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| OpenBSD Desktop in about 30 Minutes | ||
| recommended by 2 users | 2016 | 43 points by hidden_forest | operating systems | original thread | | ||
Finished install yields OpenBSD 6.0, Lumina DE, Firefox, mplayer Install base system # https://www.openbsd.org/faq/faq4.html ### As Root # Increase resource limits vi /etc/login.conf: :datasize-max=2048M:\ :datasize-cur=2048M:\ # Execute commands as root: vi /etc/doas.conf: permit nopass username_created_during_install # Package mgmt: PKG_PATH and pkg.conf # Edit .profile to add package path: export PKG_PATH=http://ftp.OpenBSD.org/pub/OpenBSD/6.0/packages/amd64/ vi /etc/pkg.conf: installpath = http://ftp.OpenBSD.org/pub/OpenBSD/6.0/packages/amd64/ # Improve disk performance vi /etc/fstab: Append ”softdep,noatime" to all entries with filesystem type ffs after rw Ex: .... rw,softdep,noatime 1 1 # Get wireless working w/ or w/o WPA # Determine wireless interface name (ex. iwn0) with ifconfig: ifconfig -a # Establish wireless w/ WPA, substituting own interface name: ifconfig iwn0 nwid network_id wpakey password dhclient iwn0 #Establish wireless w/o WPA, ex: guest network ifconfig iwn0 nwid network_id -wpa dhclient iwn0 # Make wireless perm: vi /etc/hostname.iwn0 dhcp nwid network_id -wpa # Without WPA dhcp nwid network_id wpakey password # With WPA # Reboot reboot ### As mortal user # Install packages: # Ex: pkg_add -v <package> # mplayer plays media, esp. YouTube in browser doas pkg_add -v firefox lumina mplayer # Installs Firefox, Lumina DE, and mplayer # Start xscreensaver daemon to use Windows-L xlock # Activate tap-to-click for trackpad (skip if desktop computer) # Configure Lumina DE to invoke with “startx” under own user vi .xinitrc in own directory: synclient TapButton1=1 syndaemon -i 1 -d xscreensaver -no-splash & exec Lumina-DE | ||
| 2 users recommended this thread. What they said: |
| morganvachon Mar 8, 2017 | on: Ask HN: Anyone moved to PC-BSD (TrueOS) from macOS? | context |
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eindiran May 27, 2020 | on: Ask HN: Does anyone use a non-macOS BSD for desktop? | context
Here are some interesting past conversations on this topic on HN: OpenBSD as a workstation --> https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20344766 Setting up OpenBSD as a desktop --> https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13223351 FreeBSD is an amazing OS --> https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22102372 FreeBSD myths --> https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12194796 Using TrueOS --> https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13818574 FreeBSD as a desktop --> https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=365784 Comparing BSD and Linux --> https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12034277 Switching to FreeBSD from macOS --> https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10644690 FreeBSD desktop How To --> https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12371688 Running FreeBSD on a Macbook Pro --> https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13027506 I think the main take away is that the BSDs can be great desktop OSes, but in general they will require more configuration than running macOS or Ubuntu. However, they are less likely to bump into bleeding edge problems than eg Arch. I experimented with running FreeBSD as a desktop for a little while a while ago, but ended up switching back to Linux due to needing support for some remote-desktop software for work. During that time I came to realize how often GNU breaks POSIX; however the userland software for FreeBSD is excellent and quite well documented IME. If you enjoy trying out new OSes, they are worth a spin. |
| Also recommended by people who recommended this: | ||
| 1. | “I have a few qualms with this app:” (comment) | |
| recommended by 325 users | 2007 | BrandonM on: My YC app: Dropbox - Throw away your USB drive | aged poorly | original thread | | ||
| 2. | BSD vs. Linux (2005) (over-yonder.net) | |
| recommended by 2 users | 2016 | 457 points by _xrjp | original thread | | ||
My experience is that you're not going to get as cohesive a desktop computing experience in any BSD as you do in macOS. However, if you're annoyed with all the little gotchas of the Mac environment but you want to stay on BSD, TrueOS is a great place to start.
Going further down the rabbit hole, if you are willing to forego an easy OOTB experience and want to really get your hands dirty, give OpenBSD a go. I've found its installation process to be the fastest and easiest of any BSD, and it gives you a bare bones foundation to build into whatever you want. For desktop use it does require some tweaking, but it's minor stuff and you end up with a rock-solid OS that gets out of your way and lets you get on with your work.
Some of my go-to resources for setting up a proper OpenBSD desktop:
https://sivers.org/openbsd
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13223351 (ymmv, I use Xfce instead of Lumina)
https://igurublog.wordpress.com/2015/06/10/openbsd-as-a-linu...