

Not the point. The point is to know how much Sony takes vs how much it gives back. Netflix as mentioned in this video takes a lot from FreeBSD but also contributes tremendously.

 

[Hudo]

I wonder why they went with FreeBSD instead of a Linux kernel? Is FreeBSD more flexable for embedded designs?

because FreeBSD (and many other BSDs) is released under the BSD license, which essentially says that you can do whatever the fuck you want with and you can keep your modifications private but no upstream support is provided. Whereas the Linux kernel is released under GPLv2, which is essentially the same as the BSD license except that everthing you modify or add to the code you took, you have to contribute publicly to open source as well (so others can take your shit, too).

Also, the BSD kernel is arguably closer to Unix or "purer", if you will, than the Linux kernel.

To this day, there is a lively discussion among the neckbeards about which is the freer license; it's quite hilarious.

 

[MadchesterManc]

Honestly don't see the issue. I'd do the same and use FreeBSD if building my own OS

 

[IlGialloMondadori]

I love that it’s a clickbait title with “the answer is no.”
Quality.

 

[Badlucktroll]

Modern macOS is a BSD too isn’t it?

 

[Duchess]

Modern macOS is a BSD too isn’t it?

Sure is.

BSD Overview

Essential information for programming in the OS X kernel. Includes a high-level overview.

developer.apple.com

 

[Gaiff]

I love that it’s a clickbait title with “the answer is no.”
Quality.

The host openly admitted he was looking for a hot take but didn't find one after doing some research.

 

[ReyBrujo]

I wonder why they went with FreeBSD instead of a Linux kernel? Is FreeBSD more flexable for embedded designs?

Besides the license, BSD has better security record. If you want extensibility you use Linux, if you want security you use BSD.

Honestly don't see the issue. I'd do the same and use FreeBSD if building my own OS

There's none, just another clickbait YouTube video. Next, "Is Nintendo making our children more stupid by creating games so good they can't stop playing?"

 

[Hudo]

Besides the license, BSD has better security record. If you want extensibility you use Linux, if you want security you use BSD.

Good point. Especially OpenBSD is probably one of the most secure OSs there is (but that comes at a price, where they sacrifice performance of basic system calls for security).

 

[Gaiff]

Bumping this but I find it interesting that Sony has contributed to the development of LLVM which is incidentally used to translate the Power PC code of the PS3. This is then converted to x86.

 

[Crayon]

Lol nyet. Open Source always wins.

 

[Bernkastel]

The core Unix OS of Mac/iOS, Darwin is also derived from FreeBSD and NeXTSTEP(which is derived from BSD).

I wonder why they went with FreeBSD instead of a Linux kernel? Is FreeBSD more flexable for embedded designs?

If they went with Linux, they would have to open source their OS.

 

[Crayon]

The core Unix OS of Mac/iOS, Darwin is also derived from FreeBSD and NeXTSTEP(which is derived from BSD).

If they went with Linux, they would have to open source their OS.

^^^ That's right it's more to do with the license than the capability. The bsd license is not asking much compared to the one used for linux.

 

[RoboFu]

The core Unix OS of Mac/iOS, Darwin is also derived from FreeBSD and NeXTSTEP(which is derived from BSD).

If they went with Linux, they would have to open source their OS.

OSX has moved so far betond bsd that you can't even say they are the same anymore, but yes the initial osx was built off of it.

 

[DinoD]

OSX has moved so far betond bsd that you can't even say they are the same anymore, but yes the initial osx was built off of it.

I'd rather put it this way. Its core/kernel is still based on BSD (Networking TCP/IP stack, File System).

 

[ReBurn]

I can't imagine anyone legitimately being upset about Sony using FreeBSD. As long as they honor the terms of the license then who cares? Certainly nobody who understands open source.

Open source doesn't necessarily mean developed for free by struggling underpaid independent developers trying to help save the world. Tons of wildly successful and widely used open source projects are owned, developed and/or supported by corporations.