Rethinking Unix-like systems DragonFly BSD

Matthew Dillon, founder of DragonFly BSD, discusses the past, present, and future of BSDs

- Bruce Byfield

It’s easy to forget that Linux is only one member of a whole family of Unix-like systems, especially the Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD). Among the many BSDs, one of the most interesting is DragonFly BSD (featured on this month’s DVD). DragonFly BSD has a history of rethinking Unix-like subsystems and processes in a never-ending effort to make them more efficient. Matthew Dillon, the founder of DragonFly BSD, learned his craft in AmigaOS and remains active today in the Dragonfly project. Dillon offers an expert’s view of not only BSD but of Linux and open source as well.

Linux Magazine: Tell us a bit about how you became involved in BSD.